It’s easy to overlook one fundamental requirement of a bathroom, and that is storage.

We’ve certainly come a long way in just a few decades in what we demand from a bathing space; from servants carrying water upstairs in jugs, to a somewhat romantic view of our bathing or showering zone. We dream about lying in a generous tub at just the right temperature, or standing beneath a shower head enjoying the benefits and soothing power of running water. Not only that, we see the bathroom as a room equal to any other, and one that should be decorated and treated with as much reverence as any living or sleeping space.

Once we move away from a fantasy and get down to proper planning, the focus tends to be on the main larger purchases rather than the soft finishes, something that can come as a little shock, particularly if this is the first time at working on a new or refurbished bathroom. Having completed the layout and plumbing considerations, probably with some expert builder or plumber help, we choose which tap, shower screen, bath tub or basin we think works best within our budget. Eventually, we then get around to thinking about adding a little storage, something which feels quite personal and more of an exercise in design planning than construction.

Some of us remember the late 1980’s when Vidal Sassoon persuaded us to minimise the clutter: ‘take two bottles into the shower? Not me! I just Wash and Go’. Most of us have long forgotten the less is more maxim when it comes to our personal maintenance regimes. Multiply that by the number of people in the home and the visual mess quickly mounts up. We also tend to keep first-aid items in the bathroom, not to mention make-up and spare cleaning supplies and loo roll, so our haven of bathing can easily start to look like a small branch of Boots or Superdrug.

We have a number of beautiful answers to this question of storage at Claybook, helping to keep your bathing zone more blissful and less baleful, even if you have limited space.

Langford Mirror

Talking of limited space, the Langford mirror has handy open storage behind it, to tuck a few essentials, without it protruding too far over your sink.

Chicanery Furniture

A drawer is a great way to hold a volume of bathroom essentials with easy accessibility, without having them all on permanent view.

Smithfield Washstand

Towels and toiletries can be handily stored beneath a basin, like our Smithfield washstand which has a paired back slightly industrial feel.

Toledo Basin Cube

This practical but stylish fruitwood cube is great for supporting counter top basins and has a handy slot for a towel. Designed to work alongside the polished cast iron stand for support or wall mounted.