Choosing the best bathroom storage and cabinets

Maximising bathroom storage is essential for maintaining a tidy, functional space, especially when dealing with limited square footage. Whether you have a spacious shower room, compact family bathroom or a small en suite, finding creative storage solutions can help to reduce cluttered chaos. 

We’ve also asked homeowners to rate the bathroom furniture they’ve bought for quality and durability, so you know where to head to find the best bathroom cabinets and storage.

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Planning your bathroom storage

In an ideal world, you'll be able to plan your storage when designing your new bathroom so that you can make the most of the space you have. If this is the case, start by thinking about how you use your bathroom. Answering the following questions will give you a good idea of how much storage you'll need:

• What exactly do you need storage for? And how much? A family of four can soon acquire a lot of bathroom clutter.
• How regularly will you use different these different items, and how easily accessible should they be?
• How much do you want to hide away or protect from dust and germs, and how much do you want to have out on display? 
• Don't forget the essentials – where will you hang your towels, store the spare loo rolls and keep toothbrushes and toothpaste?

But that doesn't mean you can't retrofit effective bathroom storage solutions. Freestanding cabinets, wall shelves, baskets and even hanging shower caddies can all make a big difference.

Planning your bathroom from scratch? Discover the best and worst bathrooms brands according to our research

Where to buy the best bathroom furniture

We asked thousands of customers to rate the quality and durability of the bathroom storage cabinets they bought from various brands. We gathered enough data to rate 12 leading bathrooms brands. 

Bathroom cabinets rated

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The top-scoring brands got four stars for both the quality and durability of their bathroom cabinets.

A large number of well-known brands pulled in a middling three stars for quality and durability, and the worst-performing scored only two. 

Find out more about these companies in our bathroom brand reviews for B&Q, Homebase, Victorian Plumbing and Wickes

How to choose good-quality bathroom furniture and units

As well as opting to buy from a reliable bathroom brand, keep a few things in mind when considering what type of units to buy.

The joins you choose will make a difference to how long your units last. There are three main types: 

• wooden dowels glued into holes
• wooden dowels secured in holes with two or three screws
• wooden dowels secured in holes with two sets of metal studs and cams (these are essentially discs that, once inserted into the holes and turned 90 degrees, secure the dowel in place)

The first option tends to be the weakest, and the last the strongest. Pre-built units tend to be sturdier that flat-pack cabinets, in part because they are more likely to have been assembled correctly by experts, rather than DIYers.

Consider materials too, as solid wood units are stronger and more likely to last longer than their cheaper MDF and chipboard counterparts. Also, generally speaking, the thicker the material the better. 

Find out how people rated various brands for durability and quality in our guide to the best bathroom sinks, taps, toilets, baths and showers

Built-in vs freestanding bathroom storage

Built-in bathroom storage

Built-in storage maximises the available space and can give your bathroom a sleeker finish with fewer gaps for dust to gather. 

Vanity units – essentially bathroom cabinets that are fitted around a sink – are one of the most common types of built-in bathroom furniture. They're usually bought as part of a bathroom suite, or pre-fit with a sink, although you can buy freestanding options with space for a sink siphon or pedestal.

If you have a lot of space, you could opt for a double vanity unit with two sinks, increasing your worktop space for bathroom essentials like toothbrushes and toothpaste and reducing the potential for squabbles over sink space. 

For smaller bathrooms, a combination vanity unit that forms one large cabinet around the sink and toilet makes use of the wasted space between a sink and toilet. They also hide any ugly pipework, but do bear in mind that they make access trickier if there are plumbing issues.

For more information about putting together your dream bathroom, read how to design a bathroom: decor ideas and tips

Freestanding bathroom storage

However, freestanding furniture is generally a cheaper option and offers lots of choice and flexibility. You'll find plenty of options to suit your space, from tall cabinets to drawer units and ladder shelving.

Ideally, fix any freestanding bathroom cabinets to the wall for safety, especially if you have small children.

Another option is wall-mounted cabinets, which are easy enough to mount yourself if you’re confident with DIY.

Before buying, check if the furniture is intended for use in the bathroom, as it will be exposed to a lot of moisture and heat. If you upcycle or adapt furniture designed for any room, make sure it’s varnished or painted to withstand the wet and damp.

Visit our guide on small bathroom ideas for more tips on maximising space

Bathroom storage ideas

Tall bathroom storage cabinets

Full-height bathroom cabinets, also called bathroom tallboys, make maximum use of vertical space. Ideally, get one that is as tall as possible, but make sure you can still reach items stored higher up – or use this space for rarely used items.

Slimline units and corner models are great to fit into narrow gaps, but you can also go for a wider unit. Mirrored cabinets can also make a small space look bigger.

Cabinets with open shelves are usually cheaper, but a unit with a door will help keep dust at bay. Or opt for a unit that's half cabinet and half open shelving.

If it's not full-height, you could buy a basket for added storage on top. 

Remember to fix it to the wall for safety.

A good-quality bathroom doesn't have to cost a fortune. Read our guide to updating bathrooms on a budget

Bathroom mirrors with storage

A bathroom mirror cabinet can make the room seem lighter and larger, and many now include features such as motion-sensor lights and internet connectivity. 

It can also save you the trouble of mounting a separate mirror, and provides a handy spot for toothbrushes, facewash and any prescriptions when space around the sink is limited. 

Opt for a smart bathroom mirror and you could also watch TV or streaming services, and display information such as the news, weather, transport updates or even your calendar.

Before splashing out on an expensive smart mirror, consider how often you'll use all the features, and whether you're prepared to deal with any technical difficulties you may encounter. 

For example, if you struggle to get a strong internet connection in your bathroom, trying to watch Netflix while brushing your teeth is going to be frustrating.

Under-sink bathroom storage

While you may not have a built-in vanity unit, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of the space under your sink. 

Freestanding cupboards can be modified to fit around a pedestal, or you could simply slot a semi-circle wire rack in front of the sink. Ikea even suggests using two of its Rågrund corner shelf units under the sink. 

Just be aware that you may find yourself spending a lot of time retrieving bottles that have fallen behind open shelving units, or slipped through the gaps of wire shelves. 

As well as the space under the sink, you can also utilise the space over the loo. Plenty of freestanding bathroom units are designed to fit around and over the toilet. A couple of floating shelves fitted above the loo will give a similar effect. 

Just be aware of the 'toilet plume'. This is the spray of particles that occurs when you flush the loo, so be mindful what you store here. A wall-mounted cabinet above the loo might work better. 

Bathroom towel storage

Despite using them every day, towels can be an afterthought in a bathroom. It's important to make room to hang up damp towels so that they can dry off quickly, helping to avoid condensation and damp issues. You may also wish to store your clean, dry towels in the bathroom for convenience.

Consider these towel storage options for damp towels:

• Wall hooks or over-door hangers - these are the cheapest and easiest solution, and using the back of the door is a great space-saver. 
• Towel racks and rails - freestanding options are simple to add to your bathroom, but might make the space feel cluttered. Opt for wall mounted if possible. 
• Heated towel rail - a more expensive option that may require installation (some freestanding options are available), but they will dry your towels quicker, and mean you can have the luxury of a warm towel when you step out of the shower.  

Consider these towel storage options for clean, dry towels:

• Ladder shelf - these are a popular way to display towels, but can soon start to look messy. 
• Floating shelves - look for a spot that's high enough to keep them out of the way, but easy enough to grab. You may wish to use the dead space above the door, so long as you can reach.
• Baskets and boxes - a basket or box on the floor is an easy solution, so long as they don't get in the way.

Check out the best towels according to our tests, plus how to get fluffy towels 

Toilet roll storage

Loo roll is a bathroom staple and it’s important to keep it moisture and dust free, but also accessible so you don’t get caught short. 

Consider these toilet roll storage options:

• Wall-mounted toilet roll holder - a classic, but you’ll need to find somewhere to store the rest of your loo rolls, like a basket or cupboard.
• Freestanding toilet roll holder - like a kitchen roll holder but taller. You can get them with a post that pivots at the top to act as a loo roll holder. Be mindful that cheaper models are likely to be wobbly.
• Slimline cabinet - one that fits by the side of the loo is a great space saver and keeps your toilet roll moisture and dust-free. 
• Novelty loo roll storage - such as a wall-mounted cloud shelf or freestanding storage that resembles a sheep are options for those with kookier tastes.

We tested the best toilet roll and rated different brands for comfort, strength and absorbency

Shower caddies and shelves

Bottles and accessories lined up around the edge of the bath not only look messy, they can also trap moisture and make it harder to spot signs of damp and mould. If you can, declutter the number of bottles that live on the edge of your bath, moving those you don't use frequently elsewhere. 

There are plenty of good options for storing shampoo, shower gel and more. Consider these options: 

• Shower caddies - cheap and effective, and many can be hung over your shower screen or around the shower pole. Look for a tiered option that will hold plenty of bottles, and it's worth spending a bit more to find one that won't rust and will last a long time. Shower shelves you can screw onto the shower pole, such as Ikea's Brogrund, are super space-savers.
• Spring-loaded corner units - look for a spring-loaded pole with shelves that will fit the space between your bath and ceiling, or from floor to ceiling in your shower cubical. Again look for quality to make sure it stays put and doesn't rust.
• Baskets with suction cups - suction cups used to be irritatingly unreliable, but have vastly improved over recent years. To ensure yours looks good and stays stuck, look for premium products from brands such as Joseph Joseph.
• Bath tray caddies - these have become popular on social media platforms such as Instagram, but you might find this more of an aesthetically pleasing accessory, rather than a useful storage solution. They can also get mouldy and start to look unsightly. 
• Recessed shower shelves- these look sleek and stylish, but are only really an option if you’re renovating your bathroom or re-tiling. Make sure they’re well sealed so you don’t get leaks.

Bathroom storage baskets and boxes

Baskets and boxes are a simple and affordable way to organise your bathroom clutter. Use them to help keep cupboards tidy, shelves looking neat and to keep all your toothbrushing paraphernalia together. 

You could even use them on the floor to store towels and loo rolls if necessary.

It's worth decluttering old bottles and bathroom bits first though, otherwise you might end up with too many baskets and boxes crammed full of stuff you don't need, and your bathroom will still feel messy.

Where to buy bathroom storage

There are plenty of retailers selling the bathroom storage options mentioned throughout this article:

• Amazon bathroom storage
• Argos bathroom storage
• B&M bathroom storage
• B&Q bathroom storage
• Dunelm bathroom storage
• Homebase bathroom storage
• Ikea bathroom storage 
• Next bathroom storage

How Which? rates bathroom brands

In June 2023 we asked 6,833 Which? subscribers and members of the public about the bathroom they bought in the past five years and their experiences with the company they bought it from.

Respondents rated the retailer for the buying process, such as how knowledgeable the staff were and how it dealt with problems, and the quality and durability of the bathroom itself.

To be able to rate a brand's bathroom overall, they needed to have bought three of the following items: tap, shower, bath, toilet and shower enclosure. We also asked people to rate these individual components.