The 8 Best Over Toilet Cabinets
This wiki has been updated 37 times since it was first published in January of 2017. In most bathrooms, the wall above the commode is just wasted space. But you can keep all your essentials close at hand with something from our selection of over-toilet cabinets. They add storage options for things like towels and paper rolls, along with space for decorative items, while adding a little charm in their own right to an otherwise utilitarian room. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Elegant Home Fashions Lisbon
2. River Ridge Ellsworth
3. Sauder Peppercorn
Editor's Notes
March 19, 2019:
For the over-the-toilet cabinets we included mostly stand-alone and plus a few wall-mounted options because some people don't like the legs coming down over the sides of their toilets. The Elegant Home Fashions Lisbon took the top spot for having a reliably stable base without needing to be anchored to the wall, plus plenty of decorative appeal. The Giantex Freestanding also offers this stability but because of it's width, may not fit in a lot of bathrooms where the toilet is crammed into a corner.
4. Giantex Freestanding
5. Best Choice Products Modern
6. Zenna Home 3-Tier
7. Sauder Caraway
8. 4D Concepts Windsor
Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Over-Toilet Cabinet
If there's one part of your house that can get overrun with stuff faster than any other, it's definitely the bathroom.
If there's one part of your house that can get overrun with stuff faster than any other, it's definitely the bathroom.
You've got soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, extra toilet paper (learned that one the hard way), hair supplies, face supplies, all sorts of things — and if you share a bathroom with someone, you can take that list and at least double it.
That's why an over-toilet cabinet can be such a lifesaver. It takes what used to be wasted space and turns it into an incredibly helpful storage area, allowing you to corral some of that aforementioned stuff and get it out of your way.
One of the best ways to maximize this new storage space is to divide it into smaller storage spaces. That means adding storage containers to the shelves, which you then fill with smaller, loose items.
Decide which things will be best served going in the cabinet, as well. If your toilet is situated well away from your sink, you might want to skip putting toiletries and cosmetics in the cabinet, as that only makes your morning routine more complicated. Instead, fill the cabinet with spare towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and anything else that you need, but that you don't necessarily need every day.
Having more room for these items also frees you up to buy in bulk, which can save you a ton of money down the line — not to mention saving you trips to the store.
Decorating the cabinet is an easy way to spruce up the entire room. You can add framed photographs, small pieces of art, potted plants or flowers, and even scented candles to the shelves, making your bathroom classy and more inviting.
Adding an over-toilet cabinet to your bathroom is pretty close to a no-brainer, as there's no such thing as too much storage space. Plus, it gives your cat a whole new set of things to knock into the bathtub.
Other Smart Ways To Keep Your Bathroom Organized
While installing an over-toilet cabinet is a good start, it's far from the only thing you can do to ensure that your bathroom is always ready for company.
The best way to curb clutter is by reducing it. Try to pare your products down to the bare essentials, so that you're not swamped by 15 different colognes or dozens of facial scrubs. Not only will this save you some counter space, but minimizing your routine will help you get out the door more quickly in the mornings (so you can get to work sooner — yay!).
While installing an over-toilet cabinet is a good start, it's far from the only thing you can do to ensure that your bathroom is always ready for company.
Of the stuff you keep, decide which things can live in another room. You might want to keep cleaning products and spare toilet paper rolls in a hall closet, or even your garage. If you have kids who have a small army of bath toys, keep them in a box in their bedroom, only bringing them out when needed.
Laundry hampers are a necessity in your bathroom, as a few clothes strewn across the floor can make the entire room look much messier than it actually is. You can either throw all your clothes in one, or keep a few so you can pre-sort your laundry, making that task a little easier when the time comes.
You might also want to think about investing in some sort of container that allows you to bring items in when necessary, like a storage bin or even a small cart. That way, you don't have to get rid of any of your precious moisturizers or aftershaves, but you won't have them constantly in your way while you're getting ready either.
With a little ingenuity, you can transform even the smallest bathroom into one that has more than enough room for you and your gear. If you really want to maximize your available space, though, the best way is to get a divorce.
There — now you have twice as much room!
How Safe Is Your Bathroom?
You might think your bathroom is your refuge from the outside world, but we have some bad news: your bathroom may actually be trying to kill you.
It turns out that your bathroom may be the most dangerous area in your entire house, as hundreds of thousands of people injure themselves in there every year (well, not your bathroom, specifically — we hope).
The elderly are most at-risk, especially around the toilet. That's because this is a prime spot for losing your balance, as lowering and raising yourself becomes a tricky proposition as you age.
For younger people, those injuries usually happen in the shower.
Everyone is capable of injuring themselves, though. For younger people, those injuries usually happen in the shower. It's incredibly easy to slip and fall while you're in there. Many younger people are also over-confident in their abilities, and fail to respect the dangers involved, leading to carelessness and eventually injury.
Taking a few precautions is essential to limiting the amount of danger you'll encounter. Non-slip mats should be placed both inside and outside your shower, as well as grab bars in case you find yourself falling anyway. Elderly people should consider a shower chair if their balance has begun to suffer.
You should also place safety rails around the toilet, as they can help older users get up and down more easily. People of all ages can benefit from one, though, as no one is immune to finding themselves off-balance.
To prevent scaldings, switch your basic shower head out for a fancy LED model, as many of these have digital thermometers in them, allowing you to determine the safety of the water before setting foot inside the tub.
Ultimately, you won't be able to completely eliminate the risk of hurting yourself in the bathroom, but you should be able to lower it considerably — and it's not expensive to do, either. It's totally worth it, especially when you consider the fact that people will probably get the wrong idea if they hear you died in the bathroom.
Tina Morna Freitas is a writer who lives in Chicago with her family and three cats. She has a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in English, and has built a freelance career over the years in writing and digital marketing. Her passions for cooking, decorating and home improvement contribute to her extensive knowledge of all things kitchen and home goods. In addition, her 20 years as a parent inform her expertise in the endless stream of toys and equipment that inevitably takes over the homes of most parents. She also enjoys gardening, making and sipping margaritas, and aspires to be a crazy cat lady once all the children are grown.