Shelves with doors
It is not necessary to leave the shelves with the items on them for everyone to see.
You can close the space with doors. The material for the door leaf should be light. For this purpose, plywood is the best option. You can take thin sheets, since the door area is small. We will fasten the doors using furniture hinges. There is another option: we attach guides to the shelves below and above, and make holes in the doors or screw small handles. The sliding doors are ready.
You can stick an element of photo wallpaper on the surface of the doors or paint the plywood in a color that will match the rest of the interior. An excellent decorative option would be decoupage. It is not necessary to use classic elements with flowers and ornaments; you can make a modern design, for example, in the pop art style.
Special racks
Complete toilet storage system.
So that owners of small apartments do not feel discomfort and do not rack their brains about how to organize storage in the toilet, modern furniture brands have developed many convenient multifunctional storage systems. Today you can find many original toilet sets in a variety of styles. For example, an elegant metal shelving unit would be suitable for a classic-style toilet, a laconic white set would easily fit into a Scandinavian setting, and stylized wooden models would be appropriate for a rustic style.
Stylish model of a toilet cabinet.
Just what you need for a small toilet.
Neat storage in the toilet.
Types of toilet cabinets
There are a large number of lockers with different operational parameters and appearance.
Mounted
It is a universal solution for a miniature room, where it is most often located above the toilet. Such hanging furniture pieces on a mounting plate have a wide variety of sizes, depth, content and stylistic design.
The photo on the left shows a narrow wall cabinet above the cistern in the interior of a modern toilet.
Built-in
It has a fairly compact design, easily fits into the interior space and provides convenient access to the filling.
Floor
It is a free-standing model that can be equipped with legs, open or closed shelves.
Retractable
These multifunctional products allow you to save usable space and are therefore especially suitable for decorating a small toilet. Roll-out cabinets are often located near the toilet, which is very convenient.
Open shelves in the toilet
Such designs add special style and comfort to the environment and are mainly used to place various decor, for example, it can be a vase of flowers, wicker baskets, jars of cream or soap, etc.
The photo shows the interior of a toilet with wooden open shelves located above the toilet.
Rack
It is a compact and ergonomic furniture element that can add versatility to even the smallest room. Forged racks have a particularly impressive appearance; they are not only a beautiful and elegant product, but are also suitable for storing towels, napkins and other hygiene products.
Cabinet
Quite roomy and at the same time not occupying much space, the pencil case, thanks to the shelves installed along the entire length, allows you to place all the necessary household supplies inside.
The photo shows a pencil case made in white in the interior of the toilet.
With doors
This option has different sizes, installation methods and designs. Wardrobes with hinged or sliding doors perfectly hide all contents and help create a neat interior.
With roller shutters
It can be a model with roller doors, which is a practical option for a small room and allows you to save additional space, or a cabinet with louvered doors, which provides excellent ventilation for the internal contents.
What furniture to use for storage
The toilet is the smallest place in the house, but even from it you can try to “squeeze” maximum functionality. For this room it is worth choosing built-in or attached furniture that is ideal in size and will correspond to its purpose.
Organization of space in a small bathroom
Shelves
In a small bathroom it is still possible to install shelves that will transform any interior and become a place to store household chemicals, toilet paper, rags and other accessories. Open shelves do not clutter the interior, give a feeling of freedom and airiness and are especially suitable for narrow spaces.
When the corners of the bathroom are empty, the shelves should be made into corners. They will occupy unsightly areas of the room, accommodate a fairly large number of necessities and even decorative items. Also, shelves can be unusual in shape, for example, in the form of a honeycomb.
Shelving
The back wall of the room is often empty, so here you can arrange a large rack with many shelves that can accommodate a huge amount of things. This design will replace a couple of cabinets, but will not look bulky. Racks are sold ready-made or made to order. Metal products are used for a bathroom in a classic style, wooden models are suitable for a country style, and white lacquered or matte items are suitable for a Scandinavian style.
Wall cabinets
Compact storage systems in the form of one or more cabinets are a very practical solution. Such cabinets have closing doors, therefore, their contents will be securely hidden from prying eyes and will not cause a feeling of clutter. A closed closet looks neat, beautiful and stylish, while it has quite a lot of space. In the tiniest bathrooms, cabinets must be sized appropriately to look harmonious on the wall.
Side table or cabinet
Typically, such tables are purchased if the renovation of the bathroom has already been completed, and the plans do not include ordering built-in furniture. Side tables and bedside tables contain everything you need, and can be rolled from place to place as needed.
Wall cabinets
A universal option that is presented in any store. The dimensions allow the module to fit even into a miniature space and hang it behind the toilet at the desired height.
Mirrored doors create a deceptive effect of extending the room. However, fingerprints remain on the surface, which must be constantly removed - the main disadvantage of this model.
The matte surface perfectly camouflages objects. During operation, you will not have to clean the inside of the cabinet every day.
The lighting and black tint make the cabinet weightless, its outline literally disappears into the room.
Bright toilet interior. Color accents include red painted roller shutters, plumbing boxes and photo frames.
Models
A small bathroom room can accommodate more than a shelf for a telephone. There may be other furniture options, for example, a shelving unit, corner or wall shelves, or a closed niche.
Storage areas are made open or with doors. In the first option, you should maintain perfect order, since things are in plain sight. Closed furniture is less problematic; you just need to choose the right model. In compact rooms, shelf doors should open without interference.
It is not difficult to select them; it is enough to take into account the variety of opening mechanisms.
- Hinged doors open from the center to the sides. A common model, suitable for shelves above the toilet. If the structure is located in the area of the ventilation hole, it is better to choose “pseudo-blinds” as the door type. The facades of such doors are made of fixed slats with gaps that allow air to pass through.
- Sliding doors are necessary where there is no way to open the doors.
- The louvered roller doors fold when raised. This method is quite mobile and convenient in non-standard places.
If the apartment has a separate toilet from the bathroom, it will most likely be too small for free-standing furniture. In such cases, mounted shelves are installed in the niche above the toilet. They cover utility pipes and make a simple, laconic room cozy. This design can be open or with doors.
For more spacious rooms, cabinets are suitable: built-in or regular with legs. They must match the style of the bathroom. Closed facades are matched to the color of the interior; wicker baskets with things can be placed on open shelves.
Shape and dimensions
The most common cabinet shape is rectangular - a standard box with several compartments or shelves. However, manufacturers are not limited to just one option. Corner models in the form of a triangle and trapezoid are convenient for placement at the junction of walls. They are roomy and practical. The main disadvantage is that they can be very deep, so you have to reach for distant contents. The most unusual design of radius cabinets is that the side panels are united by a rounded facade. This design does not provide any practical function, but it looks visually more pleasing.
Since usually the bathroom in an apartment is not very large in size, the standard width of the cabinets is also small - about 20 cm. But the depth already varies - the standard indicators are in the range of 35–60 cm. The height of a cabinet with two or three shelves usually does not exceed 70 cm.
If you need to close pipes, choose rectangular or corner models, depending on where the communications run. The latter are also well suited for small spaces. But in spacious toilets you can place radius cabinets - they add coziness and a feeling of comfort. To prevent furniture from visually cluttering the room, it is convenient to hang it above the toilet or sink. If there are niches, you can arrange storage space in them - this is an interesting, and also functional, stylistic solution.
Types of display cabinets, placement options, examples of filling
Rectangular Corner Radius
Corner shelves
If you are a fan of original design solutions, then you can make a corner shelf for your bathroom with your own hands; it is not difficult and will not take much time.
To work, you will need a piece of plywood, a jigsaw, a screwdriver, self-tapping screws, a level and a pencil with a tape measure. To attach the finished shelf to the wall, it is advisable to use hidden fasteners that will be located on the walls that will be adjacent to the wall.
First you need to draw a circle on a piece of plywood or other material from which you want to make a shelf. To do this you will need a simple pencil and a piece of rope. If the piece has an even square shape, then you must first draw diagonals on it. These marks will be needed in order to later divide the circle into four equal parts. Next, drive a small nail into the center, to which a piece of rope is tied. A pencil is attached to the other end, with which a circle is drawn.
Next, the circle is cut out along the marks and divided into four even parts. One of the parts needs to be made smaller, since it will be the top shelf. To do this, you just need to attach a rope with a pencil attached to the sharp end to correctly trace the semicircular shape. After this, the part is simply cut off according to the mark.
And at the end, the workpieces are fastened together, two large parts are attached vertically to the bottom piece. Above, parallel to the bottom board, a reduced piece of a circle is attached. That's it, the DIY bathroom shelf is ready. It is enough to simply paint and decorate it.
A corner shelf is easy to make, but at the same time it can decorate almost any interior. The most important thing is to hang the wooden object in such a way as to prevent moisture from getting on it. Otherwise, just special impregnations to protect against moisture are enough.
How to choose a closet for the toilet
Plumbing stores offer many models of toilet cabinets. In order not to get confused, consider the main parameters of the product:
Cabinet size. Carefully measure the location of the future furniture placement. It is also important to measure the size of all the pipes you want to hide. Draw a schematic diagram of the future cabinet, do not forget to mark the recesses for communications.
Cabinet shape. For toilets with a niche, built-in models are suitable; if there is no niche, use the placement of pipes and meters as a starting point.
Appearance. The shape, color and texture of the facade should be combined with the overall style of the bathroom.
Availability of accessories. Depending on how the cabinet is attached, it should be supplied with dowels, brackets, fasteners and canopies.
Niches covered by a facade
Toilet interior in vintage style. The color of the doors is in harmony with the shade of the tiles.
Roller shutters cover a niche in the wall.
The façade material is painted white. The doors are fixed flush with the installation box.
The built-in wardrobe looks compact and provides access to communications. This, by the way, can be done very cheaply with your own hands.
White roller shutters do not stand out against the background of white walls. Despite the color division, the interior is perceived as one.
Interesting: how they hid the boilers in the closet behind the toilet (full description of the process and estimate)
The wood texture of the floor, cabinets and doors goes well with green ceramics.
The wenge door hides access to communications.
Ceramic finishing of the inspection hatch. In the closed position, the contour of the niche is almost invisible.
Built-in wardrobe, which is closed by furniture roller shutters.
Built-in cabinet above the toilet installation.
Access to the water heater through the inspection hatch.
Items for organizing storage
Wall shelves
Corner wall shelves are ideal for a bathroom - they will help clear the floor from clutter and visually enlarge the space, making it freer and brighter. The second step will be to select the size and style of such devices so that, in addition to functionality, they also serve as decorative elements. Corner shelves can be multi-tiered or single-tiered, large or small, wooden or metal. Of course, the most practical storage solution in the bathroom would be the correct arrangement of multi-tiered metal shelves, but it is the wooden elements that give the room a special coziness.
On classic or corner shelves in the bathroom it is most convenient to store household chemicals, cosmetics and various personal hygiene products, and you can decorate them with neatly folded decorative towels and even evergreens and flowers that are resistant to adverse conditions. Thus, with a slight movement of the hand, the simplest shelves at first glance can turn into a real decorative element. The main thing is not to succumb to female temptation and not to start storing all the cosmetics there in random order. If desired, cosmetics and some accessories can be placed in attractive transparent jars and bottles, diluted with candles, to ultimately get a stylish composition. However, a more hygienic option would still be covered shelves on which you can store towels and underwear without unnecessary fears for the health of family members.
Hooks
Such (at first glance! simple and banal) devices will help to place dressing gowns and serve for storing towels immediately after use in the shower. Hooks will allow household members to quickly grab the necessary item without wasting extra time opening closet doors. You can place the hooks directly on the wall or on the interior door. If the bathroom has a cabinet for towels and other things, make room for household chemicals and hide personal hygiene items from prying eyes, and place household clothes and towels on hooks attached to the same cabinet. We recommend choosing large, strong, combination hooks with a metal rod - they are much more practical and even prettier than their counterparts with silicone fastenings.
Mirror with a secret
We recommend placing a mirror with a secret in the bathroom (regardless of size), which will hide the cabinet behind it. Of course, it will not be so deep, but it will accommodate unsightly little things that the hostess does not want to display in front of the guests, especially if the mirror takes up at least a third of the wall or is narrow, but full-length.
Place under the washbasin
As a rule, under each sink there is already a cabinet with shelves, or you can add one there. Ideally, it is better to replace the shelves with drawers on rails, which will save the housewife from chaos and confusion in everyday details. For additional convenience, such boxes are equipped with cardboard or plastic organizers.
Built-in wardrobe or pantry
A wall-mounted closet in any home will be an excellent solution and will help free up wasted space in a small apartment, especially if the house does not have a storage room or dressing room. What can you put there? Whatever. Starting from clothes, towels and household chemicals to hygiene products, buckets, rags, basins, mops and various little things that are not particularly needed, but it would be a pity to throw them away. A great idea is to hide a washing machine, a boiler, a basket for dirty laundry, as well as a meter and water pipes in such a utility closet. True, this only applies to utility cabinets. If you choose a pantry with mirrored doors, you should arrange all items according to shape, style, color and purpose.
Of course, it will be better if the utility cabinet is made not in the format of a closet, but in the form of a neat niche or furniture structure - this way it will also become an attractive element of decor. In a house where there is already a closet, the situation can be corrected by covering it with a luxurious curtain that matches the overall interior.
Storage under the bath
The idea of storing household chemicals under the bathroom is perhaps the most common in organizing space. It is very convenient and safe if you add neat doors to the bathroom. This solution will be especially successful if there is a small child in the house. You can hide all the dangerous means in a convenient place, but at the same time block the baby’s access there, using the most ordinary lock to lock the doors with a key.
Minimalism
Since the general clutter of the room often becomes the main obstacle to comfort and coziness in the bathroom, you need to maintain order primarily in the sink area and on glazed or even open shelves. To follow minimalism and achieve comfort, place the necessary accessories in the same style near the sink. We include a soap dispenser and a stand with toothbrushes on the mandatory list, but we recommend putting other household items out of sight. If you want to please yourself with cute decorative elements, a shell and candles are suitable for the bathroom.
A couple more ideas for storing useful little things. Cellophane packaging for cotton swabs and pads does not look very aesthetically pleasing, so it is better to place them in glass or even ceramic jars. But place washing powder, sea salt and other bulk bath products in neat flowerpots with a lid or cute marine-themed containers.
A separate point is the use of organizers, but this topic is capacious, so we will highlight a small section for it.
Classic organizers
In the standard classification, organizers are divided according to their types and the types of things that are usually stored in them.
By types of things
Universal . Boxes are perhaps the most common organizers - they are used to neatly place wardrobe items, cosmetics, household chemicals, personal hygiene products and even children's toys. Such designs can be purchased in a store or made with your own hands from scrap materials. If you value comfort and time, it is better not to try to build cardboard storage units with dividers yourself, but to buy a ready-made metal or plastic structure that will last longer and be more practical.
For clothes and shoes . When rationally using space in the bathroom, you cannot do without these organizers. They store towels, bathrobes, house shoes and shower slippers. Such devices will help to visualize things and keep them in proper form, while freeing up space on the heated towel rail.
By type of organizer
Boxes and trunks . From the point of view of storing things and organizing space, these structures are convenient because they can be placed in a niche or closet, under a bathtub or washbasin, or stacked on top of each other, further saving space. The shapes and sizes of such devices allow you to choose exactly the specimen that best suits the chosen location and style. Clothes and any fabric items will be reliably protected from fading and dust, but not from dampness, which is the disadvantage of this type of storage. Therefore, it is recommended to additionally place fabric items stored in trunks and boxes in a closet. Another inconvenience is that such devices do not have separators. As a result, things will be stored in piles, every now and then falling apart and getting confused with each other.
Linen organizers . Such devices are made of environmentally friendly breathable material with a transparent lid, durable frame and flexible dividers (sections, honeycombs, cells, etc.). The design protects underwear from dust and opens the view, which is much more convenient than a chest of drawers. If the dividers are removable, you can adjust the organizer configuration, dividing the contents according to individual needs. The advantage of the devices is their low cost with complete adaptation to modern furniture. Please note that Velcro and zippers can damage lace lingerie and stockings, and magnetic fasteners are an excellent solution for storing just such wardrobe items.
Dividers for shelves and drawers . In those rare cases when organizers do not fit well into furniture, plastic dividers are the solution. They will segment the contents of the closet and turn chaos into order. The disadvantage of such a device is the lack of mobility and adaptation to different furniture, so you need to carefully take measurements before purchasing. To avoid snags and tangles, we do not recommend storing silk clothes, nylon tights and lace underwear in this way.
Shelving baskets . Such aesthetic and natural organizers are suitable for storing clothes and towels, since they do not contain toxic substances and allow air to pass through well. However, they also have a lot of disadvantages: the lack of a lid, light-transmitting inserts and dividers. Be careful! If the product does not have an internal fabric lining, it is not suitable for storing clothes and towels.
Options for the location of cabinets in the bathroom
The most popular solutions.
Cabinet behind the toilet
A convenient cabinet behind the toilet provides an excellent storage system for toilet paper, towels, air freshener and other small items.
The photo shows a pop art style toilet with a cabinet located behind the toilet.
Thanks to this placement, it is possible to free up space on the cabinet with a sink or shelves, which can be decorated with other beautiful decor.
Above the installation
Such a solution will be an excellent addition to the toilet, which does not overload or clutter the room. This arrangement not only allows you to hide communications, but also provides enough space to fill with other necessary things.
The photo shows a cabinet with a mirrored door above the installation in the interior of the toilet.
Hidden
It is distinguished by a very aesthetic appearance and, due to the facade part, which harmonizes and merges with the walls in the interior, creates the feeling of a complete plane, behind which there is actually a secret closet with a lot of things. Quite often, when finishing a toilet with tiles, the doors of the hidden box are also decorated with identical cladding.
Side
It perfectly complements the decor and, due to its thin and light forms, does not overload the space. This piece of furniture may be left or right-handed.
The photo on the right shows the interior of a small toilet, decorated with a narrow floor cabinet with drawers.
Angular
It is considered the most suitable option for small toilet rooms, which can be located in any corner of the room. Two corner shelves installed on both sides of the toilet will look very organic.
In a niche
Such products are equipped only with shelves and doors, and the rear and side walls represent the niche itself.
The photo shows the interior of a toilet with an open cabinet with lighting built into a niche.
Wall cabinet
Wall cabinet in the toilet.
Most often in the interiors of small toilets you can find hanging drawers. This is due to several factors. First of all, the doors of the cabinet are closed, which allows you to hide all hygiene and care items from prying eyes. On the other hand, such a storage system looks neat and aesthetically pleasing. The cabinet has enough space to place everything you need. True, it is not appropriate in every space, but only where the area allows it. Unfortunately, this option is not suitable for very small rooms.
An excellent option for a small toilet.
Planning
Before you make shelves in the toilet, you need to familiarize yourself with the device diagram and the mandatory requirements for installation:
The shelves are installed behind the toilet barrel, so they should not be very deep and take up a lot of space.
- It is necessary to ensure that the device is completely moisture resistant so that humidity and condensation do not affect the structure. Do-it-yourself moisture-resistant shelves in the toilet will also not be susceptible to rotting if flooding suddenly occurs due to an accident.
- The installed cabinet should not become an obstacle to repairing risers, turning off valves or checking the operation of coarse filters. You must have free access to the boiler or instantaneous water heater if they are installed in the toilet room.
It is also worth considering the layout of the bathroom; the cabinet should be placed behind the block with the tank around the main riser. Why is it worth making a cabinet with your own hands? Because it is not always possible to choose a suitable option in stores that will correspond to the availability of free space and the desired design. And you can choose any material, color and decoration yourself.
Regarding the planning stage:
Functions of a toilet cabinet
The cabinet behind the toilet can perform several functions depending on the design of the toilet:
Organize a convenient storage system. In the cabinet above the toilet you can store a supply of toilet paper, air freshener, detergents and cleaning products.
Hide pipes and valves. A plumbing cabinet in the toilet allows you to hide unsightly pipes. At the same time, in the event of a breakdown, the pipes can be easily reached. In this sense, the cabinet is much more practical than a plasterboard box, which will have to be disassembled in case of breakage.
We see a photo of the mounted wall-hung toilet: layout features
The idea of attaching a plumbing fixture directly to the wall is largely successful. A modern interpretation of a long-developed idea can serve as a good start to the process of building an ordinary sanitary room into a real design project.
Looking at the wall-hung toilet in the photo, it is easy to notice the following features:
- the device does not touch the floor, making it easy to maintain the hygienic environment in the room at the proper level;
- a guaranteed gap between the unit and the floor facilitates the installation of the heating system and ensures the preservation of the uniformity of the pattern formed by the tiles;
- all communications are hidden behind a false wall, leaving only the drain control button outside.
Reliable installation and full functioning of the product is ensured by the so-called installation - a rigid steel frame. Its design provides mounting points for plumbing fixtures and a drain tank is already installed. The assembly unit is attached to the floor and wall. In this regard, solving such a problem as choosing a wall-hung toilet is often complicated by the need for an accompanying selection:
- type of installation and elements of the drainage system;
- suitable design of the flush control button.
Storage cabinet above the toilet
Often, rooms that are compact in size require more thoughtful equipment; a striking example of this is a small bathroom, in which it is necessary to place all the necessary accessories: toilet paper, fragrance, plumbing care products, etc. This issue will be solved by a cabinet above the toilet, which is essentially very convenient and can easily be placed in more spacious rooms. This design will not interfere at all, because the shelves are placed not above the head, but above the toilet cistern. In general, no matter how you look at it, there are only advantages from a compact shelving unit placed in the toilet area.
Advantages of a cabinet over a toilet
- Provides additional storage space for essential items
- Due to its design, it can play the role of a decorative object
- Helps hide unflattering communications (pipes, wires)
- On open shelves you can display your favorite decorative objects (vases, figurines)
- A cabinet with doors will help hide the clutter on the shelves
- Variety of designs (open shelving, closed cabinet, shelf)
What items can be stored on the shelves of the cabinet above the toilet?
Quite often, the bathroom in houses and apartments is combined with a bathroom and a laundry room, which means there will be plenty of storage items. These could be stacks of towels, personal hygiene products, washcloths, toilet paper, wet wipes, washing powder, household chemicals and fragrances. Well, a cabinet above the toilet with closed doors will help to successfully group all this stuff in one place, and if you choose the right design, it can even serve as an original decorative detail of the interior. But even an open shelving can be turned into an original decorative item; you just need to maintain perfect order on its shelves and effectively display cute vases with artificial flowers, as well as elegant figurines or scented candles.
Open shelving above the toilet
When choosing an open shelving unit, it is important to understand that perfect order should reign on its shelves; in addition, you need to realize that items on open shelves can become covered with dust, which means they need to be cleaned as often as possible. But if you are not afraid of frequent cleaning, and in general like to keep your house tidy, then you will definitely like this rack, because in its essence it is very easy to use, just reach out to it and take the desired item, without opening the doors
Shelf above the toilet
This design does not require a base underneath, as it is attached to the wall, and the variety of shelves is quite impressive; those interested can find intricate carved or forged designs on sale, as well as take a closer look at simple, laconic forms. On the shelves you can again place towels, which should always be at hand, and also display your favorite decorative items: vases, figurines, pots of artificial flowers, air freshener, toilet paper.
Wardrobe in the toilet above the toilet
When choosing a cabinet with closed doors, you need to be prepared for the fact that it will look somewhat massive, but behind its doors you can safely display objects of a wide variety of colors, sizes and shapes, from perfume bottles to household chemicals. The main advantages of such furniture include the fact that behind the doors there may be a mess that will not be visible to the person entering, and of course, if you successfully choose the tone of this furniture, in accordance with the tiles in the room, then the interior will seem perfectly thought out, with the presence of some zest.
It doesn’t matter which design you choose, whether it’s a cabinet above the toilet, a shelf or a rack, in any case it will be very convenient and will bring some fresh notes to the interior of the room, because such elements are not often seen in typical bathrooms or toilet rooms
Organizing storage in the toilet: what is important to know
Not everyone can boast of a spacious apartment, where there is enough space for a comfortable life and for convenient storage of all things. As a rule, you have to design a space long and hard to ensure that every square centimeter is utilized and used effectively.
The toilet is no exception here: if you have a separate bathroom, the toilet is often a cramped box where it can be difficult to turn around, and storage is not even a question. Meanwhile, there is a need for this: it would be nice to put household cleaning chemicals, rolls of toilet paper and other small things in the toilet. We talked with Elena Makarova, head of development at Leroy Merlin, and learned how to organize storage in a small toilet.
When organizing storage in a cramped space, you will have to make compromises anyway. It all depends on the specific size and your needs, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The task is made easier by the fact that initially you don’t have many options where you can store household chemicals and other things. The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is to find a place on the floor, this is the simplest solution. As a result, bags of cat litter are placed behind the toilet, and rolls of paper, waiting in the wings, scatter across the floor so that you keep tripping over them. This is the wrong approach - the floor should be used minimally for storage, it is the most necessary and at the same time the most cramped area. Look around - there are four walls around, and you need to use them!
The most suitable place for this is the space above the toilet: the storage systems located there will not interfere with the passage, you will not hit your head on them. There are several options here. At the renovation stage, you can arrange a niche with shelves, especially if you have chosen an installation and a wall-hung toilet. A simpler option is to install a rack on the floor, approximately equal in depth to the toilet cistern. This way it won’t take up too much space and get in the way, and installing it is much easier than shelves or cabinets - just assemble and install.
It may well turn out that behind the toilet there is not a solid wall, but a door to a shaft with utilities: water pipes, a sewer pipe, valves for shutting off the water and meters. It is strictly prohibited to block access to them. Then shelves and cabinets come to the rescue.
If you are lucky enough to have a spacious toilet with a sink or at least a washstand, a wall cabinet can be hung above them.
Closed cabinets are preferable if you want to reduce cleaning time and frequency. They collect less dust and are easier to wipe clean. If there are small children in the house, you can install a lock on the cabinet doors to prevent them from reaching household chemicals. Even though closets take up more space, today there is a wide selection of cabinets and pencil cases available in a variety of designs and sizes, so you're sure to find something to suit your needs.
If you are desperately short of closet space or have alternative storage space, replace it with separate open shelves and place only the essentials on them. Choose shelves with hidden fastenings - they look neater, and the absence of visible fastenings does not create visual noise. When choosing the material from which the shelves are made, keep in mind that the wood must be treated with oil. Either buy high-quality MDF with a good and durable film, or go the minimalist garage-loft route and choose metal shelves. To make cleaning easier, it is better to put items on the shelves in containers or baskets: there household chemicals and other small items will not gather dust, and the containers themselves are easy to wipe.
If you don’t want to bother with a lot of fastenings for each shelf, pay attention to modular furniture, for example, Smart from Sensea. The main principle of model furniture is affordable, comprehensive solutions that you can choose yourself based on the characteristics of the room and the volume of stored items. There are different frames for this purpose. They vary in height, width and depth: from the most compact 20x30x15 cm (WxHxD) to the largest 60x80x25 cm. They can be combined with each other, closed with doors or left open. The doors can be light glossy or mirrored to visually expand the space. Or discreet gray ones, which will add elegance to even such an extremely utilitarian room. The narrowest modules can even be used with a shaft located behind the toilet. It is enough to make the shaft door 25 cm narrower and build up the plasterboard wall. This way you will not block access to communications, but you will be able to hang a case only 20 cm wide.
Rails can be an interesting alternative to shelves - just fix them on the wall and hang metal baskets there, for example. They come in different shapes and sizes, one can store toilet paper, another can hold air freshener. Lovers of natural aesthetics can easily place a small pot with a plant in one of the baskets.
Varieties
Open shelving
When entering the toilet, the attention is immediately drawn to hanging shelves or open shelving, so they should not be in disarray. All things on them must be neatly folded
The main rule for open shelving is constant care of the things on them, as well as regular wet cleaning.
To make shelving with open shelves you can use:
- tree;
- MDF;
- metal;
- plastic.
Forged shelves and racks will look impressive in the toilet. Such original designs can decorate any interior. Forged products are distinguished by their special beauty and grace. Such air structures are very comfortable and functional. In a toilet or bathroom, open wrought-iron shelving will look great, where personal hygiene products, towels, paper, napkins, and detergents can be placed on the shelves.
Shelves above the toilet
When choosing simple shelves for a toilet, you can find very interesting and original models on sale or make them yourself. Such shelves are usually simply attached to the wall. This option does not require a base. The shelves above the toilet will become a convenient place to place toiletries and stacks of towels. You can also place various decorative items here.
Closet
If the size of the room allows, you can place a closet next to the toilet. Such cabinets are often installed in private homes, as they take up enough space, which is so lacking in small apartments. When choosing a cabinet behind the toilet, keep in mind that it may look somewhat massive. The advantage of this choice is that this design has closed doors that protect the contents from prying eyes.
For closed cabinets, constant cleaning is not so important. When choosing such furniture, you should take into account the color and texture of the material. A correctly selected model will successfully fit into the overall interior of the room.
Cabinets with legs
The easiest way is to install a cabinet on legs in the toilet. Such designs will be more spacious. The width of the shelves should not be larger than the toilet cistern, otherwise the cabinet may touch visitors.
Cabinets with legs can be chosen with either open or closed shelves. On open options you can place wicker baskets, original vases with flowers, candles, figurines, which will immediately make the room more comfortable and interesting.
Mounted
For mounted models, a niche is used above the installation. Also, such a cabinet can be built into the wall or hung above the toilet. The store offers a large selection of wall cabinets with shelves for the toilet. In addition, these designs can also be made independently.
To install wall-mounted structures, the toilet is not installed next to the wall - a distance of up to 40 cm remains behind it. This is just enough to place a cabinet or rack. Hanging structures are not intended to hide pipes and other objects.
Built-in
Sometimes it’s better to build a built-in closet with shelves for the toilet with your own hands. This will not require much time and effort. In this case, a niche in the wall can be used instead of the back and side walls, so for the entire structure the craftsman will only need to make shelves and doors.
Even a beginner can make small shelves or a built-in closet, but any work requires certain knowledge and skills. Therefore, when choosing shelves to install behind the toilet, you can make the design yourself or look for a suitable option in the store.
To learn how to make a closet with blinds in the toilet, see the following video.
Other storage solutions
Flat bottles and tubes fit perfectly on cabinet doors. To do this, individual fasteners are fixed on the inside of the door and hygiene items are hung. You can use brightly colored tin cans to store towels - just roll each towel.
A wine rack will be an original textile storage system - towels and bathrobes will also be beautifully placed here. In the combined bathroom, a multi-tiered stand for fruits or cakes will serve as a container for soaps and creams, and a manicure set will fit comfortably in a magnetic knife holder. If desired, even in a small room you can arrange all the accessories, ridding the house of lying around, clutter and preventing long searches for the necessary items.
Materials
When choosing a ready-made wall cabinet for the toilet, you can look at products made from a wide variety of materials. The most common types are plastic, wood, wood panels, and less commonly metal and glass.
Plastic is the most practical material. It is not at all afraid of moisture, can serve for many years, does not oxidize, does not rot.
Low strength is compensated by stiffening ribs.
Plastic is cheap, but flexible enough to make the most intricate designs from it.
But you won’t be able to make shelves out of it in the toilet with your own hands, because the material is inconvenient to process.
People are also put off by the aesthetic unattractiveness of the material.
The tree looks much more solid and beautiful.
But high-quality material is not cheap; it requires a lot of knowledge for proper processing. The tree also does not tolerate moisture well, so it will have to be thoroughly protected from dampness.
Chipboards, in particular MDF, are less expensive and more convenient. They are easier to process, cheaper, and suffer less from moisture. For aesthetic appeal, you can cover the panels with decorative films.
Metal is beautiful, reliable, durable. There is a wide selection of ready-made products; not everyone can assemble a cabinet made of steel or aluminum on their own.
Glass looks even more beautiful, but it is fragile and difficult to process, so it is not used often. If you look for ready-made solutions for installation behind the toilet, you can find various options at different prices.
| Variety | Price |
| Laminated MDF | 6000-14000 RUR |
| Plastic | 2000-5000 RUR |
| Metal 45x35x50 cm | 500-1000 |
| Wall glass shelf | 1700-3000 RUR |
Selection of materials and tools
For finishing the toilet, natural wood or its derivatives (MDF, chipboard) are best suited. When choosing such materials, moisture protection must be provided. Wooden facades are treated with a special impregnation that protects the surface from excess moisture. When choosing chipboard or MDF, also focus on moisture-resistant boards coated with special plastic.
Wood looks the most natural.
To fasten support bars, guides and other elements, it is better to use plastic dowel nails. The dowels themselves must be purchased from high-quality plastic. It is very easy to recognize by its cost, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of other manufacturers
Pay attention to the nylon dowels. These are white and cream colored corks.
To connect wooden surfaces, use wood screws, metal corners and strips.
Here's what tool you'll need.
- Tape measure for measuring the basic geometric parameters of a room.
- Bubble or laser level for horizontal and vertical installation of all bars and guides.
- Construction pencil for marking.
- Construction rule. Used as a guide when cutting material.
- Impact drill or hammer drill. Used when drilling holes in concrete and brick.
- Electric jigsaw or hand-held circular saw. For cutting chipboard sheets and wood blocks.
- Screwdriver, screwdriver.
The set of tools is quite standard.
In addition to this list, you must have a set of drills for wood, metal and drill bits for a hammer drill.
False wall and niche
In most apartments, the toilet is a narrow and long room. Its width is about a meter, length - two meters or more. Such a long room is inconvenient to use - the area up to the door is still not used in any way. The situation can be improved by installing a false wall. In this case, the toilet can be moved forward and separated by a partition of 50-60 cm. The remaining space is more than enough for comfort, and the one that is “behind the wall” can be used as a closet.
Sewer and water risers will be hidden behind this false wall, which otherwise will have to be covered with a special box. The space behind the toilet does not need to be sewn up tightly. Here you can make a very spacious closet. It can store powders, stocks of other chemicals, which are usually difficult to find a place.
An example of a cabinet design behind a false wall
To install the device, you will have to move the toilet forward, nail strips to the walls and ceiling (40*40 mm will be quite normal), and fill in horizontal strips that will hold the shelves. The doors for such a closet in the toilet are attached directly to the walls. Or rather, to the planks that are fixed to the wall.
The strip is needed 8 cm wide. Since it will be visible when the doors are open, it is advisable that it be trimmed with the same material as the doors. It is attached to the wall with nails/screws/dowels, and hinges are attached to it.
Hooks and rails
Most often, roof rails are used in the kitchen, but what prevents them from being used in a small bathroom where it is not possible to place large furniture? If you hang baskets or plastic boxes from the roof rails, they will successfully contain a large number of necessities and household items. Rails can be attached not only to the wall, but also to the door, which most often remains unused.
By the way, you can make a whole rack from such elements and equip it with hooks for textiles and hanging “storages”. Containers with detergents equipped with a sprayer can be inserted directly behind the crossbar - they will be securely held and will not fall.
Manufacturing materials
The market provides a huge range of finishing and building materials
Therefore, it is important to make the right choice so that it is inexpensive, but at the same time high quality. Various materials can be used to make the structure
Drywall
This material is waterproof, and this is the main thing you need to pay attention to. In case of unforeseen situations from which no one can be insured (neighbors flooded, accident with pipes), such a locker will not suffer, and after eliminating the cause there will be no need for its repair
This type of cabinet can be decorated at will with mosaics, drawings, and decoupage.
Plywood – service life is shorter than the previous option, but cheaper.
- Wood - the advantage of this type of material is that the shelves do not sag under the weight of tools and supplies. The main disadvantage: gradual rotting under the influence of moisture. When choosing a tree, you must first install a good ventilation system.
- Laminated chipboard - it is good to use this material for cabinet doors if the ventilation is very good, since chipboard has low moisture resistance.
- Tiles - attached to a special frame, this material is well suited for preserving the design concept.
- Mirror – or the so-called mirror-cabinet is ideal for visually increasing space, allowing you to save on the purchase of a separate mirror. This option is especially suitable if the toilet is located next to the sink.
Placement methods
When optimizing space, especially in small spaces, attention should be paid to unused, hard-to-reach areas. One of these is the back wall behind the toilet
It is usually empty unless it is holding a boiler. You can cover the pipes with a wall-mounted, free-standing or built-in cabinet. In the “dead zone” formed by the tank, you can place hanging shelves up to 40 cm deep.
A wall cabinet is a universal option. You can choose the module dimensions and height yourself. To create the illusion of continuation of the room, the outside of the doors is decorated with mirrors. If the area is very limited, you can usefully take advantage of the free corners.
Freestanding structures are U-shaped. Shelves can be closed or open if there is an obstacle to the free movement of the doors. The cabinet with legs has a special opening for a barrel, due to which it can be placed in any bathroom. The assembly process, installation will not require much time and effort, there is no need to drill walls or select dowels.
Not every toilet layout will allow you to install built-in systems. Toilets with niches are suitable for their installation. You only need to make shelves and doors. The role of the rear and side walls will be played by the opening itself.
Placing a cabinet in the toilet
Where to make a closet in the toilet primarily depends on where the sewer pipe is located.
If the pipe is laid in the center of the wall, choose straight cabinet models.
If in your case there is no need to hide communications, and there is a water heating tank hanging above the toilet, take a closer look at floor cabinets with high support legs. Such models should be ideal in size for your toilet. If you cannot find a ready-made suitable model, you can always make a custom-made cabinet.
