I am passionate about finding smart design solutions that are both functional and beautiful, and I love nothing more than sharing these clever ideas with you.
It has been so interesting to see designers move away from basic towel bars and toward more integrated and decorative storage methods.
Today I wanted to highlight some of these key approaches that I have been seeing and give you a glimpse of what is possible with modern bathroom organization.
1. Add Baskets To Wood Ladder Shelving
Here’s another fantastic way to use a ladder bookshelf to get your bathroom organized.
I love how placing a basket on the bottom shelf instantly makes everything look so neat and tidy. It’s the perfect spot to keep all your personal supplies in order.
2. Elegant Etageres For Open Towel and Linen Storage Space
If you’re lucky enough to have a big home, you might have a large closet or dressing area right next to the bathroom, which is such a great spot for towel storage.
I’m obsessed with how these matching etageres on either side of the door make the whole setup look so incredibly sleek and elegant.
3. Sleek Shelf Fixtures Amplify This Modern Space
This modern space gets a cool infusion of natural style from the contemporary stone walls and a sleek wooden window frame.
To add to that vibe, a stainless steel towel bar with a really cool, unconventional geometric shape brings in a more urban feel. It’s such a great mix.
4. Use A Vanity with An Open Bottom
So many vanities are designed with closed cabinets and drawers that go right down to the floor. The problem is, because those bottom shelves are hidden, they often don’t get used much.
Opening up the bottom totally exposes that shelf, which is a brilliant way to increase your usable space.
5. Balance Statement Pieces with Understated Vanity
I just love the mix in this room! It has a vintage-inspired tile floor, heavy iron mirrors, and some really cool industrial lighting. Adding ornate shelving would have been way too much.
Instead, this bathroom uses a double vanity with simple straight lines, neutral colors, and an open bottom shelf. It’s the perfect way to balance out those bigger statement pieces.
6. Large Basket on The Floor Is A Rustic Storage Choice
This farmhouse-inspired room is so charming, featuring a vintage table that’s been cleverly repurposed into a double vanity. While it’s super cute and stylish, it has absolutely no storage.
Placing a large vintage basket right underneath the sink gives you a perfect spot to keep your folded towels.
7. Unique Ladder For Hanging Bathroom Towel
This ladder-shaped shelf is so smart, it has pegs so you can customize it for your own storage needs. That flexibility makes it such a great choice for people whose needs are always changing.
You can hang towels over the bars, but you could also hang loofahs or even jars of makeup brushes.
8. Antique Pieces Above The Toilet For Organization
The decor in this bathroom feels very contemporary and safe, which can sometimes make a room a little boring.
I think bringing in vintage elements is a great way to ground that design style and make it feel more interesting. This heavy wood cabinet is just so visually compelling.
9. Lighten Up A Room with Natural Wood
This bathroom offers so many storage options for towels. The vanity, medicine cabinet, and freestanding cabinet all feature natural wood paired with white fixtures, which creates such a bright and airy feeling in the space.
The clean lines and slightly smaller sizes also keep the room feeling perfectly balanced.
10. Stained Crates Make For Inexpensive and Elegant Shelving
This bathroom is such a great example of smart DIY. It uses two crates in different sizes that have the same warm red stain as the mirror frame.
Matching the colors this way gives this simple shelving unit a custom and really upscale feel.
11. Hideaway Storage in A Small Vintage Bathroom
This vintage bathroom has one of those shorter, older style bathtubs, which leaves a little extra room for a small closet.
I love how it’s hidden behind a wall wrapped with tile that matches the backsplash around the tub. This helps the storage just blend right in and makes the room feel way less crowded.
12. Open Up Your Center Cabinets
This bathroom has an extra cabinet that’s separate from the vanity. It’s designed with two columns of drawers for toiletries, but instead of having an enclosed bottom cabinet, it’s open.
This creates the absolute perfect spot to store neatly rolled towels.
13. Contemporary Bathroom with Open Space To Store Towels
A lot of vanities have drawers on each side for storing toiletries. This one is so clever because it gave up one column of drawers to create some open shelving.
The towels stored there are super easy to grab from the shower right next to it.
14. Minimalist Wood Shelving For Towels and Bath Items
Sometimes you have to stash towels in a linen closet down the hallway, which can feel a little separate and inconvenient.
A great way to fix this is by converting the closet into exposed shelving. It makes the whole choice feel much more intentional and stylish.
15. Practical Towel Display
A stylish and simple towel display can be a really affordable storage choice that looks amazing in your bathroom. It’s funny how some solutions weren’t even designed for bathrooms at all.
A rack that’s meant to hold wine bottles can also be the perfect way to display a bunch of rolled-up towels. This unit has such a quirky character that works so well with eclectic pieces like an antique clawfoot tub and a retro glass and rattan table.
16. Modern Metal Wall Mounted Towel Shelf
When you’re decorating your bathroom, it’s so important to find pieces that are both sturdy and snazzy. Polished chrome is an absolutely outstanding finish for bathroom accessories because it won’t corrode in damp and humid environments.
I love the high-gleam finish of chrome; it has a futuristic feel that makes it perfect for cool and contemporary spaces like this gray and white bathroom.
17. Storing Towels in Metal Baskets on Ladder
This bathroom is done in such lovely light neutral colors, so it can totally handle heavier decor items. A large rack with wire baskets provides plenty of towel storage and looks great doing it.
18. Camouflage Towels Behind Frosted Glass
This modern bathroom is so clever! It features these little glass cubbies that are hidden behind another sheet of frosted glass.
Using glass this way helps the unit blend right into the rest of the room. It also does a great job of keeping the room feeling bright and airy.
19. Rustic Floating Shelf
Let’s be honest, farmhouse interior design is definitely here to stay, and this powder room just embodies that enduring style. The floor-to-ceiling shiplap walls make this small space feel so much bigger while also setting a perfectly rustic tone.
This style choice is taken to the next level with decorative touches like rustic wood floating shelves, a vase of dried cotton blossoms, and a vanity made from a repurposed buffet. So charming!
20. Colorful Towels Pop Against An Understated Shelf
This shelving unit is pretty basic and straight out of the box. Its simple style is actually perfect for a bathroom that has a bold tiled wall and bright accent colors. It lets the other features shine.
21. Small Ways To Store Towels
This powder room is just adorable with its tiny square sink. A small mirror and a miniaturized ladder shelf really help keep the sink from feeling too oddly sized.
Plus, the shiny chrome fixtures and colorful towels add so much character to this dainty room.
22. Beautiful Bathroom Design with Wood Vanity and Recessed Shelving For Storage Space
Shelving that sticks out from the wall can make a small room feel even smaller, which is never the goal.
Setting recessed shelving right into the wall can help you organize your space so much better. I also love how the hooks on either side of the double vanity make sure hand towels are always accessible when you need them.
23. Mix and Match Elements For A Unique Look
This organizational cubby is so cool and creative, made up of crates in different sizes and colors.
Mixing and matching the paint and stain on each crate breaks up the visual effect. This little trick helps it look like it takes up less space than it actually does.
24. Mix Toiletries and Towels
This monochromatic room has lots of white accents and furnishings, which is so clean and fresh. Bringing some plants onto the ladder shelving adds a much-needed pop of color.
It’s a great reminder that storage can be used for decorative elements just as much as for practical use.
25. Stacked Towel Storage in Built-In Cabinet
While this narrow closet was originally designed to hold toiletries, you can totally use it to store towels with some creative folding. It creates a surprisingly multifunctional space.
If you fold them in half, hand towels fit perfectly in the tight space. Larger towels can also find a home here if you roll them up instead of doing a flat fold.
26. Towel Baskets and Shelves For Simple Decor
So many bathtubs have a little ledge where you can store your bath and body products. This bathroom leans right into that by featuring shelves above the ledge.
This way, the whole wall can be used for storage. Using clear glass jars helps make this more of a decorative feature, too.
27. Small Bathroom Vanity with Baskets and Hooks For Storage
This tiny room has a small freestanding vanity with very little storage.
A simple hook on the wall provides easy access to a towel, and a cute basket underneath the vanity holds other small towels and washcloths. You might just need to store the bigger bath towels in a nearby hallway closet.
28. Built-In Shelving For Easy Towel Organization
If your bathroom is lacking shelves, you can always build in a small cubby for towels and other little items.
I love the idea of wrapping it in the same tile you use for the rest of the walls. It helps it blend in and feel much more seamless.
29. Get A Shabby Chic Look with Distressed Metal Shelving
The aqua accent wall in this room gives off such a great shabby chic vibe. A decorative wire wall basket has been distressed, which really leans into that fashionable, battered style.
To add even more character to the shelving, you could hand-letter some labels for the baskets.
30. Hanging Towel Storage with Cute White Shelves
How chic is this? You can totally make these hanging shelves with some colorful rope, wooden planks, and a drill.
This piece has such clean, simple lines, and the wooden planks perfectly mirror the wooden slats on the walls. A hanging shelf like this is inexpensive, easy to put together, and complements the decor so well.
31. Towel Baskets
Open shelving makes towels so easy to access, but let’s be real, they can also look a bit sloppy if they aren’t folded perfectly.
Instead of stressing over every fold, you can keep your towels from looking unsightly by just tucking them away in woven rattan baskets. For those bigger bath sheets, just roll them up and keep them in a larger basket. Problem solved!
32. Amazing DIY Bathroom Towel Storage
For so many people, the back wall of the shower is just underutilized space. This room features a built-in waterfall fixture that is absolutely perfect for towel storage.
I think this design feature would be best in a bathroom with an extra-long bathtub, otherwise, your linens might get a little damp!
33. Asian Inspired Bathroom Decor with Open Storage
A large, modern bathroom can sometimes feel a bit sparse if it’s not furnished properly. This one is just right, with its large wooden cabinets, heavy marble countertops, a rough stone sink, and a mirror with a massive textured frame.
The room is big enough to totally sustain such heavy pieces. The large light fixtures are the perfect final touch to round out the look.
34. Delicate Hanging Ladder Is A Removable Storage Option
This hanging ladder is a great idea. It can be suspended from a hook or a nail on the back of the bathroom door, giving you some storage options without making a permanent structural change.
The natural rope and wood tones blend so well with the wicker laundry basket and dried flowers, making it a beautiful decorative element, too.
35. Metal Towel Holder
If you’re feeling short on storage options in your bathroom, wall-mounted shelves are such an excellent solution. This stylish unit has a cool industrial vibe, thanks to the bracketed metal frame and knotted wooden shelves.
On the wall next to it, a black metal rack has been mounted to a reclaimed wooden shutter, providing even more slots to stash bath towels.
And if you need to store smaller items on your shelves, clear glass jars are perfect for staying organized.
36. Wood Towel Bar
A wood towel rack is a great choice, but it should definitely be made from a water-resistant material like cherry, maple, oak, or red cedar.
If the shelf is treated with a waterproof sealant, it will hold up even better in a damp bathroom environment.
37. Modernize Your Space with Metal Shelving
This bathroom was feeling a little bland and monochromatic. Adding a black metal towel rack and some ladder shelving gives it a much more modern twist.
I also love how the textured and patterned towels add some extra visual interest.
38. Trendy Towel Rings
This high-end bathroom is filled with so many luxurious details, like that sleek marble floating sink. The only problem with a magazine-perfect space like this is that it isn’t always practical for everyday life.
But adding a simple wall-mounted ring for hand towels can instantly make the space a lot more accessible.
I love how this matte black metal towel ring is a perfect match for the sink features, so it doesn’t distract from the distinguished decor at all.
39. Simple Wall Mounted Towel Storage
This bathroom is set up with a changing area right next to it, which is so convenient. Large open shelves provide great storage options while also giving the eyes a strong focal point.
The hooks hanging from the wall offer even more storage alternatives.
40. Maximize Space with Corner Shelves
Corners can be so awkward, no matter what room you’re in. That’s why corner shelves are such a great way to utilize that space.
The brackets on these shelves are made with reclaimed pipes, which is a super cute and witty idea for a bathroom.
41. Easy Rope Towel Holder For Nautical Theme
This bathroom has such a cozy, coastal cottage feel, thanks to its retro pedestal sink and the seafoam green wainscoting and trim. That nautical flair is amplified even more by the addition of a DIY towel holder made from stiff, treated rope and metal hooks.
You can find both of those at your neighborhood hardware store! To complete the look, you could even wrap the same rope around a small mirror to create coordinating pieces.
42. Classy Storage Solution with Repurposed Armoire
This armoire has had its doors updated in such a cool way. Instead of being hidden away, the towels are now visible behind chicken wire.
Changing the doors like this can make an armoire seem much less overwhelming, especially in a small space.
43. White Ladder Shelf with Wicker Baskets For Extra Space
I love the light and bright colors in this room; they help the furniture feel way less imposing. The white ladder shelf blends in perfectly with the white wooden walls.
And the wicker baskets are a perfect complement to the natural wooden low bench by the window. It all works together so well.
44. Add Contrast Through Shelving
The white walls in this room could easily feel a little plain. That’s why I love how the heavy wood shelves with iron brackets help these shelves grab your attention and add some much-needed style.
They’re the perfect combination of fashion and function.
45. Modern Wall Mounted Towel Rack For Rolled Towels
These sleek metal shelves have such a simple design, but they add a lot of functional storage to this room.
The shiny finish really draws the eye, but the straight lines are still understated enough to not overwhelm the space.
46. Open Vanity and Shelving Creates Space
This room originally had zero storage options because the sink is built directly into the wall. Adding open shelving underneath the sink and against the adjacent wall gives you so much room to put towels and toiletries.
The ladder shelf gives you even more surfaces to work with, which is always a bonus.
4. Shop Around For A Ladder Towel Rack
While you can always keep dry towels in a closet, damp towels often get stuck on a hook on the back of the bathroom door. Towel ladders are a much more fashionable way to hang up towels after you use them.
So many towel ladders even come equipped with heat settings that will help your towels dry more quickly.
You can even use your heated towel ladder to warm up your towels during your bath or shower so they’re nice and toasty when you’re ready to dry off. How amazing is that?
48. Complement Your Minimal Decor with Hanging Towel Racks
This bathroom features these really sleek built-in cabinets. A low-profile ladder shelf in a natural wood brings a lot more warmth into the decor.
The white and tan towels are a perfect complement to both pieces of furniture and really help marry their styles together.
49. Charming Light Blue Rustic Built-In Cabinets
Large built-in cabinets can provide so much storage space, but they can also make a powder room feel cramped and small.
These are painted a light blue and paired with white marble countertops, which does a great job of making the room feel larger.
50. Ladder Shelves For Towel Storage Space
Ladder shelves are such an excellent storage solution in any bathroom. I love that the bottom shelves are broader, which is great for bigger items like large towels.
The unit gets narrower the higher the shelves go, helping make the stand feel less imposing in a small room. The narrower top shelves are just perfect for hand towels and washcloths, or even small decorative items.
51. Get Custom Shelves For Unusual Spaces
This bathroom has a really unusually sized cut out in the wall. These custom-cut shelves are a brilliant way to make that strange space into usable storage.
Longer shelves above them are done in a matching stain and provide even more storage options that go all the way to the top.
52. Keep Fixtures Minimal In A Dark Bathroom
This bathroom features large slate gray tiles on the wall, which is a strong look. Heavy shelving would make this room feel way too cramped.
A shiny rolled rack gives you a place to store towels without taking up too much space, keeping everything balanced.
53. Convert A Bedroom Into A Large Bathroom
If you move into an older house, you might find your bathroom is too small by modern standards.
Converting a bedroom into a bathroom is a great solution that gives you plenty of room for furniture with storage. I love that this bathroom conversion features tiles and a vanity that are era-appropriate in their design.
54. Small Cubbies Make Orderly Storage Alternatives
A high storage shelf above the toilet is such a great place to keep items like cleaning products.
Affixing small cubbies underneath the cabinet gives you a super convenient place to store several towels.
55. Convenient Corner Storage In Small Bathroom Area
This bathroom is covered in dark paint and has a serious lack of storage options.
A freestanding shelving unit in natural wood is a perfect fix. It lightens up the atmosphere a little and provides portable and inexpensive storage options.
56. Open Up Your Vanity
This bathroom has a large double vanity with open shelving. Such a massive piece of furniture could easily make a room feel cramped, but the open shelving is a great design choice that helps the space feel airy and light.
57. Wood Vanity with Open Bottom and Cage For Toiletries
This rustic farmhouse bathroom includes a repurposed wooden vanity that’s so charming. The towels underneath are concealed by a cute linen curtain.
This design element is something you usually see in a farmhouse kitchen, but it makes perfect stylistic sense here. It’s such a great way to hide things!
58. Rustic Towel and Toiletries Rack
This classic bathroom has a large footprint and high ceilings, which means it can totally handle larger decorative elements.
A large freestanding wire basket that holds both towels and magazines holds its own with the other decor items perfectly.
59. Simple and Affordable Towel Holder
Accordion peg racks are so often used in hallways as a place to hang coats and hats. I love that in addition to having a retro charm, they are incredibly practical.
You can adjust them to keep the pegs closer together or spread them farther apart. These versatile racks can also be used for hanging towels and can add some really fun vintage appeal to your bathroom decor.
60. Hanging Baskets In The Bathroom
This country-kitsch-inspired room incorporates a basket, which is always a great storage aid in a bathroom.
But instead of just resting it on the floor, it has been suspended from the wall by a vintage hook and a decorative bow. I think this turns it into such a fun, repurposed hanging shelf.
61. Rolled Towels on Floating Wood Shelves
Decorative objects are absolutely the best way to inject some personality into your home, and the bathroom is no exception. Floating shelves are great for storing cute knick-knacks like potted plants and wooden figurines, as well as more practical items like rolled-up hand towels.
I love how these blocky wooden shelves are made with unfinished wood, giving them an unfussy feel that fits in so well with low-key pieces like a wall-mounted tin light fixture.
62. Minimalist Towel Storage Design Can Still Be Functional
With its white walls and large window, this space lends itself perfectly to that Scandinavian minimalism vibe.
You can totally DIY a towel holder that fits the style with some stained wood planks and delicate wire brackets. The towels in neutral tones add a fun boho twist.
63. Vintage Pipes Add A Charming Decorative Touch To Wall Shelves
This masculine shelf is so well constructed with wood that has been stained dark and heavy vintage pipes. The pipes are such a clever touch for a bathroom, and the stylistic elements make this a real talking point.
64. Matching Vanity and Shelving with Baskets
This small bathroom has a really unique vanity with some great space-saving storage underneath. Matching baskets under the sink can hold extra rolls of toilet paper, washcloths, and hand towels. Using the baskets is a great way to help these everyday items look cute and chic.
A three-armed swinging towel bar adds an additional low-profile display option. I love that this example highlights a bunch of different towel storage options that can work in a small bathroom, so you’re never short on aesthetically-pleasing design ideas.
65. Wall Mounted Towel Rack Storage
If you live in a rental property, you’ll need to think about stylish and practical short-term storage solutions since you can’t make any permanent changes. This lightweight wall-mounted wire rack can hold decor, folded hand towels, folded washcloths, and various toiletries.
It even has a bar where you can hang hand towels. When you’re ready to move out, it comes down so easily with only a few small holes that need patching.
66. Wooden Upper Cabinets with Glass Front Doors
A tall cabinet like this could easily feel like it’s taking up too much space. A great trick is removing the wood from the upper doors and replacing it with glass panes, which helps it blend into the room better.
The design also echoes the adjacent lower cabinets, which are topped by a recessed mirror.
67. Towel Storage and Organizer For Small Bathroom
Not everyone can afford a full renovation of their homes, and that’s totally okay! If your bathroom lacks storage options, just bring in a freestanding shelf unit.
This one is broader on the bottom for more shelving space, and narrower at the top to lessen the visual impact.
It’s so important to research and experiment with different ideas for towel storage in small bathrooms to find the right fit and style for your home.
68. Rolling Carts Provide Flexible Storage Options
If you love to relax in a hot bath, you should totally consider using a rolling table or cart for a portable spa experience.
You can store larger items like extra towels underneath, and place relaxing things like flowers and candles on the top.
69. Rolled Racks Are Big Space Savers
This rolled rack easily holds four large bath sheets, which is amazing. Its sleek design is minimalist and has a low impact, though.
The white walls and shiny silver accents also help this bathroom feel a little bigger.
70. Wall Towel Storage with Modern Stacked Shelving
This room has such a clean, modern feel. Overly decorative shelving would totally clash with the sleek lines in this design.
This simple shelf perfectly holds five fluffy towels, but it still blends in beautifully with the rest of the decor choices.
71. Gorgeous Bathroom Design Concept
This large bathroom has so much space for storage. The neutral wood tones do a great job of balancing out the slate-gray stone feature wall.
I also love the X-shaped shelves in the freestanding cabinet; they provide another interesting place for the eye to go.
72. Vintage Furniture Offers Storage with Character
This bathroom is decorated in neutral tones with contemporary tile. It would be so easy for a space like this to feel boring.
A vintage wooden cabinet with decorative carvings adds a ton of personality to the room. The distressed metal decorative elements on top also help ground the room.
73. Blend Folding Shelves With The Walls
This farmhouse-inspired room features white shiplap on the walls, which I love. The white floating shelves blend perfectly into the wall, creating a seamless look.
The baskets on these shelves hold perfectly rolled-up washcloths and hand towels, making them super easy to access from the shower.
74. Freestanding Shelving Adds Rustic Flair
This freestanding shelving unit is a great DIY project; it can be made with just some planks, wooden stain, and a hammer and nails. It has a texture to it that brings a lot of warmth to this space.
Resting it in a corner utilizes the space well and gives it plenty of stability.
75. Storage Space Over The Toilet Works For Small Bathrooms
This bathroom has high ceilings, so placing a tall shelving unit above the toilet is a genius way to take advantage of that unexpected real estate.
Just make sure that the shelf is shallow enough that it doesn’t extend past the toilet tank.
