Not Cabinets, Not Baskets: The Vintage Alternative For Flexible Bathroom Storage

Balancing style and practicality can be difficult, but it is often particularly hard to manage in the bathroom. This is because it is typically the home for a variety of personal hygiene products and can even become the landing place for cleaning supplies, spare towels, or bath toys. Together, these items can create a cluttered, overwhelming feeling in the space. However, you don't necessarily have to resort to bulky cabinets or boring baskets that look like everyone else's. Instead, why not try organizing your bathroom and infusing unique, elegant style into your space by thrifting vintage hat boxes?

These charming vessels have been used for decades to help people carry fragile headwear without denting or scuffing it. While hats — particularly those formal ones which were so common in days gone by — have become less popular over time, the boxes themselves can be hugely useful for flexible storage, helping you hide bathroom clutter without turning the room into a storage unit full of lifeless plastic bins. Not only are these alternative storage containers fascinating to look at, they also have a good amount of space inside, great for hiding away anything from washcloths to hair accessories. Some vintage hat boxes were even made with extra compartments designed for the brushes used to keep silk hats in good shape. These side pockets are perfect for keeping small items organized such as bobby pins, cotton swabs, or cotton balls. Let's explore how to source your own vintage hat boxes and how to make the most of their potential as a clever, chic storage solution in the bathroom.

Finding vintage hat boxes, luckily, isn't too difficult, as long as you know where to look. If you're short on time or want to save yourself a trip, you can check online sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Etsy for people selling the vintage boxes in their possession. Looking for something in a specific color scheme or time period? It can be helpful to make your search as specific as possible by typing in the name of a particular manufacturer or style. Sourcing vintage hat boxes in person from thrift stores or antique malls is also a great option because you can see exactly what shape the box is in and how much it might be able to hold before purchasing it.

Once you have chosen a few hat boxes you like the look of, how can you style them to help declutter your bathroom while maintaining their inherent class? Well, first consider the practical side — what would you like to store inside the box? If you want to place hand towels inside, then you may want to place the box on the countertop where the towels will be easily accessible. On the other hand, if you would like the inner contents of the box to be completely hidden, you could store smaller items inside and even stack multiple boxes on top for a varied display. If you want the box to be more of a statement, you could hang it on the wall, then place a few lighter items inside such as cotton balls or washcloths. The possibilities are endless, but with a storage system that's already so stylish, it shouldn't be difficult to create a look you love.