Bathroom storage... solved!
CLEVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS ARE THE SECRET BEHIND EVERY WELL-ORGANISED, CLUTTER-FREE BATHROOM
DIVIDE & CONQUER
The more that’s hidden behind closed doors, the better. “Mirrored cabinets, 130mm deep, allow you to store most beauty products, toilet rolls and cleaning products neatly,” says interior architect Sally Rhys-Jones. For cosmetics and fiddly items, borrow an idea from the kitchen: cutlery organisers (inset). Interior designer Anne-Marie Rush suggests hardware suppliers Häfele and Hettich, while interior designer Sarah Nolen of Birdblack Design turns to Blum’s Orga-Line for accessory inserts to divide drawers. “This lets you create separate compartments and to vary the lengths to suit,” says Sarah.
POWER PUSH
Hair dryers, straighteners, curling wands, electric toothbrushes… the list of electrical items we keep in our bathroom goes on. To avoid a mad tangle of cords, think about housing them in a dedicated unit near the vanity that has concealed power points (inset). “I’ll often design a cabinet with adequate power points for small appliances, which means they never have to be unplugged,” says Sarah. If you’re still short of space, consider investing in a tallboy – a high, narrow chest of drawers that can give you plenty of storage bang for your buck.
“A trip to Ikea or Howards Storage World will provide all sorts of wonderful containers for organising small bathroom items” ~ Anne-Marie Rush, interior designer
PLAN AHEAD
To create a sense of decluttered ease at home, do what designers do when assessing the amount of bathroom storage required: count the number of products, tools and accessories each person you’re catering for has and needs. Add an extra 20 per cent or so, to allow for a little expansion. Then, once you know what you’re working with, allocate a drawer, shelf or compartment – or a combination of all three – to each person. “That way, people have ownership of their own space,” says interior designer Sarah Nolen of Birdblack Design.
TOWEL TALK
If you’re pushed for space in your bathroom – or if it’s inclined to be damp – store spare towels elsewhere in your home. Otherwise, a ventilated cupboard, positioned well away from the shower zone, is perfect for keeping a stack on hand. Beware, though, of committing to extra towels as display fodder. “Most of us lead busy lives, and rolling and folding towels so they look good enough to be on show is just too hard,” says interior designer Anne-Marie Rush. Having ample towel rails, preferably heated so damp towels and bath mats can dry quickly, is definitely something to factor in, as is a smart set of hooks to keep dressing gowns off the floor.
“Your bathroom will be a much more relaxed, calm space when you don’t need to look at clutter” ~ Sally Rhys-Jones, interior architect