23 Bathroom Towel Storage Ideas You’ll Actually Use
Let’s be honest—bathroom towel storage is one of those things that sounds simple until you’re standing in your bathroom wondering why you have 47 towels but nowhere to put them.
You want them accessible, you want them to look good, and ideally, you don’t want them piled on the floor like some kind of terry cloth mountain. Trust me, I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.
If you’ve ever opened your linen closet only to have an avalanche of towels fall on your head, or if you’re tired of your bathroom looking like a laundromat exploded, you’re in the right place.
I’ve rounded up 23 bathroom towel storage ideas that actually work in real life—not just in those perfectly styled Instagram photos where nobody actually uses their bathroom.
So grab a coffee (or wine, no judgment), and let’s figure out where to put all those towels.
1. Install Floating Shelves Above the Toilet
Here’s the thing—that wall space above your toilet is basically free real estate. Floating shelves are perfect for rolled towels, and honestly, they make your bathroom look more put-together instantly.
Plus, you can style them with a plant or candle if you’re feeling fancy.
2. Use a Ladder Shelf for Casual Towel Display
I’m obsessed with ladder shelves because they lean against the wall and require zero installation skills.
Just drape your towels over the rungs and you’ve got storage that doubles as decor. It’s basically the lazy person’s dream, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
3. Add Hooks Inside Cabinet Doors
Ever noticed how much wasted space lives inside your cabinet doors? Stick some adhesive hooks in there and hang hand towels or washcloths.
It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of this sooner” moments that makes you feel like a genius.
4. Try a Rolling Cart for Extra Towel Storage
Rolling carts aren’t just for kitchens—they’re lifesavers in small bathrooms. Stack your towels, add some toiletries, and roll it wherever you need it.
Bonus: you can shove it in a corner or closet when guests come over.
5. Install Towel Bars on the Back of the Door
The back of your bathroom door is prime real estate that most people completely ignore.
Mount a few towel bars back there and suddenly you’ve got space for multiple towels without taking up any wall space. It’s honestly one of the easiest wins you can get.
6. Use Woven Baskets on Open Shelving
Woven baskets make everything look intentional, even when you’ve just stuffed towels in there randomly.
They hide the chaos while adding texture to your bathroom. FYI, this trick works in literally every room of your house.
7. Mount a Wine Rack Sideways for Rolled Towels
Okay, hear me out—those wall-mounted wine racks? Turn one sideways and it becomes the perfect holder for rolled towels.
It looks modern, it’s functional, and it’s a great conversation starter. People will think you’re way more creative than you actually are.
8. Add a Towel Ladder Between the Tub and Wall
If you’ve got a narrow space next to your tub, a slim towel ladder fits perfectly there.
It keeps towels within arm’s reach when you’re in the tub, which is honestly where you need them most. No more dripping across the bathroom.
9. Install Industrial Pipe Shelving
Industrial pipe shelves give major style points and they’re surprisingly sturdy. Stack your towels on the shelves or hang them from the pipes.
It’s that modern farmhouse vibe everyone loves, and it actually holds a lot.
10. Use Over-the-Door Organizers With Pockets
These aren’t the prettiest solution, I’ll admit, but they’re insanely practical for small bathrooms.
Each pocket can hold a rolled towel, and you’re using vertical space that would otherwise go to waste. Sometimes function wins over form.
11. Try a Freestanding Towel Rack
Freestanding towel racks are perfect for renters or anyone who doesn’t want to drill holes in their walls.
They come in every style imaginable and you can move them around as needed. I’ve moved mine like six times and it still works perfectly.
12. Install a Towel Bar Inside Your Shower
If you’ve got the wall space inside your shower, add a towel bar there. Your towel stays dry-ish and it’s right there when you need it.
Just make sure it’s far enough from the spray that you’re not grabbing a soaking wet towel.
13. Use a Vintage Crate as Towel Storage
An old wooden crate mounted on the wall or sitting on a shelf is perfect for rolled towels.
It’s got that rustic charm and it’s way cheaper than buying actual bathroom storage. Check thrift stores—you’ll find these everywhere.
14. Add Cubby Storage With Individual Slots
Cubbies are great because each towel gets its own little home. No more digging through a pile to find what you need.
They work especially well if you’re storing towels for multiple people and want to keep things organized.
15. Mount Towel Hooks at Different Heights
Instead of one towel bar, try mounting several hooks at different heights. It looks more interesting visually and it’s easier to grab exactly the towel you want.
Plus, kids can actually reach the lower ones without climbing on the counter.
16. Use a Bookshelf as Towel Storage
Yep, a regular bookshelf works perfectly in a bathroom. Store folded or rolled towels on the shelves along with your other bathroom stuff.
Just make sure it’s treated or sealed if your bathroom gets super steamy.
17. Try a Tiered Metal Stand
Those tiered metal fruit stands you see in kitchens? They’re weirdly perfect for rolled towels in bathrooms.
Each tier holds multiple towels and the whole thing takes up minimal floor space. I discovered this by accident and now I’m lowkey obsessed.
18. Install Built-In Cubby Holes in the Wall
If you’re doing a bathroom renovation, consider adding built-in cubbies between the studs.
They’re flush with the wall, they don’t take up any extra space, and they look custom and expensive. It’s a bigger project but the payoff is huge.
19. Use Adhesive Hooks for Temporary Storage
Sometimes you just need a quick solution, and adhesive hooks are it. Stick them wherever you need a towel to hang—next to the sink, by the shower, wherever.
They won’t damage walls and you can rearrange them whenever you want.
20. Add a Towel Warming Rack
Okay, this is more luxury than necessity, but if you’ve ever wrapped yourself in a warm towel fresh out of the shower, you know it’s worth it.
Towel warmers keep your towels toasty and they double as storage. It’s the ultimate bathroom upgrade.
21. Try a Corner Shelf Unit
Corner shelves make use of space that usually just sits there doing nothing. They’re perfect for small bathrooms where every inch counts.
Stack your towels, add some decorative items, and suddenly that awkward corner is your favorite spot.
22. Use Magazine Holders for Rolled Towels
This is one of those weird hacks that actually works. Mount metal or plastic magazine holders on the wall and slide rolled towels into them.
It looks intentional and modern, and nobody will guess you repurposed office supplies.
23. Install a Towel Bar Inside a Drawer
If you’ve got deep drawers in your bathroom vanity, mount a small towel bar inside one of them.
You can hang hand towels or washcloths in there and they stay hidden but accessible. It’s like a secret storage hack that makes you feel clever every time you use it.
Final Thoughts
Here’s what I’ve learned after trying way too many towel storage solutions: there’s no single perfect answer. What works depends on your bathroom size, how many towels you own (no judgment if it’s a lot), and whether you’re team “towels on display” or team “hide everything.”
The good news? You’ve now got 23 different options to play with, so you’re basically guaranteed to find something that clicks. Start with whatever feels easiest—maybe it’s adding hooks to your cabinet doors, maybe it’s splurging on that ladder shelf you’ve been eyeing. Either way, you’re about to have a bathroom that feels way more organized.
And honestly, once your towels have actual homes instead of living in a chaotic pile, you’ll wonder why you didn’t fix this sooner. IMO, that’s half the fun of organizing—the smug satisfaction of walking past your perfectly stored towels every single day.
