Goodbye Traditional Bathroom Storage: The Rustic Thrift Store Swap For More Counterspace

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Bathrooms are usually some of the smallest rooms in a home, making order and organization critical. The moment you leave your beauty care products or extra toiletries scattered on the countertop, the space becomes a mess very easily. If you don't have a storage solution that keeps everything in its place, you're doing yourself a great disservice. That doesn't mean you have to go the traditional route of installing cabinets or arranging trays on your counter, though. There are budget-friendly items you can use to organize your bathroom while also making it stand out from the norm. Think hanging wicker baskets. Combine baskets with simple wall-mounted rail, and you can create a beautiful rustic wall-storage solution that'll free up more counter space on your vanity.

To set up this DIY storage solution, go hunting for cute hanging wicker baskets with a handle. To save the most money, buy these at a thrift store or your local flea market. Since they'll be used in the bathroom, a moisture-prone space, you're better off picking baskets with a waterproof coating or synthetic ones, like this Mipon Handmade Woven Hanging Waterproof Plastic Rattan Wicker Basket. Next, you'll need a rod like this Ikea Hultarp Rail and matching Hultarp Hooks to hold the baskets. Go for the brass color to match your brownish wicker baskets. Finally, get a drill (renters can use adhesive strips), some screws, drywall anchors, a hammer, a pencil, and a level.

Your biggest task here is installing the rail on the wall, and there are a couple of different ways you can do this. We'll start with the drilling method. Grab your rail, and assemble the parts. Next, identify the location on your bathroom wall where you'd like to install it. Hold up the rail you've just assembled against the wall, and, using a pencil, mark the wall where the screws will go. Use the level to ensure the rail is straight. If you have a stud finder, you can locate a stud in the wall and position the rail so that one or both of the brackets will attach to the wall studs.

Now, put down the rail, and drill pilot holes on the marked spots. For drywall, hammer drywall anchors into the holes where there are no studs. Then, place back the rail on the wall with the brackets over the holes, and install the screws. That's it. Now, for a renter-friendly alternative, use the non-drilling method. You'll basically mount the rail to the wall using heavy-weight adhesive strips attached to the brackets.

Now that your rail is well secured on the wall, place hooks on it, and go ahead and hang up the wicker baskets. You can organize almost everything you need in your bathroom in these baskets, from makeup and skin care products to towels and even small appliances like your curling iron and hair dryer. If you need even more storage, all you have to do is install another rail and hang baskets on it with additional hooks. Now that's a clever way to use baskets to keep your bathroom organized.