How to organise a small bathroom

The key to tidying up a small space is organisation. Here are some practical ideas for making the most of every inch of your bathroom:

• A bathroom cabinet that fits under the sink;
• A mirror cabinet instead of a basic mirror;
• A tall floor unit to make the most of the height of the space;
• A storage bench rather than a basic stool for storing appliances (hair straighteners, epilators, beard trimmers, etc.);
• Braided or nylon baskets to store bottles and other products to stop them from falling over.
• Hooks for hanging your bathrobe or pyjamas; door-mounted hangers are particularly useful, as they don't require any drilling. Hangers equipped with multiple hooks can also be easily attached to the side of a piece of furniture or inside a cupboard.

As you can see, there are a variety of tricks that can be used to organise a compact bathroom and prevent your space from looking cluttered.

Useful tip: leave a small gap between your furniture and the wall to store an ironing board or clothes rack. You can also fix clips to the wall to hold these items in place.

If you plan on installing a washing machine in the bathroom, think about the best type to suit your space: 

• Top loading machines will save on space horizontally (about 40 cm), but you will require space above the unit to open the door;
• Front loading machines are wider (50 cm approx.) but do not require any space directly above the machine.

In general, a washer-dryer combo is an ideal way to space space in a small flat and to help you dry large items such as sheets and towels. Alternatively, you can install a wall-mounted retractable clothes horse which will save you from drying your clothes in the middle of the living room. If you're into DIY, why not explore more creative storage options, such as storing your cleaning products within the bathtub panel? Shower shelves are also a great option.

Two-in-one items are also ideal for making more room. A heated towel rail will warm up your bathroom and dry your towels quickly and efficiently. Some models even feature a thermostat for automatic operation.

Without a doubt, a shower will take up less floor space than a bathtub. What's more, the space that would have been taken up by a bathtub can be used for a washing machine, a piece of furniture or a laundry basket.

With the extra space, you could also easily create a handy storage area by simply adding a curtain or a pull-down blind. At the base of this make-shift cupboard, you can store your laundry basket and other household necessities (including buckets and brooms). Any extra space above head-height can be used to install shelves for tidying away cleaning products, beauty products, a jewellery box, and any bathroom linen.

Designing and decorating a small bathroom needn't be tricky; you just need to take the time to think out all your options. The key is to take full advantage of the entire room with practical floor-to-ceiling solutions.