Getting Creative in Tight Spaces - Bathroom Storage

Sometimes the smallest spaces can be the hardest to design right. I constantly find myself walking a fine line between ample storage and the visual weight of a room. Bathrooms, in particular, are rooms where storage is premium. There are just so many things that need to have a home in a bathroom- towels, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotions, makeup, the list goes on and on.   There is so much out there that creatively addresses the bathroom storage issue. Below are some of my go-to recommendations when I have a client that asks for more storage in their bathroom.

Via BlueSlide Art Tile, CA

Shower Niches

These wonderful storage niches don't take up any room, they add to it. What is great about shower niches is that they often fit right between studs in your wall framing, so you don't have to build a wall out to put them in. Tile it in the shower wall tile, or using something that coordinates, and you have a stylish place to house your shower essentials.

Waterworks Triple Tier Shelf

Wall Mounted Shelving

You cannot go wrong with a narrow wall mounted shelf. It takes up no floor space, and the glass shelves take up no visual weight, either.

Via Houzz

Wall Mounted Vanities

To reinforce my point, lift storage opportunities off of the floor. Vanities like the one above are packed with storage space, but the piece doesn't take over the space because you can see the space between it and floor below.

Bamboo Towel Rack by Neiman marcus

Towel Ladders

You can certainly fit plenty of towels on a towel ladder like the one above. I've seen these wall mounted as well, so you don't need to worry about taking up precious floorspace with a ladder footprint. Stack 'em up.

Next project in the works

I'm working on a bathroom renovation for a client. Even though they can be a tight space, there are so many design opportunities in any bathroom. I like to start with an inspirational image. The two below are current faves:

Habitually Chic

Pinterest

Cottage or contemporary, both bathrooms are simplly designed, but tastefully thought out. Details like the aged brass faucets in the cottage bath, and the the wood storage niche on the tub face add to the creative wow factor of each room.

Next, I like to find my tile and hard surface materials. I always visit Discover Tile in the Boston Design Center.  They carry a good assortment of a variety of tiles in a range of colors and styles. Right now, their artisan tiles (similar to the image below) are catching my eye, however, for my current reno project, we decided to go a more contemporary route, with linear tiles in grays, blues, and tan.

Designer Bath has also always been one of my go to resources for bathroom decor.  They have a huge range of product lines. This faucet is from one of the product lines they carry. I like the idea of a wall mounted faucet. They are so much easier to keep clean, and don't take up precious counter space. This one is classic and will never go out of style.

Another line they carry, this pedestal sink is so sculptural!

As you can see, I have my eye on a lot of different styles right now. There is just so much good stuff out there!  But it makes it fun when designing for a client because I can pick and chose my favorite pieces depending on their style. I regret that I haven't been to the site yet to snap some current pictures, so the reveal will have to be a surprise in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!