Bathroom storage- Can you really ever have enough? Not in my book. When we set out to remodel our main bathroom, storage was at the top of the need/want list. I wanted to exploit every possible storage opportunity.
Of course I love looking at photos on Pinterest and Houzz of minimal, clean, open and airy bathrooms. Who wouldn't love one of those????
Maybe someone who has to keep several rolls of toilet paper handy and tucked out of sight.
Or anyone who wants to brush their teeth and not have their toothbrush on display.
Yep, normal people, like us.
Are you looking to maximize bathroom storage? Here are my top tips:
GET A VANITY WITH DRAWERS
It's no secret that drawers allow you to have your things better organized and accessible. Yes, we had a ton of storage space under the sinks in our previous bathroom, but it was the black hole where sunscreen and scented lotions went to die. It was unorganized and unreachable. Having a vanity with drawers puts the products right at your fingertips and in your line of sight.
Now finding a vanity with functional drawers and ample storage space is like a quest for the Holy Grail. Either the drawers are cut in thirds to work around the plumbing, or they are more custom and higher end and are out of reach for the normal person working with a limited budget.
I found the perfect marriage of style, function and price with the Ikea Rattviken vanity. I wasn't crazy about the knobs, but I had a plan for that. For $409 per vanity (I needed two) I got the drawers I wanted and the countertop and sink included. Score!
I found this hardware from (affiliate link) Young House Love at Home Depot and added it to the front of the vanity for the ultimate Ikea Rattviken hack.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX- USE A PIECE OF FURNITURE
Our old bathroom had 96 inches of countertop. 96 inches!!! Who needs that much countertop? When planning the remodel of the bathroom I searched and searched for a piece of furniture to fit between the two vanities and found the perfect piece in this vintage secretary.
Now, I have a pretty display space on top for guest towels. A pull down table top that adds additional counter space when needed and THREE more drawers. Big storage and style upgrade! Brooks painted the secretary Sherwin Williams Intellectual Gray and added gold highlights.
USE A MEDICINE CABINET INSTEAD OF A FLAT MIRROR
Using a wall mounted medicine cabinet didn't take up any more space than a flat mirror, but it added three storage shelves. I love the simple clean look of the beveled edge. Now toothbrushes, deodorant and cologne/perfume are tucked away and within arms reach.
We used (affiliate link) THESE MEDICINE CABINETS. If you haven't seen our Master Bathroom Makeover, we also used medicine cabinets in that design and LOVE THEM.
Now, storage aside- Can we talk about those walls? Those gorgeous, patterned metallic walls........... They were done with the rich luxurious Modern Masters Matte Metallic paints with just the right amount of shimmer.
We first started with a base color primer tinted to Benjamin Moore Jamesboro Gold because we read this great post about the Top 5 Tips for working with Metallic Paints. We were trying to build the base so it wouldn't take a ton of coats of the metallic paint. Then we rolled on two coats of Modern Masters Matte Metallic Paint in Brass. Then we followed up with the Rockin Roses Stencil in Modern Masters Matte Metallic in Oyster. I can't tell you how much I love these walls. I catch a glimpse of them down the hall and my heart sings.
I love how this art from Gina Julian and Britt Bass adds a pop of color in the room.
HOW TO SAVE FOR A BATHROOM REMODEL
Ready for this? I bought at least one piece for the new bathroom every month for a year. One month it was the lighting, next it was a toilet, then a sink, and then a vanity, and so on and so on. It took one full year. I knew the bulk of the expenses would be with the actual installation of tile, plumbing and electrical. Those expenses had to be saved for and paid at the actual time of the remodel. The other expenses I could stagger throughout the year. It made the whole process a lot easier to swallow financially speaking.
After photos by Geinger Hill.
We paint bathroom vanities and cabinets
If a full scale remodel is not in your budget, we can give your existing kitchen and bathroom cabinets a facelift with paint and glaze. We'd love to talk to you about your project!
[…] (and final) bathroom renovation in this house. I wrote about our Master Bath renovation and our Hall Bath renovation. The smartest thing I did for both bathrooms was to start buying one piece at a time up […]