25 Over the Toilet Storage Ideas in 2023

While most homeowners make sure that their kitchen has plenty of storage, they often neglect their bathrooms. There is a lot of unused space in the bathroom, which can be efficiently utilized for storage.

There is a lot to store in the bathroom – towels, toiletries, bathroom tissues, and several other things. By adding more storage to your bathroom, you can make it all look organized.

Let’s discuss some over the toilet storage ideas for a more beautiful bathroom.

Over the Toilet Shelves

Simple and neat – just install a couple of bathroom shelves over the toilet. These shelves can hold your towels, toilet papers, extra hand soap and lotion, and art pieces as well. Why shouldn’t the bathroom look beautiful? 

It’s the room where you relax and look around (of course, if you don’t have your phone in your hand). Make sure it looks beautiful and green by placing a couple of houseplants on these shelves. Speaking of houseplants, there are several other places in the bathroom where you can keep them – for example, near the basin.

Rustic Chicken Wire Shelf

Going for a rustic look? You’re going to need to bring it in through your decor to drown out the shiny porcelain toilet, marble countertops, and smooth bathtub (unless they are actually vintage, in which case, move along). 

Something like this chicken wire shelf is a great way to tie in the look you are working to create while also providing you with some much needed storage space. It’s all in the details. 

Basket Storage

Look, you can make your bathroom as stylish as you want, but the fact remains that there are some things you need easy access to in a bathroom that aren’t exactly things you want on display. So, that’s where basket storage comes in. 

You can hide a lot into a basket on a shelf. It’s stowed away so that visitors can’t see anything, but easy for you to grab whenever you need it.   

Shelf-Cabinet Combo

You can also use cabinets over the toilet to get a little extra storage space for those items you don’t want put on display.

Even better, something like this, which has both a shelf and a cabinet, allows you easy access to the things you want tucked away while also giving guests the opportunity to grab things they may need from the shelf (like hand towels, travel size toiletries, etc.).

Surrounding Storage

This is one of the more unique above toilet storage ideas, because it doesn’t take up a lot of wall space, but is designed to still hold a lot of things. 

In addition to having a spot directly over the toilet’s tank, there is also plenty of storage in the areas on either side of the toilet. With this, you get a solid amount of storage space without having to sacrifice your wall to do it. 

Locker Lookalike 

No, your bathroom isn’t going to look like a locker room with a shelf life this, but it is going to give you a little extra security. This shelf has plenty of open shelving storage space, but it also has the locked cabinet.

This is a benefit if you have something you want to keep away from guests, but even more if you have little kids and want to be sure they don’t find their way into your prescription medicines.

Glass Cabinets

While glass cabinets don’t add a layer of privacy to your storage, they do add a touch of glam and class. They look especially great if you’re storing white bath towels or fancy spa-like toiletries behind them. 

Tray With a Toilet Paper Holder

Some toilets have nice flat tops that you can use as storage, but some are a little more curved.

For the latter, having a toilet try is helpful to make sure things don’t slide off. If you want to go a little extra with the storage space, you can get something like this that will also hold or store your toilet paper rolls. 

Over the Toilet Cabinet

Use up the entire wall over the toilet for storage by installing a cabinet. With a carefully planned cabinet, you’ll have hidden space for things as well as an open shelf where you can place a few magazines and a houseplant.

If you’re not the phone kind of person, you might want something to read while you’re on the loo, and magazines will be perfect for that. You can also place a newspaper here. The cabinet will keep it all organized and neat while adding to your storage space.

Funky Toilet Paper Holder

For some reason, a lot of powder rooms have pedestal sinks. And, while they can look really pretty, they provide no storage space. It’s easy to argue that a powder bathroom doesn’t need much stuff in it anyway, but you can’t get around needing toilet paper. 

A wall-mounted toilet paper storage holder is a perfect solution to this, especially if the powder room is too small to add a little storage cabinet to. It’s functional, plus it also gets you out of having to find wall decor. 

Shelf Ladder

Take a look at the shelf ladder. It just has to be placed over the toilet and that’s it – it’s beautiful, stylish, and adds extra storage to your bathroom.

Place anything on the steps – towels, toiletries, hand rubs, lotions, and even a few magazines. The shelf ladder has a lot of space for all extras. 

Drawers

Honestly, open shelves with decorative storage are just a little more aesthetically pleasing than other storage solutions. But, the fact remains that the bathroom calls for some degree of privacy.

So, a setup like this is a good solution. It has open shelving as well has two drawers to house all the things you’d like to keep tucked away from visitors. 

Mounted Shelves

There are plenty of toilet storage shelves that come as a rack that can easily be moved from bathroom to bathroom because they are not mounted to the wall. Those are really nice (especially if you’re someone who moves frequently), but they aren’t the most sturdy option. 

Wall mounted shelves will give you strong, sturdy storage space and usually have a little more of a polished look than those racks do. Plus, if you’re going to be in the house for a while, you might as well make yourself at home. 

Simple Glass Shelf

It doesn’t get much more clean and classic than a simple glass shelf. Shelves like these are perfect for storing perfume bottles, fancy lotions, and basically anything that can pass as a decorative item. This opens up your cabinet space for you to store away things that you want to keep private. 

Over the Toilet Rack

Every college student and young twenty-something needs to have an over the toilet rack that can move with them from apartment to apartment. They are easily transported and provide a lot of necessary storage space, which is essential if you’re sharing your bathroom with a roommate. 

Toiletries Basket 

Having a basket is one of the best small bathroom storage ideas for over the toilet because it’s compact, discrete, and it works. You’re not going to be able to hide a lot in it, but you can put some hand towels and a box of kleenex in one to free up a little counter space. 

Spa-Like Vibe

Your bathroom should, to some degree, have a relaxing vibe. This is especially true if you like to take hot baths while closing your eyes and pretending like you’re at a spa instead of in your own home (pro tip, turn on some white noise while you’re doing it so you can’t hear your kids screaming in the other room). 

For some reason, bamboo really gives off that spa or resort style feel, so adding it into your decor will make your bathroom all the more relaxing. If you opt to get an over the toilet storage solution made out of bamboo, you’ve not only made the space more soothing, but also given yourself the gift of extra storage space for all of your bath bombs and sea salt scrubs. 

Built-In Ledge

If you happen to have a ledge, or the space to make a makeshift one, it is a great option for storage space. Add some tiered shelving or decorative jewelry trees to utilize the unique space. 

If you don’t have a ledge behind the toilet, but have a window in  your bathroom, you may be able to use that ledge as storage space, too. 

Glass Jars

The problem with even some of the prettiest over the toilet space saver solutions is that the storage is out in the open, and hair product bottles, boxes of q-tips, and bags of cotton balls aren’t exactly decor items. 

In order to use that space for the things you actually need to store in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, put those products into glass jars and clear spray bottles instead. They will look so much classier out in the open this way.

Top of Toilet Storage

If a bathroom tray still won’t keep things laying flat on the back of your toilet, you can get a little shelf like this to get that extra storage space. It’s not much, but it’s enough room to set up a box of tissues, your perfume, and maybe a jewelry dish (just don’t drop those earrings down the toilet!). 

Subtle Glam

The best over the toilet storage systems are the ones that enhance your overall decor.

So, if you are going for a little more of a glam or femenine theme, use the opportunity to get some shelving with touches of gold or other metallics. There’s no reason you have to sacrifice style for storage. 

Industrial Touches

If you’re a fan of the industrial decor style, you’re in luck because it’s pretty perfect for over the toilet storage. A light-color stained wood shelf with a black bar under it allows space for storage on top and hand towels hanging on the bottom.  

Hooks & Towel Bars

An assortment of hooks and towel bars will let you hang your clothes when you step in for a shower. These extra spaces are ideal for people like me who hang their clothes there and then forget about them. Come next day, next shower and there are more clothes on the hook.

There’s never enough hook space in a bathroom. If you feel the same, you can utilize the over the toilet area to install hooks and towel bars. 

Bath Towel Storage Rack

Do you have a guest bathroom that gets a lot of use? Consider hanging a bath towel storage rack like this one over the top of your toilet. 

This will allow your guests easy access to a bathing necessity without having to go through your linen closet to find one (or find themselves without a towel at all because they didn’t realize there wouldn’t be one within arms reach when they were done with their shower). 

Simple & Straightforward

Hey, it doesn’t always have to be flashy. Sometimes the best storage space is the kind that is simple, straightforward, and just gets the job done. All you need are a few shelves and a bar to hang a towel and you’re set. 

Who cares if the shaving cream label is sticking out or your razor is just sitting there? If you don’t care about aesthetics, then there’s no shame in just finding what works rather than what looks good.  

It’s Not Just About Adding Storage

While utilizing the over the toilet area is largely about adding storage, that’s not the only motive.

The right type of storage option can make it more beautiful and give the bathroom a makeover. From single toilet roll holders to complete wall-covering cabinets, there are so many ideas you can implement in your bathroom and make it look more beautiful and comfortable.