When I embarked on the mission of remodeling the bathroom in our reno, I naively thought I knew what I was doing. After all, it is the third bathroom I've redesigned, and I work in interiors – what could go wrong?
But while I'd made great decisions on finding the right tiles, the perfect paint color, the $10 vintage sconces I tracked down on Facebook... I'd overlooked one crucial detail: bathroom storage. And once I started living in the space, I quickly realized just how impractical it was not to have a designated place to keep all my bathroom essentials tucked out of sight.
With just a chic shower niche to work with and a pedestal sink with no drawers or cabinet, my beautifully finished bathroom has quickly been overrun by beauty products, cleaning supplies, and errant toilet paper. So what was the solution to this bathroom design mistake?
Sure, there are plenty of routes I could've taken here. But rather than ripping anything out to add a bathroom vanity (I don't have the space) or bringing in a wall or freestanding bathroom cabinet (ditto), I decided to work with what I had.
So while my pedestal sink looked pretty, it certainly wasn't delivering on storage. I realized there was a way to give it a little more purpose. After some initial research, I thought I'd solved all my problems with this Farmhouse-style under-sink cabinet from Wayfair that just slots on, but it felt too cumbersome and encroached on the toilet too much in my small bathroom – if you have room, however, this is a great choice.
Turning to Pinterest for inspo, I instantly fell for the sink skirt. And while you might think that it's merely a cafe curtain added for aesthetics, hiding beneath it is a simple shelf system that wraps neatly around the pedestal base and creates plenty of space for baskets, bottles, and beauty.
When the light bulb moment of adding a curtain to the sink with storage beneath hit, I assumed I would need some custom shelves to sit around the pedestal. But a quick search uncovered this genius organizer that provides 2 deep shelves and extra hanging space for washcloths and hand towels. It holds up to 10lbs of bathroom clutter, too.
Baskets are a great way to get organized in any room of your home, but I particularly love these chic seagrass baskets from H&M that are slightly softer than more structured box-shaped ones and can fit onto the shelving unit.
I have a terrible tendency to want everything to be pretty, no matter if it's seen or not. Hidden beneath my sink skirt is a pack of these new striped washcloths from Cozy Earth that are made from a cloud-like blend of cotton and bamboo and seriously help me to romanticize washing my face.
The bathroom is inherently a functional space, filled with plenty of easy-clean hard surfaces. But that doesn't mean it can't be softened with a little whimsy. A sink skirt, made from gathered fabric, is a brilliant way to introduce pattern, print, and color to your bathroom.
To create your own skirt, there are a few options available. You can buy lengths of fabric and make your own curtain by creating a small pocket at the top and threading through a Net Curtain Cord from Amazon, or adding VELCRO Sticky Back for Fabrics from Walmart to attach it. Alternatively, you can turn to Etsy, where there are loads of sellers who will make you a beautiful custom curtain to your measurements.
One of my favorite hacks to avoid the hefty cost of fabric lengths is to buy a tablecloth instead. I did this for an open cabinet in my kitchen and used a brass curtain pole to create a pretty gingham cafe curtain, and used a different tablecloth to create my sink skirt with some velcro. It is a great way to find unique and beautiful fabrics without having to spend a fortune per metre, just be sure to check the measurements before ordering!
The DIY skirts I have made for my home are both from Zara Home. Usually made from 100% cotton or linen, their luxury range of table linens is too beautiful not to make the most of. You can find lots of lovely prints and patterns, including some embroidered pieces too.
This clever Etsy seller creates charming sink, cabinet, or shelf skirts using hook and loop velcro tape that allows for quick and easy installation. All you have to do is provide your measurements! I love this vintage-style toile fabric and the gathered detailing.
There are a myriad of places you can turn to for pretty prints. I love this poppy blockprint from design powerhouse GP & J Baker, sold at Lulu and Georgia. It is made from 100% natural linen that softens over time, hangs beautifully, and is water repellent.
Now that the sink skirt is in place, the bathroom feels so much more considered. I finally have a home for my overflow of skincare – and it’s all hidden behind a pretty curtain that actually adds texture and color to the space.
It’s a small DIY update, but a budget-friendly, easy one that has made a big difference in both the function and feel of the room, and makes the room feel more designed than it did before. I just wish I'd done it sooner.
Sometimes it’s only by living in a space that you figure out what’s missing – and that’s okay. Slow renovating gives you the benefit of sitting back and assessing each project as you go, affording you the luxury of pivoting, making mistakes, and finding fun ways to fix them.
By making a small, thoughtful addition after the fact, I’ve turned a design oversight into a feature that actually improves the space. It’s a good reminder that a home is never truly finished; there are always improvements to be made even in the smallest of spaces.
