Why you should trust us
I am a staff writer at Wirecutter covering home and decor, specializing in small spaces: I’ve written our guides to small entryways and small bedrooms, and also spent my entire life dealing with small bathrooms — first, the one I shared with my sister while growing up, then a series of shared bathrooms in cramped apartments in D.C. and New York, and now, finally, a small bathroom in Los Angeles that I often share with my boyfriend.
I have tested dozens of products over several years in these bathrooms, evaluating items I’ve found from my own research as well as those vetted by my colleagues who’ve covered a range of topics, including shower caddies, wall hooks, and stackable storage containers.
For this guide, I also reached out to several home organizers, interior designers, and small-space experts for their thoughts on keeping the smallest (but I would argue most important) room in our homes in check, including:
- Jill Singer, co-founder of SightUnseen and co-author of How to Live with Objects
- Cristina Cleveland, an interior designer
- Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing
- Colin Chee, co-founder and creative director of Never Too Small
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.
Below, their expert advice — plus the best tiny-bathroom products that will help you put those strategies into motion.
Choose accessories that double as decor
Whenever possible, make your everyday bathroom items beautiful, or store them in a beautiful way. I personally love repurposing ceramic yogurt containers to store toothbrushes and makeup brushes, but you can also, as interior designer Christina Cleveland suggests, use vintage glassware. Design author Jill Singer, who’s partial to Virginia Sim’s Ood holder or a pretty mug, suggests gathering objects together on a pretty tray; creative director Colin Chee agrees: “Even if the bottles are placed casually, a nice tray makes everything look intentional.” Here are a few delightful items that also proved durable in our tests:
A statement garbage can: Dusen Dusen Pedal Trash Bin
Top pick
The Dusen Dusen Pedal Trash Bin is made from colorful powder-coated steel in two patterns, bringing whimsy to even the dreariest bathrooms, while still holding a plastic grocery bag’s worth of trash in its inner plastic pail. A pedal opens and closes the lid quietly, for hands-free use. (If you prefer something more low-key, the Simplehuman’s 4.5-Liter Bathroom Trash Can has a foot pedal similar to the Dusen Dusen but a slightly larger footprint, and comes in white, black, or steel finishes.)
A sculptural soap dish: Mosser Glass Bathing Lady
Top pick
Just about any vessel can hold soap, but few are as beautiful or as thematically suited as this bathing lady dish. Though she’s roughly 9 inches long, her bowl is just about 4.5 inches in diameter, making it perfect for housing items like hair elastics, lip balm, bobby pins — and, of course, bar soap (smaller standard soaps, like Dove, fit perfectly, but you may need to cut larger bars in half). Heftier than other dishes, she sits securely on slim countertops, even if it’s wet, and comes in several opaque and translucent color options. (For an even cuter display, consider treating yourself to gorgeous guest soaps, such as these from Claus Porto, which editor Daniela Gorny loves; their diminutive dimensions make them easy to store).
Tinted glass storage: West Elm Color Blocked Glass Canister
Top pick
For bathroom items you access regularly (such as Q-tips, cotton rounds, or tampons), we love these colorful glass containers from West Elm. They’re just transparent enough to see through, making it easy to identify what you need, but the glass’s tinting obscures what’s inside, lending a more harmonious look to your space. The lids add just a little more privacy as well as dust protection. These containers come in a pink/orange combo or a blue/green, in small (4 inches in diameter by 6 inches tall) or large (4.7 inches in diameter by 7 inches tall).
Opt for slender accessories
For small bathrooms, bigger isn’t always better. These slim but mighty picks gracefully slip into tight corners and squeeze into nooks (including the smallest of drawers).
An airy hamper: Yamazaki Rolling Wire Basket (24″ H) – Steel + Wood
Top pick
If your home (like mine) lacks any reasonable spot to put laundry, this tall and narrow basket from Yamazaki makes the most of a small space. The basket consists of water-resistant steel with a sleek wooden handle (the wheels fasten easily onto the bottom). The open wire frame also allows plenty of airflow to prevent clothes from getting gross while they await cleaning day — which, as an avid runner without an in-unit laundry, I’ve found vital for my routine. Two of its four wheels lock with a lever switch, so it stays put where it’s wanted but also rolls easily down the hall when it’s time to get washing.
An unassuming toilet brush: Simplehuman Toilet Brush
Top pick
A toilet brush may have an ugly job, but that doesn’t mean it has to look ugly. This brush from Simplehuman impressed us during testing, not only for its strong bristles but also its smart design features — such as the bristles’ circular shape that makes cleaning underneath the toilet seat easy; the brush’s small magnet that holds it sturdily in its caddy; the caddy’s open back that promotes more airflow. Moreover, we appreciate that it’s visually striking, resembling a gladiator helmet or an alien head more than an excrement scrubber. This is especially beneficial for small bathrooms where your eye can’t help but notice every object. At only 3.5 inches wide, this toilet cleaner is slimmer than most, so it squeezes into even the tiniest space between toilet and wall.
A wee organizer that fits into tiny drawers: iDesign Plastic In Drawer
Organizer Trays
Top pick
At just 2 inches deep, the modular iDesign Kitchen Drawer Organizer 6-piece set fits into most drawers, including the very narrow ones in my bathroom. The 6-by-6-inch compartment currently accommodates my headbands; the 3.3-by-9.6-inch compartment holds two hair brushes, and the 3-by-3-inch corrals my sample-sized eye creams and hair elastics. The non-skid rubber feet keep everything in place, even as I grab and go. (We also recommend the more-customizable iDesign Linus Shallow Drawer Organizers, which are sold as individual 2-inch containers and made of thicker plastic than the other iDesign containers.)
Use your walls and doors as storage
Whether that’s installing door hooks or wall hooks, no need to stick to the same old hardware-store models. Experiment with designs that give you joy every time you use them. For this guide, we tested a range of styles for both ease of use and durability; these are the ones that came out on top.
Drill-free hooks: Home SO Suction Cup Hook Holder
Top pick
Ideal for bathrooms that feature extensive tiling or rentals that discourage drilling, the Home SO Bathroom Suction Cup Hook adheres surprisingly well. One of our long-term tester’s hooks stayed put for almost a year before sliding off (he simply had to re-suction it to the tile), and mine has been hanging strong for several weeks in my shower, even while being exposed to water and moisture. (They’ve also received ample acclaim on TikTok where people have hung them on glass shower doors.) With a weight capacity of 15 pounds, each hook can easily handle a towel, swimsuit, or loofah. Choose from various colors, including chrome and matte finishes.
Bright spots for heavier items: Hewi Wall Hooks
Top pick
If you don’t mind drilling, Hewi Wall Hooks are a cute way to hang your bath accessories. Made from colorful closed-cell polyamide (a hard, waterproof nylon), the easy-to-install hooks attach via three screws (plus anchors, included) to keep them super secure. Extending about 2 inches from the wall, with a 25-pound weight capacity and a generously curved no-slip design, the Hewi hook is well-suited not only for bathroom essentials but also heavier items, like laundry bags. These hooks come in a variety of colors and sizes, and you can match them to your cabinet handles and shower hooks, too.
Sweet knobs, all in a row: Oslo 5-Hook Over Door Rack
Top pick
To make the most of your bathroom door, the Oslo rack (in one-, three-, or five-hook options) sits on its top edge, with a protective foam underneath the steel frame. The rounded rubberwood knobs have held up to my steamy showers with no molding or staining, and their smooth shape avoids snagging on towels or robes. This rack should work with most standard 1⅜-inch doors.
Maximize shower storage
Small bathrooms often mean small shower spaces as well. To avoid soap bottles slipping off narrow ledges, invest in a sturdy shower organizer that keeps all your products out of the way yet within easy reach. These two are our favorites.
Maximum shower storage: OXO Good Grips 3-Tier Aluminum Shower Caddy
Top pick
The smallest, most compact pick in our guide to shower caddies, the OXO Aluminum 3-Tier Shower Caddy, also helps roommates or partners avoid arguments over shower-storage space. The three levels of the rack fit more than any other we tested, easily accommodating four bottles of shampoos and conditioners, a tube of shaving cream, a full-size face wash, 34-ounce and 5.5-ounce bottles of bodywash, a bar of soap, a razor, and a loofah. What’s more, it was the easiest of all we tested to install; just hang it over the shower and anchor it with the included suction cups, which help keep the whole thing stable.
Customizable slots for necessities: Quiet Town The Spot
Top pick
It stores much less than the OXO shower caddy, and costs significantly more, but Quiet Town’s The Spot is a stylish option for someone who simply needs a place for essentials and is willing to splurge. (And when you’re ready for a new look, you could easily repurpose it for use in an entryway, over a desk, or behind a door.) Made from powder-coated aluminum, it comes in four colors and has a modular design for further customization (each comes with one medium and one small basket, a soap dish, a mirror, and a single hook). Other add-ons (like a razor holder, or single-bottle basket) are sold separately. The modular pieces I tested fit securely, but I found that the mirror can separate from its backing when yanked at the wrong angle. The Spot hangs from a PVC strap notched like a belt, allowing it to be extended from 8.375 inches to 29.25 inches long; four adhesive patches anchor the rack more securely to your wall.
Add more counter and cabinet space
In a small space, especially one without a wide countertop (or any countertop), it’s necessary to create your own — whether that’s with rolling carts, or even a cabinet that fits around your sink pedestal. Chee suggests you can even hang a shelf above the door frame, if you’re really pinched for storage. And Jill Singer advises always choosing integrated storage when possible — for instance, instead of a simple mirror over the sink, choose a mirror with storage behind it. Remember, with tiny bathrooms, your eyes and attention can become taxed quickly, and you’re at risk of knocking things over, so keep out only the items you use most often, says Hord, and corral them together to look more neat, you might even consider removing labels from certain jars and bottles, or place them in coordinated containers, to create a sense of cohesion.
A shallow floating shelf: Yamazaki Wall Mounted Shelf
Top pick
Made from wood and steel (in either black or white), this clean, uncomplicated floating shelf hangs from two simple screws that seamlessly blend into the steel frame (which also doubles as a railing to keep items from falling off). At about 30 inches long and 8 inches deep, it juts out less than a typical shelf, but can hold up to 11 pounds — perfect for small items like candles, a stack of folded hand towels, or a cosmetics bag. None of our long-term testers or online buyers have noted any issue with warping or scratches, either.
Built-up counterspace: Yamazaki Countertop Shelf – Steel
Top pick
At just a little over 4 inches tall, 10 inches deep, and 8.5 inches wide, this steel shelf riser fits several shorter everyday items underneath and anything else up on the top; stack two atop each other for even more storage (just keep the 11-pound weight limit in mind). Four rubber pads on the bottom keep this shelf firmly in place, but holes at the bottom also allow for drilling. This shelf is available in white or black powder-coated steel.
Hide things under the sink
Corralling bathroom staples under the sink allows for more open space — a necessity when that space is shared during the morning rush. These petite picks fit happily into a small under-sink cabinet, or create a storage spot if you don’t have one.
Delightfully compact drawers: The Container Store 2-Drawer Mesh Organizer
Top pick
The Container Store Silver 2-Drawer Mesh Organizer is made from durable epoxy-coated steel mesh and, at just about 13 by 7.5 by 12 inches (depth by width by height), it easily fits into even the shallowest under-sink cabinet. Unlike most cabinet organizers we tested, it also comes with four holes in the base so it can be screwed into the bottom of a vanity for further stability. It has slightly more clearance between its bottom drawer and top drawer, so it accommodates taller bottles (up to 7.5 inches in height) either below or above.
See-through bins: Vtopmart 4 Pack Large Stackable Storage Drawers
Top pick
A great option for storing bigger bathroom products (full-size hair products, body sunscreens, an entire box of tampons), these stackable bins are an organizational godsend. My fellow skeptic and colleague Caroline Mullen vetted them first, and now I can vouch for them as well: They can be used alone or stacked, and thanks to rubber pads on the bottom, they’ll stay their ground. A small lip on each drawer makes pulling it out seamless, and the clear plastic makes it easy to see what you need.
Shelves that hug: IKEA Rågrund Shelving
Top pick
At around 20 inches high, IKEA’s Rågrund shelves are short enough to fit below a variety of pedestal sinks without bumping into the bowl, and their triangular shape is ideal for presenting a clean look on the front while still fitting to hide ugly pipes in the center. They also work beautifully tucked into an unused corner, which is how I use mine. Building the shelves is easy — there are only five very light bamboo pieces to fit together, and I completed the task in about five minutes. After a few months’ use, I am not noticing any dents or discoloration, but of course, will keep my eye on the shelves going forward.
Optimize overlooked spaces
Even in the tiniest bathrooms, you’ll find a few sneaky spots rife for storage. It requires a bit of creativity to see the side of your toilet or the inside of your sink as potential solutions, but the right products will allow you to make use of these spaces to their full capacity.
A no-footprint source for sudsing up: Yamazaki Traceless Adhesive Soap Dispenser
Top pick
For the teensiest bathroom counters, save space by affixing your soap onto the tile or wall above your sink. To set up this Yamazaki soap dispenser (in white or black plastic), just rip the backing off the included adhesive cleat strip, smack it where you want it, and press firmly for a few seconds for the dispenser to affix securely. To refill it, just detach the entire bottle from the adhesive hook or remove the lid and fill in place. The Traceless container sticks to the shower wall to dispense shampoo, too.
A space-saving stick-on: Yamazaki Traceless Adhesive Toilet Paper Holder
Top pick
Anyone who has reached for toilet paper only to come up empty-handed knows that it’s better to stock extra whenever possible. For the smallest bathrooms, we like this stick-on solution from Yamazaki. Press the adhesive onto your toilet for an unrelenting minute, and it will stay stuck (mine has hung tight for over a year). The holder comes in white or black, and stocks two rolls at a time. (For more TP-holder-and-storage solutions, see this Ask Wirecutter advice piece.)
Tangle-free hair-dryer rack: Umbra Hide ’n’ Sink Under Sink Caddy
Top pick
The Umbra Hide ’n’ Sink Under Sink Caddy slips right over the door of a vanity cabinet, leaving its floor space free to store other items. (Be sure to check your cabinet door before buying: The padded hooks can fit over a straight door up to three-quarter inches wide, but not one that is angled on top). The Umbra caddy has a unique slot designed for storing a hair dryer, but it’s also a good solution for storing sponges or other cleaning supplies. The metal hooks peek out slightly at the top of a vanity door, even when it’s closed, which may bother some people.
A slim and movable cart: IKEA Råskog Utility Cart
Top pick
Easier to build than some IKEA products (we only needed 15 minutes), the IKEA Råskog cart is incredibly affordable yet built with a sturdy epoxy-coated steel frame that stands up well to humid environments. Three 11-by-15-inch trays provide plenty of space to store towels, cleaning supplies, and more. Staff editor Signe Brewster finds this cart especially helpful for storing her kid’s bath toys (as shown above) because the slotted trays allow water to drain through, so no mildew can collect from the wet toys between bath times. And when she needs it out of the way, the lockable wheels help it stay put until it’s time to roll back over.
This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Joanne Chen.
Sources
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Jill Singer, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Sight Unseen and co-author of How to Live with Objects, phone interview, April 18, 2025
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Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, email interview, April 21, 2025
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Colin Chee, creator and creative director of Never Too Small, email interview, April 22, 2025
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Cristina Cleveland, interior designer, email interview, April 24, 2025
