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Monday, February 3, 2014

Maximizing Bath Storage

In an era when bathrooms are being asked to do more when it comes to storage, designers are being called on to devise creative solutions to maximize storage while minimizing clutter. 


Bathrooms are quickly catching up to kitchens when it comes to storage needs. In a world where toilet paper is sold in mega-roll packages, shampoo and conditioner are sold by the gallon and vitamin bottles contain enough product to last for months, bath storage has become a greater concern for many homeowners.

Storage needs are stretched even further as many homeowners decide to charge electronic items, such as smart phones and tablets, in the bath while others seek to add "luxury" items such as beverage centers, coffee makers, mini refrigerators and even microwaves, all of which can make the morning routine easier- and medicine storage more efficient.

And this laundry list of products doesn't even take into consideration the basics such as towels and washcloths, or the fact that some bathrooms are called upon to do more than store just the typical bath items.

At the same time, homeowners want to keep the space neat and uncluttered - no toothbrushes left out on the counter or curling iron cords tangled in a drawer. So here's some creative ideas on how to maximize the space and minimize the clutter in your bathroom.

Try incorporating specialized drawers for accessories such as makeup and grooming kit inserts into vanities. Adding outlets inside the medicine cabinets is a great way to hide toothbrushes, and shower niches can store shampoo, body wash, etc. It's usually the typical bath items, such as towels, cleaning supplies, etc. that are most difficult to store. Usually people want to hide items like electric toothbrushes, hot rollers and curling irons. It's about making sure everything has a home. Specialized storage - such as jewelry and makeup inserts - allow customization which makes storage more useful. If everything has a home, it can be put away, yet easily accessed. Often times it's about creating storage you don't see to keep the space neat and clean. Capture any would-be wasted space, such as that in knee walls and corners.

Consider adding vertical storage in the form of towers. Pull-out hampers can also be a great way to hide laundry and keep the space streamlined.  Electronics and bulk-purchased items really challenge a bathroom space. People are very attached to their smart phones and tablets and often bring them into the bathroom, which is a wet environment that electronics don't like. To address this challenge, why not use a medicine cabinet with built-in chargers to maintain dry environments. For the mega-bottles of vitamins, etc, space is needed to to accommodate these items that no longer fit into traditional cabinets. Try keeping smaller containers in the bathroom and store the larger products in less-accessible places, such as the corner of a closet.

Overall, clean lines are influencing storage. As such, floating vanities and high-tech/sophisticated/stylish medicine cabinets accommodate that sleek look. Adding a tall, recessed wall cabinet behind a swinging door can increase storage space, as can a decorative shelf above the door or high on an unused wall with decorative bins and baskets to store items that people don't use on a daily basis.

Be creative and strategic and prioritize. Think about the bathroom work zones the same way you think about kitchen work zones. All zones, including hygiene/bathing/shower zone, the commode zone and the clean -up zone, can be maximized with storage.





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