Category: Bathroom

It used to be that you could store your toilet paper rolls in the cabinet that was built-in under the bathroom sink. But lately, sinks with no cabinets below them have become very popular, since they have beautiful pedestals and sleek designs. However attractive they may be, they also present a problem: you cannot store anything under them. That is why you may want to get yourself a cabinet dedicated solely to storing bathroom tissue.

Here’s an example that’s practical but manages to have a bit of style:

Toilet paper storage cabinet pictured: Free Standing White Toilet Paper Bathroom Cabinet Holder by WholesalePlumbing

Why such a specialized piece of furniture rather than a regular bathroom cabinet that would be able to contain far more? The answer is simply about accessibility. You should be able to reach the cabinet from your sitting position.

Bathrooms can be small and cramped, and that is why if you are looking to include any furniture that is not mounted to the wall, you may have to go with something that is narrow.  Something with the smallest footprint possible, so as to either fit the piece in a specific location, or to have more choice when it comes to placement. When you have to fit a piece of furniture between a sink and a bath for example, you may be dealing with less than 48 inches.

Three examples that look a bit dull – although I do like the frosted glass of the Lakeside model on the right:

Tall narrow bathroom storage cabinets pictured:
Left: 4D Concepts Bathroom Tower with Doors
Middle: Slim Storage Cabinet by LCL
Right: Lakeside Tall Storage Cabinet by Furniture Creations

Of course, the narrowness of a cabinet can also present some limitations: You simply will not be able to put anything very wide on its shelves. Bath products will be no problem, as well as facecloths and small towels. But bath towels will probably not fit. When you decide on where you will be placing it, make sure the cabinet’s doors can be open fully, so that you can gain access to its contents easily. This is not always easy in cramped quarters, and you may find doors or drawers hitting the sink, toilet or bath. You may have to live with that or consider placing the cabinet in another spot, or at a different angle.

A couple of examples with a bit more style, I think:

Pictured above:
Left: Slone Linen Tower Color: Dark Espresso by Elegant Home Fashions
Right: Hampton Bay 15″w Standard Linen Storage Cabinet by Home Decorators Collection

Some cabinets are made to fit in a corner, which can be very handy in small spaces. The angled effect may also be more attractive. It is a good idea to think about what you will be placing in your cabinet before you pick one, that way you can determine what type you need. The taller the cabinet, the more storage it gives you. But don’t forget that tall furniture in small spaces can end up looking rather imposing. This is especially true if the furniture in question is dark in color. So if you go for a tall model in a small space, you may want to go for something white, ivory, or some other light color.

If you don’t like the look of a regular hamper, you could get yourself a cabinet that has a hamper integrated in it. This can mean a larger unit that has shelves and door along with the area that houses the hamper, or it could mean a smaller unit that only has the one compartment. In either case, the hamper is hidden and they look great in a bathroom, bedroom or laundry room.

Here are two examples – I like how practical the one on the right looks:

Bathroom cabinet hampers pictured:
Left: Hampton Bay Tilt out Hamper by Home Decorators Collection, single 17″W
Right: 4D Concepts Bathroom Tower with Pull-Out Hamper, Size: 25W x 12.6D x 71.1H inches

Of course, if you pick this type of hamper, you have to expect to pay more than you would for a simple, regular hamper. This is a piece of furniture. Some of these cabinets have a bag mounted on the inside. This means that when comes time to do the laundry, you simply have to pull the full bag out, empty it in the washer and put the empty bag back in. This is handy, but not absolutely necessary if you are willing to put more work into getting the clothes out of the hamper. If the cabinet is not fitted with a bag-holding frame, you will need to bend down and grab the dirty clothes, and then load them into a basket or a bag.

Two more versions – the one on the right is quite nice, I think:

Bathroom hamper cabinets pictured:
Left: Ameriwood Unit with Hamper Cabinet
Right: Spa Bath Tower with Tilting Hamper (Light Walnut) (66.25″H x 17″W x 14.5″D) by Proman Products

Of course, if there are already some built-in cabinets in your bathroom, you could have a hamper put in by a carpenter. The advantage with this scenario is that you know it will fit perfectly within the cabinet. The disadvantage may be the cost. It may be an expensive proposition, depending on the cost of labor. With a floor-standing model, you can change the placement of the hamper within the room, or into a different one altogether. Any type of stand-alone cabinet may need some assembly. They are usually fairly straight-forward to put together.