Saltman explains that the beauty of these types of storage units is that they come in several styles, meaning there’s a fit for every design, need, and budget. “[They] can have open shelving, drawers, or even cabinets.” The final result makes items easy to store, access, and style. “Using an étagère can add functionality to your bathroom where it didn’t exist previously and allows you to keep frequently used items, like toilet paper and clean towels, easily accessible," she explains. To see how all the options on the market stacked up, we researched dozens of options, judging each one on ease of assembly, capacity, and sturdiness. Our top pick is the simple, but versatile, UTEX 3-Shelf Bathroom Organizer Over The Toilet, Bathroom Spacesaver, which sports a ladder construction with clean lines and a white hue, and ample amount of space. Here, the best over-the-toilet storage units, so your bathroom can stay totally organized. This solid engineered wood storage solution features a streamlined, ladder-style construction. But it doesn’t need to lean against a wall with its standable construction style. It has three shelves, each featuring ample space for an array of items. The open shelves won’t work well to hide clutter, but they are convenient for stashing tissues, toilet paper, and a bevy of beautiful objects (such as, perfumes, beauty products, and even a plant). Best of all, it doesn’t take up much space, which makes it ideal for small space bathrooms. Price at time of publish: $70 In addition to ample shelving capacity, this over-the-toilet storage unit may easily match bathroom fixtures made of shiny chrome material. While scratches and hard water spots do show up easily, chrome can be wiped down with distilled white vinegar and a microfiber cloth. Admittedly, this organizer takes a bit longer to construct, but the instructions are clear and easy-to-use. Once this handy shelving unit is intact, it’s sure to last a long time. You might even want to snag a few for each of your bathrooms. Or maybe for the kitchen and garage, too. Price at time of publish: $27 In addition to its roomy two-door cabinet, this storage unit also features an open-shelving space for the prettier items you might actually want to display. As for the cabinet area, it features one adjustable shelf and one stationary shelf shelving unit on the inside, as well as a magnetic stopper function for easy opening and secure closing. The exterior of the farmhouse-style doors are handsome, complete with visible wood slats and elegant metal handles. This unit is easier to install than most, largely because it has fewer pieces to assemble and easy-to-follow instructions. This storage unit is wipeable and water-resistant, which is a plus for anyone worried about an over-the-toilet storage unit becoming warped or damaged with repeated steam in the air. The manufactured wood is particularly durable and is UV-coated, giving it extra protection against common bathroom elements. Price at time of publish: $140 While it does lack any sort of concealment (which you’ll want to consider if you’re trying to hide less appealing items), it does feature ample room and considerable shelf depth. The added depth allows nicer-looking items to be put in the line of sight and then hide other items in a row behind. Perhaps the handiest element of this shelving solution is its inclusion of metal hooks along the side: three medium-sized hooks and one extra-large hook, all of which are sturdy and perfect for hanging towels, loofahs, and so much more. In fact, the lowest of the hooks is perfectly aligned for placing toilet paper in a vertical manner—all while eliminating the need for a separate toilet paper holder. Price at time of publish: $102 The measurements are ideal for most standard-sized toilet setups. However, if you need a bit more height, you can adjust the feet for more wiggle room. There’s some assembly involved, but it’s straightforward compared to most similar models and should only take about 30 minutes if you’re adept with power tools. This unit is an excellent value. But it’s less sturdy than some of the other options on this list. It has the tendency to wobble ever-so-slightly. While this is typically not the biggest deal if you’re storing lighter items (such as toilet paper, hand towels, or paper towels), you may want to consider another option if you’re planning to store fragile pieces, such as petite candles, glass bottle perfumes, or ceramic potted plants. Price at time of publish: $68 Available in bright white, slate gray, espresso brown, and an earthy, natural tone that highlights the beauty of bamboo, this unit is sure to satisfy most decor styles. It’s also worth noting that bamboo is naturally water-resistant in nature, making this a good choice for humid bathrooms. For this reason, durability is a key factor of this shelving unit, which is why it’s a smart investment. Price at time of publish: $90 We love this unit for stashing pretty-yet-delicate items: think plants, breakable bottles, incense holders, and even a photo frame or two. Each of the four shelves holds an impressive 22 pounds of weight. This unit is perfect for anyone who’s averse to power tools, and even a simple screwdriver and screw assembly, as it’s totally tool-free in terms of assembly. Just remove the piece from the box, slide the shelving and metal poles into place, and voila! A beautiful, sturdy storage solution you can start using in mere minutes. Price at time of publish: $70 We love how this open shelving unit features a curved lip at the edge of the shelf to keep organization storage boxes from falling. Lastly, this unit features two useful hanging racks on the side of each shelf. Each rack gives additional storage space to hang items like towels, small robes, and loofahs. The racks contain four sturdy metal hooks, for a total of eight hooks altogether. The bottom shelf features a jutting vertical rung designed specifically for placing toilet paper at a convenient height and nixes the need for any additional hardware on the wall. Price at time of publish: $77 Store lotions, shampoos, and other bottles and bathroom accouterments without worrying about slippage or breakage. Another space-saving addition: an easy-to-use S-shaped hook, which can be affixed in seconds anywhere on the storage unit. Available in both black and white, the unit has a clean, modern feel that works with any bathroom style. It’s also available in a single-tier design, if you prefer an even cleaner, less-cluttered look—or if you’re really tight on vertical space. Lastly, we could also see this organizer used in the kitchen, too, for spices and olive oil, for example. This option is sure to work well in any setup and as a great investment even if you plan to move. Price at time of publish: $30 The Godboat 2-Tier Bathroom Organizer Shelves are our top pick for small spaces because they don’t take up any floor space, unlike some other shelf-style options that require a footprint on either side of your toilet. They’re also adhered with suction cups, so assembly is flexible and easy.
Material and Color
As Saltman notes, over-the-toilet storage units are available in many materials, including wood and metal—each of which offers its own advantages and drawbacks depending on what you’re looking for. Metal options—like our “best metal” pick, the ALLZONE Bathroom Organizer, are typically more sturdy than particle board or manufactured wood options and are also more durable. A wood option, or a bamboo option (which is naturally water-resistant)—like our “best wood” pick, the Homykic Bamboo 3-Tier Over-The-Toilet Space Saver Organizer Rack, can better match a more organic style than an industrial, metal option.
Organization Options
Depending on the items you plan to store, you may want to hide your clutter away, or put your items on full display. These considerations can impact which storage unit you ultimately choose. Cabinet-style options will keep items like toilet paper rolls, extra packages of dental floss, and your skincare products all hidden away, which can be ideal if your bathroom is going to be used by guests as well as your household’s members. Shelving units typically keep items on display. In addition to the overall style of the organization piece, you’ll want to consider if there’s opportunity for items to fall over or slip through wire shelving. That way, you know if you need to purchase other organization bins and baskets to decorate your storage unit with, that’ll ultimately make your daily experience as smooth as possible.
Required Assembly
Most over-the-toilet storage units require at least a little bit of assembly, including a simple screw and screwdriver. If you’re not too keen on using tools, look for an option with minimum assembly required, or, better yet, an option that requires no assembly at all and can be used straight from the box. The Godboat 2-Tier Bathroom Organizer Shelves use suction cups to adhere themselves, and are a great option for anyone looking for an easy-to-add-to-their-home product.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Sophie Wirt is a freelance writer, product tester, and organization enthusiast who has written numerous organization-focused articles for The Spruce. For this roundup, she considered dozens of picks currently on the market, evaluating them for assembly, capacity, sturdiness, and overall style. In addition to Sophie’s personal knowledge, she wrote this article and selected her picks based on insight from Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and owner of Living. Simplified. Plus, you can always invest in stylish baskets and containers to hide any unsightly clutter on your storage unit. Or you can simply remove labels from your toiletries, such as shampoos and lotions, for a more uniformed look, or consider decanting your liquid products into sleek containers that look lovely on display. Saltman says, “Using clear acrylic bins to keep similar items together is a great way to stay organized.” As an added bonus, she suggests spending time making labels for each bin and listing its contents.
