10 Practical Small Bathroom Makeup Storage Ideas: Space-Saving Solutions for Renters and Tiny Spaces

One of the most amusing design challenges I've encountered involved a client who wanted to fit her collection of over 200 makeup items into a bathroom that resembled the dimensions of a coat closet. Initially, I thought it was a joke until she arrived with a suitcase filled with lipsticks. This experience imparted a valuable lesson: designing for small spaces often encourages innovative thinking, resulting in solutions that might exceed those found in more spacious rooms. Today, I’m excited to share 10 practical small bathroom storage ideas for makeup that I’ve successfully implemented in real projects, all while ensuring they are suitable for renters and easily visualized with tools like Homestyler.

Installing a magnetic board inside a cabinet or on a bare wall can drastically free up counter space. You can attach small metal containers or magnetic strips to hold your favorite blushes and palettes. One client even transformed a framed art piece into a concealed magnetic board that is both attractive and functional.

I find slim over-the-door racks to be ideal for organizing toiletries and makeup brushes. They utilize often overlooked spaces in bathrooms. For compact areas, it's advisable to plan their placement using a room planner like Homestyler to ensure door movement isn’t obstructed.

Rather than allowing makeup to spread across your vanity, consider a rotating tiered organizer that keeps everything visible without occupying much space. Just be prepared to do a bit more dusting if your bathroom tends to get steamy.

These narrow, three-tiered carts can easily fit between your vanity and toilet. I’ve utilized them in several micro-apartments to store makeup, skincare products, and even hair tools. With wheels, you can conveniently roll it out during your morning routine and tuck it away when done.

Deep drawers can quickly descend into chaos, but simple acrylic dividers or cutlery trays can create instant organization for your lipsticks, liners, and compacts. I once completely organized a client’s vanity using thrift-store trays for under $10.

Floating shelves placed above the toilet or next to the mirror prove to be invaluable for additional storage. Just be sure to install them using moisture-resistant brackets. When navigating awkward layouts, I often use a room layout creator like Homestyler to ensure proper clearances.

Small adhesive hooks on the inside of cabinet doors are perfect for holding hairbands, small pouches, or brush rolls, making it a small enhancement that can significantly streamline your daily routine.

Being able to see your items at a glance is half the battle when it comes to staying organized. I suggest using stackable acrylic bins as they can fit beneath sinks, on shelves, or even within deep drawers.

If you can allocate 12 to 14 inches of floor space, a tall, narrow cabinet can accommodate a surprising amount of makeup. In one remodeling project, we constructed a custom tower with pull-out trays, allowing my client to showcase every lipstick at once.

One of my favorite space-saving solutions involves mirrors that swing open to reveal hidden shelves. They are excellent for skincare and daily makeup storage while serving as a stylish statement piece. You can even visualize how such a cabinet would fit in your space using a kitchen layout planner, which, despite its culinary focus, is effective for compact storage ideas as well.

Q: What’s the most affordable way to organize makeup in a compact bathroom?

A: Utilize drawer dividers or repurpose containers like candle jars or mugs — these options are very low-cost and can be surprisingly chic.

Q: How can I prevent my makeup from deteriorating in a humid bathroom?

A: Store products in airtight containers or relocate items that you rarely use to a dresser in the bedroom to minimize exposure to moisture damage.

Homestyler is an outstanding online home design platform perfect for all skill levels. With its user-friendly design tool, stunning 3D renderings, inspiring design projects, and helpful video tutorials, you can effortlessly create and visualize your dream spaces. Transform your home design journey today!