Small bathrooms can be some of the hardest spaces to design well. They are my speciality because I grew up with the tiniest bathroom you can have, and that depressing place inspired me.

You need storage for all the everyday essentials, but adding too much cabinetry can quickly make the room feel smaller and more crowded. The key is not always adding more storage, but making smarter decisions with the space you already have.

Here are my five practical storage ideas that can help your small bathroom feel more organised, functional and spacious.

1. Make Use of Vertical Space with a Heated Towel Rail

When floor space is limited, looking upwards is often the best solution.

A vertical heated towel rail is a simple upgrade that can make a big difference in a small bathroom. Traditional horizontal towel rails can take up a large section of valuable wall space, whereas a vertical design provides the same functionality while leaving more room for mirrors, cabinetry or feature finishes.

It is a small design choice, but these details add up when working with a compact bathroom.

I often recommend planning towel rail locations early in the renovation process. Too many bathrooms end up with towel rails placed wherever there happens to be a spare wall, rather than where they are most practical for everyday use.

Jim’s Tip: Think about how you actually use your bathroom before choosing locations. A towel rail should be positioned where you naturally reach for your towel after a shower, not simply where there is an empty section of wall.

Bonus Tip – Get a touch pad for your heated towel rail the timer function is awesome.

2. Add Storage Without Taking Up Floor Space with a Tallboy

After renovating thousands of bathrooms across Australia, I’ve found the best small bathroom designs are the ones where storage is planned into the layout from the beginning, not an add-on.

Tallboy cabinets are one of the most underrated storage solutions for small bathrooms.

Rather than spreading cabinetry across the room, a tallboy uses the height of the space to create valuable storage while keeping the floor area open.

They are ideal for storing towels, toiletries, cleaning products and those everyday bathroom items that always seem to have nowhere to go.

A slim tallboy can often fit into areas that would otherwise become wasted space, such as beside a vanity, next to a shower or in an unused corner.

The biggest advantage is that you gain storage without making the bathroom feel boxed in.

Jim’s Tip: If STORAGE is the big priority, give up the bench space and install the tall boy its the simplest organic way to get real deep storage that can be wall hung

3. Build Storage Into the Walls

Some of the best bathroom storage solutions are the ones you don’t immediately notice.

Recessed storage allows you to create practical spaces without adding bulky cabinets or shelves that project into the room.

Features such as recessed toilet roll holders, built-in storage boxes, shaving cabinets and concealed mirror storage can all help keep the bathroom cleaner and more organised.

This is especially important in smaller bathrooms because every item that sticks out into the room reduces the feeling of space.

When storage becomes part of the architecture, the bathroom feels more considered and premium.

Jim’s Tip: For a stud frame wood home, this is easier to do but double brick home it can bring its only challenges

Bonus Tip: Tap HERE For A Full Breakdown

4. Choose a Shower Niche Instead of a Shower Ledge

A shower niche has become one of the most popular features in modern bathroom renovations, and it is easy to understand why.

A tiled shower ledge can work in some designs, but a niche creates a cleaner finish by recessing your bottles and products into the wall.

Instead of shampoo bottles sitting on the shower floor or taking up space on a shelf, everything has a dedicated place.

A well-designed niche can also become a feature of the bathroom, whether it’s a simple single niche, a full-width niche behind the shower or a larger statement design with feature tiles.

For smaller bathrooms especially, a niche helps keep the shower area looking clean and uncluttered.

Jim’s Tip: I love a shower ledge but in a small bathroom it will cramp up the bathroom, go the niche make it bigger and enjoy the larger shower.

5. Consider an Open Shower Layout to Create More Space

Sometimes the best way to improve a small bathroom isn’t adding more storage, but changing the way the space is used.

Open bathroom layouts can make a compact room feel significantly larger by removing unnecessary barriers and allowing the space to flow better.

In these designs, your shower has no door, allowing you to add items that would often be hit by this door and opening up the space.

While this style needs to be carefully planned, combining wet areas can be a smart way to maximise a small footprint without making the bathroom feel cramped.

Jim’s Tip: Open showers that have a toilet or vanity in them are really not for everyone, shower without a door and place an item near it to see your level of living with splash.

Final Thoughts

Small bathrooms don’t need to feel cluttered or limited.

The best storage solutions come from thoughtful planning and using every available centimetre effectively.

From vertical towel rails and tallboy cabinets to recessed storage, shower niches and smarter layouts, these small design decisions can completely change how a bathroom feels and functions.

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, considering storage early in the design process will always give you a better result than trying to add solutions after everything has already been built.

My final thought, like Jerry Springer, is this: small bathrooms are super annoying for anyone using or renovating them, but write down your one non-negotiable you need this renovated space or newly designed bathroom needs to have and work around that.

Disclaimer: The advice on this website is for general information only. I draw on years of experience in bathroom renovations and tiling, but every home and project is different. Always consult a licensed tradesperson, plumber, or builder before starting any renovations, installations, or repairs.

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