How to Use Open Storage Beautifully in the Bathroom
With a little planning, open storage can add both warmth and style to your bathroom. Take inspiration from these smart displays
While clutter-hiding cabinets can give your bathroom a streamlined look, they’re not the only option. Open storage can add character and interest to an essentially functional space, and give you the chance to display some of your most attractive lotions, potions and candles. Be inspired by these 10 different ways to use open storage to stylish effect.
Go glam with glass
If you have a lot of attractive toiletries to display, then built-in open shelving will show them off to best effect. Glass shelves have a neutral quality, meaning they work in both traditional and modern schemes. They also let the products shine and look lovely after dark lit with a few flickering candles.
Discover more ways to bring glass into your home
If you have a lot of attractive toiletries to display, then built-in open shelving will show them off to best effect. Glass shelves have a neutral quality, meaning they work in both traditional and modern schemes. They also let the products shine and look lovely after dark lit with a few flickering candles.
Discover more ways to bring glass into your home
Add character with see-through units
A nice halfway house between open and closed storage is a cabinet with see-through doors. In this bathroom, a Provençal-style, wire-fronted linen cabinet has been stacked with towels, attractive toiletries and little ornaments to add extra colour and interest to the neutral space.
If you’re not always as tidy as you might be, try incorporating some coloured boxes or nicely textured baskets on some of the shelves to corral smaller items.
A nice halfway house between open and closed storage is a cabinet with see-through doors. In this bathroom, a Provençal-style, wire-fronted linen cabinet has been stacked with towels, attractive toiletries and little ornaments to add extra colour and interest to the neutral space.
If you’re not always as tidy as you might be, try incorporating some coloured boxes or nicely textured baskets on some of the shelves to corral smaller items.
Create a nook
If you’re either building a bathroom from scratch or totally refurbishing one, seize the opportunity to integrate a few little nooks into the walls.
Nooks in the shower area or behind the bath can be tiled, like the one pictured, so they can hold shower gel, shampoo and anything else you might need close at hand when you’re bathing. Or add nooks elsewhere in the bathroom for reading material, candles or fresh flowers.
If you’re either building a bathroom from scratch or totally refurbishing one, seize the opportunity to integrate a few little nooks into the walls.
Nooks in the shower area or behind the bath can be tiled, like the one pictured, so they can hold shower gel, shampoo and anything else you might need close at hand when you’re bathing. Or add nooks elsewhere in the bathroom for reading material, candles or fresh flowers.
Showcase in glass vessels
Cotton wool, hair accessories and other essential little items often end up messily strewn around a bathroom. Create a little order by using glass bottles, bowls and jars to store them attractively.
Here, clear-glass sweet jars hold a selection of pretty, pastel-coloured bathroom necessities, while simple bottles are perfect for fresh blooms.
Cotton wool, hair accessories and other essential little items often end up messily strewn around a bathroom. Create a little order by using glass bottles, bowls and jars to store them attractively.
Here, clear-glass sweet jars hold a selection of pretty, pastel-coloured bathroom necessities, while simple bottles are perfect for fresh blooms.
Big up a basket
Wire, wicker, rattan… Baskets come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and are perfect for slotting onto open shelves or even just tucking into corners on the floor.
Whether your look is shabby chic, industrial or minimalist, you’ll find baskets to suit, and they’re perfect for holding essentials, from toilet rolls to piles of laundered towels.
Explore 10 smart ways to store your towels
Wire, wicker, rattan… Baskets come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and are perfect for slotting onto open shelves or even just tucking into corners on the floor.
Whether your look is shabby chic, industrial or minimalist, you’ll find baskets to suit, and they’re perfect for holding essentials, from toilet rolls to piles of laundered towels.
Explore 10 smart ways to store your towels
Bring in a table top
Occasional furniture is increasingly popping up in bathrooms, as these spaces move away from being solely functional rooms to places where we can spend time and indulge ourselves.
This little tray table slots perfectly between the two basins, not only holding toiletries, but helping to define the area. It could also easily be moved over to the side of the bath to aid a long soak (scented candle, glass of wine…).
Glass shelves above the basins and a handy basket in the corner complete a selection of open storage that works beautifully without dominating the space.
Occasional furniture is increasingly popping up in bathrooms, as these spaces move away from being solely functional rooms to places where we can spend time and indulge ourselves.
This little tray table slots perfectly between the two basins, not only holding toiletries, but helping to define the area. It could also easily be moved over to the side of the bath to aid a long soak (scented candle, glass of wine…).
Glass shelves above the basins and a handy basket in the corner complete a selection of open storage that works beautifully without dominating the space.
Open up dead space
Boxing in a bath can create redundant space. Make more of yours by doing as these homeowners have done and use the space next to your bath to create a little bookshelf or a slot for clean towels.
Boxing in a bath can create redundant space. Make more of yours by doing as these homeowners have done and use the space next to your bath to create a little bookshelf or a slot for clean towels.
Don’t discount your bath top
An attractive wire or wooden bath tidy can be used to hold soap, sponges and bath salts. These are particularly useful for freestanding baths that have no storage around them.
Be inspired by more fabulous freestanding baths
An attractive wire or wooden bath tidy can be used to hold soap, sponges and bath salts. These are particularly useful for freestanding baths that have no storage around them.
Be inspired by more fabulous freestanding baths
Explore under the counter
Wall-hung basins and vanity tops mean that open storage beneath a basin is very easy to create. Here, a wide shelf underneath twin basins provides space for towels and baskets for individual belongings.
TELL US…
Have you designed a smart open-storage area in your bathroom? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Wall-hung basins and vanity tops mean that open storage beneath a basin is very easy to create. Here, a wide shelf underneath twin basins provides space for towels and baskets for individual belongings.
TELL US…
Have you designed a smart open-storage area in your bathroom? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
If you have room to fit a piece of freestanding furniture into your bathroom, consider a ladder shelf like this one. The informal style lends itself to bathrooms and the variety of shelf widths means larger and smaller items can be accommodated tidily.