what to store in bathroom - and how

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

I'm moving (I hope) very soon into a small flat. There's no inbuilt storage, so I'm trying to work out what I need.

In the bathroom, there is room for a tallboy type unit right next to the bathtub, I think, and there is also a flat surface behind the toilet that would have space for a shelf-unit of some sort. There is a flat mirror already installed, with a light above. I'm considering replacing that with a mirrored medicine cabinet as there isn't anything like that already, but that would mean replacing the light too as I don't think the current one would be far enough out from the wall to light a mirror in front of a medicine cabinet.

Or, I could use the space on the wall to the side of the toilet to put a separate wall mounted medicine cabinet, as wouldn't need to replace the light that way, but then there'd be no room for extra shelves on the counter behind the toilet, which might otherwise be useful space. It comes down to the question of how much - and what - I will want to store in the bathroom, given that there's very little storage elsewhere in the flat either. In the tallboy, I could probably store some towels (it's just me living there, so not loads of them). There's also lots of spare toiletries, tissue boxes, loo roll, medicines, first aid stuff, lotions and potions that don't get used often, etc. that would all need somewhere to go. I think the ones that do get used often can go on the counter behind the sink, but I still need room to stock up on stuff. Maybe things like hot water bottles and swimming costumes etc too. Sports kit?

What about things like bedding and linen? Can those be stored in a bathroom, or will the steam/humidity be too much for them? I change the bed when I remember, but even then, I tend to use the favourite duvet sets more often, so the less favourite ones would probably go untouched for a few months at a time. Will they go mouldy/start to smell? (There is an extractor fan, if I remember to use it).

What else could/should/would I store in the bathroom, given the lack of space elsewhere?

And if I want to store as much as possible in there, what sort of storage would look good? I've seen people put cabinets that are meant to be on the floor on top of counters behind toilets/sinks, and somehow the proportions just end up looking wrong; it's obvious that it's been shoe-horned in there. Maybe wall mounted shelves would look better The whole flat might look a bit crowded, so I dont want to put too much in the bathroom if I don't need it - but I'm not sure what I can safely store in there with all the moisture without ruining things.

ideas?

[SilenceOfThePrams]

Personally, I wouldn't store linen in the bathroom as I think it would get fusty. I absolutely would store spare toiletries etc. there though.

I'd not bother with a medicine cabinet, just put baskets in the tall boy.

Spare bedding and towels I'd store under the bed if there wasn't anywhere else obvious for them.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

Yeah that's my worry about linen. Towels I thought would be OK, at least in the tall boy if I could get a cupboard bit. Under the bed is already earmarked for suitcases, spare coats, and all sorts of other random stuff like that. But might be able to fit linen in the wardrobe in the bedroom. It's going to be tight! Lots of stuff that I currently have in an office in the rented house is going to have to go in the bedroom - or even kitchen - too.

It might be that can't actually store that much in the bathroom for practical reasons, which then means maybe choosing something different for the medicine cabinet/shelves above the toilet.

Hadn't thought about not having a medicine chest at all. I suppose if I got a tallboy with enough cupboards, I could put baskets in there. I'm not that keen on having medicines on display/easy access, though they don't have to be in a locked cabinet either I suppose. High enough or behind enough doors to keep them away from child visitors (no children living there) at least. I am surprised that they didn't put a medicine cabinet in where there is a mirror (new build) as that would seem logical to me, and it does seem a bit of a shame to replace the current mirror and light with something totally new. But also useful space that would be a waste not to use!

maybe a ladder type shelf on the counter behind the toilet would look ok, with boxes/baskets. And maybe the tallboy will have to be a really really tall tallboy! I don't know if wood has to be specially treated to go in a bathroom, or if any sort of cupboard would be fine; I think you can sometimes get taller cupoboards that aren't marketed as bathroom storage/tallboys, and that might be better.

[Glittermakeseverythingbetter]

Swimming and sports kit would go in a drawer in your bedroom. I wouldn't have thought about bathroom suitable for any materials.
Also, do you have a little of medicine?? I would store things like that in a high kitchen cupboard in a basket or plastic tub.
Maybe worth decluttering a bit before you move so you are not overwhelmed with where to put everything.
Also maybe change your habits a little and don't 'stock up' try and buy things as and when you need, rather than a 'just in case' item.

[Glittermakeseverythingbetter]

About - a
Little - lot (of medicine)

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

a fair amount of medicine - about 5 different prescribed ones that I get two months' worth at a time, plus a cupboard of various first aid type ones. They could go in the kitchen, yes; and the swimming/sports stuff in the bedroom - but those are both equally tight for space, so I was trying to come up with things that I could possibly put in the bathroom instead!! But it sounds like fabrics (apart from towels) are probably out.

I think not stocking up too much will have to become a new habit, good idea. There is a shop very nearby, so that will help. I don't buy tons in advance, but things like tissues in 2- or 4-packs, kitchen roll in 6-packs, shampoo when it's on a 3 for 2 offer, that kind of thing. So there are just extras around. But I'll have to be more careful.

I wish there were time to declutter before I move, but it's all fairly unexpected, so everything just has to go in boxes and I will have to declutter as I unpack, I think. A lot of the stuff is just normal stuff, but it's going into a much smaller space, and one that has no built-in storage at all (didn't have a lot of choice where to go!), so I have to be clever in where I put stuff. Already looking at space saving stuff for the kitchen, etc., and possibly really tall wardrobes (I'm not sure how tall the ceilings are yet though) from ikea in the bedroom, some of it for clothes but also I could put other stuff in there.

Maybe keep the medicine in the kitchen until I can afford to replace both the mirror and the light in the bathroom with a cabinet and mirror over. I've not seen any of the cabinets with lights built in that I like, but I do like some of the spotlight kind of lights that might be able to go above. Don't know how easy it would be to change something like that (not myself, obviously, but to get someone in to do it - maybe if I got one of a similar size, it would be a fairly easy job).

[Sunnysidegold]

Is there room on top of wardrobes for storage boxes? I can fit two largish ones on top of mine and keep swimming stuff in one along with seldomly used crap stuff. We have tonne of prescribed medicines in our house, i decant the strips of pills into ziplock bags to.remove the boxes and make more room.keep them in a high up shelf in kitchen. Those vacuum bags are really.good for keeping out f season clothes out of the way, you could fit lots more in a suitcase under your bed that way. I know your move is unexpected but try to have a good clear as you pack, have a bag on hand for the charity shop and then when you unpack do the same. Wouldn't keep fabrics in bathroom.

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

You'll be fine! I KNOW that's just my meaningless and banal wittering, but I sense stress and anxiety in you. It will be fine. YOU will be fine.

[cherrytree63]

The suitcases you intend to store under your bed could be used to store things you don't use often such as your spare linen.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

yes definitely stress! Unexpected and unwanted move, really. But as long as it doesn't fall through, it will be OK.

Definitely will clear out as I unpack. I've already taken loads to charity shops etc as I pack and even now I have a big bag around for getting rid of all the other stuff that might be useful, but there isn't room for.

I don't know about wardrobes yet - nothing built in, so I'm going to go to ikea and get the Pax ones I think, but I'm not sure yet whether I can fit in the really tall ones; I've been measuring and planning out what I can get. If so, there will be more shelves inside; if not, there will be some room on top I think! So I can put some boxes or baskets up there. Suitcases have other suitcases and bags inside them, but possibly room for a few other things. The vacuum storage bags are a good idea, maybe for winter coats etc, as they can be bulky.

thanks for the ideas.

[SilenceOfThePrams]

If it helps, we used to store medicines in a toolbox. Which you could put in the tallboy, and have a padlock on it if you were worried about little fingers getting to it.

[maggiso]

We keep spare towels in the bathroom- rolled up on shelves ready to use. Our bathroom has an extractor fan, so it does not stay steamy. As you are going into a new build, you bathroom may well have a fan too, I used to ( in our old house) have shelves in the porch, with a craft box with first aid type of stuff on a high shelf.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

thanks, yes tool boxes and craft boxes are both good ideas. Maybe I can find a really tall tallboy that has lots of shelves and space for stuff like that, and also looks quite neat.

There is an extractor fan I think, so hopefully towels should be OK, specially in a cupboard or something. They're designed to absorb moisture anyway....