beautiful bathroom storage: Fresh ways to unclutter this often crowded space - Brief Article

Sunset, Jan, 2002 by Mary Jo Bowling

* Bathroom design is undergoing a small revolution as Westerners look for ways to make this cramped room more beautiful and efficient. "A lot of attention is being paid to making the bathroom a relaxing environment," says Kyle C. Gaffney of SkB Architects in Seattle. "That means reducing the visual clutter of the bath and giving people a place for everything." With careful planning, as the following examples show, you can have your cake of soap and spaciousness too.

1. Storage strategies

There are three basic ways to store your belongings in the bathroom: Hang things on the walls, build in storage, and add a piece of furniture. An effective storage scheme usually combines all three approaches, but you'll want to consider the amount of available floor space; the placement of fixtures, doors, and windows; and the style of the room. Remember the common-sense rule: Always store objects near where you plan to use them.

2. Getting the hang of it

Using wall space for storage has become more important with the popularity of pedestal and wall-mounted sinks, which eliminate the cabinets normally found under the sink. One often unused wall space is the area above the toilet. Consider bolting a shallow cabinet to the studs here (be sure it's above the head level of a seated person). If there's space beside the toilet, a wall-mounted cabinet can screen the toilet somewhat from the rest of the room without taking up as much space as a floor-mounted cabinet. Or use this space for towel rods or hooks. When you add a cabinet to a wall, use open shelves to showcase decorative items like perfume or bath salt bottles, and enclosed shelves and drawers to hide workaday items.

3. The built-in option

For a coordinated, well-planned look, built-ins can't be beat. If you have limited floor space, look for places to recess storage--for example, there might be room for niches between wall studs. You may also be able to borrow space from an adjacent garage or guest bedroom to provide more bath storage.

4. The furniture approach

Furniture--for storing towels and toiletries while establishing a relaxed and cozy atmosphere--is entering the bathroom in a variety of ways. Recycled bureaus, sideboards, or wardrobes can create an Old World look. Cabinets like tansus can be adapted as artful vanities. Some furniture is made specifically for use in the bathroom; it's usually smaller in scale than conventional furniture and uses finishes that stand up to humidity. If you're repurposing furniture, be sure the finish is moisture-proof.

A tall freestanding cabinet set alongside the sink or toilet may allow you to put a large wall mirror above the sink, visually opening the room.

RELATED ARTICLE: simple storage solutions

* BASKETS

Baskets, boxes, or other covered containers work well on counters or open shelves.

* CABINETS OF VARYING DEPTHS

Shallow cabinets make small things easier to find, and their slim profile leaves rooms uncrowded looking and takes up less floor space. Use deeper cabinets for towels and larger items.

* TOWEL HOOKS AND MORE

A row of hooks or hooks with multiple arms will accommodate more towels than a single towel rod. Towel bars that swing back against the wall and stacking units attached to the wall are other space savers. But you'll probably want at least one rod or bar for letting a wet towel dry out-for instance, on the back of the door.

* NICHES, SHOWER SHELVES, AND RACKS

Niches inserted between the studs in the shower wall or above the tub are especially helpful. If built-ins are not possible, consider units specifically designed to suspend from the showerhead or affix to the wall. Racks on corner poles are another option for the shower.