A Brilliant Solution for Small Bathrooms With No Counter Space!
We just moved into a new apartment & our bathroom is tiny and oddly laid out with no counter space & no vanity... We had some existing shelves hung - but as you can see (even with baskets) it just wasn't enough storage....
Since the pedestal sink and toilet were so close together there was also next to no space to add more storage. So I came up with this cheap, easy, solution! Check out the video for the how-to's!
Before 
A cluttered mess...
First, I measured the distance from the edge of the toilet to the edge of the sink. Then, I measured to make sure the shelf wouldn't stick out much further than the sink and that the height was what I was looking for as well!
Next stop, IKEA! I found this bathroom shelf that fit perfectly from IKEA "VESKEN" for under $10.
(They have a lot of inexpensive bathroom shelves to choose from if you have more space than I had to work with!)
This shelf is super easy to snap together. It's 9" deep, 14 1/8 " wide, and 39 & 3/8" tall.
After assembling my shelf, I put it in place! (If you have more space this would also work well by putting it sideways!) Next, I measured the distance from the shelf to the wall & then measured above the toilet to see how far I wanted the top to stick out to make sure it wasn't too crammed.
Next stop, Home Depot! I took my measurements to Home Depot and had them cut two pieces of wood.
I also grabbed some stain and some brackets. (the wood for the top shelf only cost me a total of $15!)
Next, I sanded and stained my wood, wiped off the excess, then let it dry.
After it was dry I sealed it with polyurethane to protect from water spills.
Next, I installed my brackets onto the wood and attached it to the wall.
I made sure the shelf height matched up with the height of the IKEA storage baskets.
(I did it this way because the space was so tight - it was easier to attach and drill the holes before adding the wood!)
Following that, I glued the smaller piece of wood to the installed top & let that dry. If you are cutting the wood yourself you can cut this all in one piece (and skip this step) but they could only cut straight cuts at Home Depot so I had to work with it 
I then added a bracket to the side for extra stability.
Next it was time to organize!
Since my space was so small and I had to add the shelf sideways - I needed a bin to slide out the side. I measured and found these perfect bins at my local dollar store. They were actually flower pots that once I removed the insert became the perfect size bin!
I then organized by what I had the most of....
"skin"
"hair"
and "fragrances."
Next, I wanted to add some texture & organize the existing shelves hung above the toilet. So I grabbed some mixed baskets!
The big one was great for a first aid kit and shaving kit.
I added my straighteners, and other miscellaneous items in the others.
To finish off the look I adding an inexpensive hook from IKEA that I already had lying around for a hand towel, and some accents to personalize the space. 
I never thought my tiny bathroom could ever be this organized!
I now have easy access to everything and my mornings just became almost stress free!
I now have a place to put on my make up & I know exactly where everything is!
I hope this inspires you to get creative & solve a tight space problem in your home!
Resources for this project:
See all materials
Comments
Join the conversation
-
"shelving that supports go on both sides of toilet and has 3 shelves on top. Stainless steel that matches my faucet and shower faucet Cost....$39.00 took 30 minutes to take out of box, put together and install.."
Measure carefully. I have this rack. The toilet lid hits the bottom shelf when it is "up" and won't stay up so I had to add some "risers" to each leg. Not attractive risers but it works.
-
What a smart and practical solution! Small bathrooms can be such a challenge, and finding ways to maximize storage without sacrificing style is a win. I love how you’ve made use of the space around the sink and toilet, it’s inspiring me to rethink my own tiny bathroom setup. When we moved into our place, we also had limited space, so I added shelves with hooks underneath for towels and toiletries. On a related note, I’ve been reading Mr Waterheater reviews while considering upgrading our water heater for better efficiency.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Looks great! Talk about a small bathroom. I didn't think anyone had a smaller complete bathroom than we have. So great job! Now my question. Where do you store toilet paper? We, like you, have some room on top of the toilet tank. Ours can hold three rolls in a pretty basket. When you need it, you need it now.
Why the piece over the toilet tank that you aren't using?
Pretty ingenious use of this space!
Because potentially infectious aerosols are created every time the toilet is flushed, thereby potentially contaminating everything you have in the shelves/baskets next to the toilet, may I suggest 2 considerations?
Thought it came with wheels. Not much elbow room at toilet.
Is it not uneven with one leg on mat?