For small bathrooms, bigger isn’t always better. These slim but mighty picks gracefully slip into tight corners and squeeze into nooks (including the smallest of drawers).An airy hamper: Yamazaki Rolling Wire Basket (24″ H) – Steel + Wood Michael Hession/NYT WirecutterTop pickSlim yet tall, this laundry basket packs about two full loads of laundry and can easily be wheeled from bathroom to laundry room.If your home (like mine) lacks any reasonable spot to put laundry, this tall and narrow basket from Yamazaki makes the most of a small space. The basket consists of water-resistant steel with a sleek wooden handle (the wheels fasten easily onto the bottom). The open wire frame also allows plenty of airflow to prevent clothes from getting gross while they await cleaning day — which, as an avid runner without an in-unit laundry, I’ve found vital for my routine. Two of its four wheels lock with a lever switch, so it stays put where it’s wanted but also rolls easily down the hall when it’s time to get washing.A chic yet sturdy garbage pail: Simplehuman 4.5-Liter Bathroom Trash Can SimplehumanTop pickThis sturdy mini bin slips into the smallest of corners and keeps trash sealed under its quiet, soft-close lid.Measuring about a foot tall and 10 inches in diameter (including the hinge and pedal), the Simplehuman 4.5L Round Step Can is a wisp of a bin, yet it feels solid and won’t easily tip, thanks to its steel construction. The white version blends seamlessly into white tiles to ease visual clutter, though the can also comes in black and brushed or polished steel. The inner plastic bin, which can take weeks to fill up, is removable for easy cleaning, and the lid closes slowly and quietly with a tap of the also-steel pedal. One home editor has been using the white can since 2022 and has yet to see a scratch, despite her dog’s constantly clawing at it in hopes of opening it.An unassuming toilet brush: Simplehuman Toilet Brush Michael Hession/NYT WirecutterTop pickToilet brushes are not inherently beautiful objects, but this petite-yet-powerful model is as close to attractive as they come and compact enough to fit into the tiniest corners.A toilet brush may have an ugly job, but that doesn’t mean it has to look ugly. This brush from Simplehuman impressed us during testing, not only for its strong bristles but also its smart features — such as the bristles’ circular shape that makes cleaning underneath the toilet seat easy; the brush’s small magnet that holds it sturdily in its caddy; the caddy’s open back that promotes more airflow. Moreover, we appreciate that it’s visually striking, resembling a gladiator helmet or an alien head more than an excrement scrubber. This is especially beneficial for small bathrooms where your eye can’t help but notice every object. At only 3.5 inches wide, this toilet cleaner is slimmer than most, so it squeezes into even the tiniest space between toilet and wall.A slim and movable cart: IKEA Råskog Utility Cart Signe Brewster/NYT WirecutterTop pickSturdy and affordable, this rolling cart offers three deep shelves for cleaning supplies, bath toys, or essentials such as TP.Easier to build than some IKEA products (we needed only 15 minutes), the IKEA Råskog Utility Cart is notably affordable yet built with a sturdy epoxy-coated steel frame that stands up well to humid environments. Three 11-by-15-inch trays provide plenty of space to store towels, cleaning supplies, and more. Editor Signe Brewster finds this cart especially helpful for storing her kid’s bath toys (as shown above) because the slotted trays allow water to drain through, so no mildew can collect from the wet toys between bath times. And when she needs it out of the way, the lockable wheels help it stay put until it’s time to roll back over.Even slimmer rolling shelves: Yamazaki Tower Rolling Storage Cart YamazakiTop pickThis chic roller stores a range of essentials while still leaving plenty of open space in a small bathroom. But it’s pricey.At just around 5 inches deep, the Yamazaki Tower Rolling Storage Cart sneaks in wherever there’s seemingly no hope for storage. We tested the roller against the open walls of a teensy guest bathroom, and it still left generous clearance in front of the sink and the toilet while holding a decent supply of toilet paper, towels, sponges, and refillable hand wash. To spare visitors of that clutter, we faced the shelf against the wall so that all they could see was a sleek surface to put their stuff on while using the loo. In another bathroom, the cart wedged gracefully into the sliver of space between the tub and sink, though we wouldn’t recommend that placement unless you wipe down shower splatter religiously — in our experience, the edges of the wood-veneer top discolored slightly after about a month, though there was no warping. Powder coating protects the steel from rust, but Yamazaki suggests a good wipe-down when the cart is heavily splashed there, too. This cart is not designed for heavy-duty items, particularly in its wheels (which is why we dismissed it in our small-kitchen guide), and the price seems exorbitant. But it’s the most-elegant-looking, truly svelte light-storage cart we’ve found so far.A wee organizer that fits into tiny drawers: iDesign Plastic In Drawer Organizer Trays Kyle Fitzgerald/NYT WirecutterTop pickEven though these are kitchen-drawer organizers, we like their height and durability for bathroom drawers.At just 2 inches deep, the modular iDesign Plastic In Drawer Organizer Trays fit into most drawers, including the very narrow ones in my bathroom. The 6-by-6-inch compartment currently accommodates my headbands; the 3.3-by-9.6-inch compartment holds two hair brushes, and the 3-by-3-inch corrals my sample-sized eye creams and hair elastics. The non-skid rubber feet keep everything in place, even as I grab and go.Shelves that hug: IKEA Rågrund Shelving IKEATop pickThese triangular shelves are the most creative solution we found for people with open space below their sinks or an unused corner.At around 20 inches high, IKEA’s Rågrund shelves are short enough to fit below a variety of pedestal sinks without bumping into the bowl, and their triangular shape is ideal for presenting a clean look on the front while still fitting to hide ugly pipes in the center. They also work beautifully tucked into an unused corner, which is how I use mine. Building the shelves is easy — five light bamboo pieces fit together in about five minutes. After several months of using them, I am not noticing any dents or discoloration, but I will keep my eye out for issues going forward.
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