Bathrooms, by nature, are small spaces with generally very little storage and shelving space. Yet it is important to store items, such as personal products and toiletries, in the bathroom so that you can have them close at hand when you are getting ready to use them as you prepare for your day or get ready for bed.
Because bathrooms are generally constructed with fixtures that cannot be moved around, as opposed to a living room, for example, it is often difficult to find ample room for shelving, especially in the places you need it. Here are some ideas to help you fit shelving into some of the most common, but strategic places.
Behind the Mirror
Many people find that putting medicine cabinets behind the mirror is a strategic way to conceal shelving, but still have items at an arms reach when you need them. In order to install a medicine cabinet behind the mirror, you will need a saw to drill through the plaster or drywall and screws to hold the cabinet in place. You can purchase a ready-made medicine cabinet with mirror at any home improvement store. Be sure to measure the size of the medicine cabinet before making your hole. The hole should be a perfect fit for the cabinet.
Above the Toilet
A shelf that is mountable above the toilet can be found at just about any home improvement store. These shelves are self-standing and fit perfectly behind the toilet tank. It is advised that you attach them to the wall using screws so that they do not fall over on you while you are using the toilet.
In the shower
There is no better place to store your shampoo, conditioner, soap and body wash than in the shower. The three most popular shower units are the door hanger, corner mounted shelf system and the faucet hanger. The door and faucet hangers have specially designed hooks that fit perfectly over either a solid door or a shower faucet. They come down to eye-level, the perfect height when you are ready to wash your hair.
The corner free-standing shelving units are generally secured to the shower or tub using a spring system that pushes towards both the ceiling and the floor, holding the shelf in place. These are the largest shelves and ca generally hold several bottles of cleansing agents in addition to your wash cloth, razors and other essential bathroom items.
Wall-mount shelf
The wall-mount shelf is another popular shelving unit for the bathroom and can go at about shoulder level wherever you have free space in the bathroom. The benefit of the wall-mount shelf is that is can fit over any towel rack or toilet, saving space for your towels or other items stored on the floor. Because of the convenient height, you will have easy access to any items that you need to prepare for or clean up from your day.
Floor shelf
If your bathroom is big enough, consider investing in a shelf that stands on the floor. Floor shelves are generally very small and will hold everything you need, from extra rolls of toilet paper to beauty products and the like.