Choosing the best bathroom furniture and storage

Bathroom furniture has to withstand an incredible amount of wear and tear from frequent use, and be resilient to water and steam.

Its quality and durability is as important as how it looks, whether you're completely renovating your bathroom or just sprucing it up.

That's why we asked people to rate not only the brand they bought their bathroom suite from, but their bathroom furniture too.

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Where to buy the best bathroom furniture

Which? members can log in to unlock the ratings in the table below. If you're not already a member, join Which? for instant access to this and all our ratings and reviews from across the site.

Bathroom cabinets rated

The top-scoring brands got four stars for both the quality and durability of their bathroom cabinets.

A large number of well-known brands pulled in a middling three stars for quality and durability, and the worst-performing scored only two. 

Find out how these companies, and more, were rated by visiting our page on the best and worst bathrooms brands. 

You can also visit our brand reviews for B&Q, Homebase, Victoria Plum, Victorian Plumbing and Wickes.

Good-quality bathroom furniture and units

As well as opting to buy from a reliable bathroom brand, there are a few things you can look out for to ensure the furniture you buy is better quality.

The joins you choose will make a difference to how long your units stand the test of time. There are three main types: 

• wooden dowels glued into holes
• wooden dowels secured in holes with two or three screws
• wooden dowels secured in holes with two sets of metal studs and cams (these are essentially discs that, once inserted into the holes and turned 90 degrees, secure the dowel in place)

The first option tends to be the weakest, and the last the strongest. In addition, units that are pre-built tend to be sturdier that flat-pack cabinets, in part because they are more likely to have been assembled correctly by experts, rather than DIYers.

The material also makes a difference – solid wood units are stronger and more likely to last longer than their cheaper MDF and chipboard counterparts. Also, the thicker the material the better. 

A good-quality bathroom doesn't have to cost a fortune. Read our guide to updating bathrooms on a budget.

Bathroom furniture sets

You can buy bathroom furniture as separate items or as sets. The latter is particularly the case if you're buying vanity units that go around a sink and toilet. Buying a set guarantees that each piece will be the same style and complement each other.

You can also take advantage of deals if you buy everything together at the same time, particularly if a company is selling off end-of-line sets. 

However, we know from members that shopping around and buying items from different places can pay off too.

If you're upgrading fixtures alongside your bathroom furniture, find out how people rated companies for durability and quality in our guide to the best bathroom sinks, taps, toilets, baths and showers.

Planning your bathroom storage

What bathroom furniture you buy, and your bathroom's layout, will be determined by what storage you need. Start by thinking about how you use your bathroom. 

• What exactly do you need storage for and how much will you require?
• How regularly will you use different things and how easily will you need to access them?
• How much do you want to hide away or have out on display? 
• Don't forget the essentials – where will you hang your towels or keep toiletries you use on a daily basis?

Answering these questions will give you a good idea of how much storage you'll need so you can better plan what furniture to buy.

You can get built-in cabinets – for example, vanities that fit around the basin - which will make use of wasted space – or freestanding ones that give you flexibility to move it around.

Bathroom storage ideas

Bathroom furniture can provide all your storage solutions. There are plenty of options, from a freestanding ladder shelf that's easy to move to a vanity unit that fits neatly around the sink, or bespoke built-in storage that makes the most of every inch of space. 

Simple additions such as hooks, rails and baskets make for cheap storage solutions and can be picked up from most high street retailers.

Flick through our bathroom storage gallery for some ideas.

Fitted bathroom furniture

Bathroom cabinets and units

Bathroom cabinets come in a range of options, including floor units, wall cupboards and vanity units. 

You can opt for ones with drawers, internal shelves, or a combination of both. Most fixed units come with doors to keep clutter hidden away, but open shelves allow you to display decorative items or use attractive baskets. 

The majority of units come in gloss or are painted, usually in white or cream. Other options inlcude different woods, bold colours and even metals. So why not use your bathroom furniture to play around with mixed materials and tones?

You can upcycle or adapt furniture designed for any room, as long as it’s varnished or painted to withstand the wet and damp.

For more information about putting together your dream bathroom, read our guide on how to design a bathroom: decor ideas and tips.

Vanity units

These are essentially bathroom cabinets that sit around the base of a sink and are one of the most common types of built-in bathroom furniture. 

You can also get combination vanity units that fit around the sink and toilet, creating one large cabinet. These are good if your bathroom is small as they make use of often-wasted space between a sink and toilet. 

They can also hide ugly pipework but they make it trickier to access plumbing if there are issues.

Bathroom sink units have a worktop to protect them from splashes. These come in everything from wood to marble. Other bathroom sink ideas include freestanding sinks, 'floating' wall-mounted vanity units or countertop basins. 

If you have a lot of space, you could have a double vanity unit with two sinks, that spans the width of a wall.

Bathroom wall cabinets

These are a great way to maximise the space and hide clutter, although you can also get open shelving units.

Wall cabinets with mirrored doors save the need for a separate mirror. Some even come with lights around the edges of the doors or under the cabinet that make it easier to see when getting ready, or just to add ambience.

Again, you could upcycle here – would a wall cabinet previously used in the kitchen work, for example? Whatever you choose, make sure it’s properly fixed to the wall and check it will hold the weight of what you want to store. 

Bespoke fitted bathroom furniture

If you have the budget and want something very specific, you could also consider bespoke bathroom storage.

The benefit of built-in furniture is that it makes the most of the space available, including awkward areas that would otherwise gather dust. 

For example, you could get floor to ceiling cupboards with a mix of open shelves and hidden drawers that wrap around your sink and toilet.

Plus, getting someone to create furniture for you might get you to think outside the box. Maybe a bench storage seat would work well for your family? Or how about recessing shelves in the wall? 

A local fitter should be able to create a bespoke design to suit your needs. Use the Which? Trusted Traders search tool below to find a reliable bathroom fitter near you.

Freestanding bathroom cabinets and units

Freestanding bathroom furniture is usually cheaper than built-in cabinetry, and often offers more flexibility. From full-length shelving units to mirrored wall units, the options are seemingly endless.

They also mean you can make use of your walls and the height of your room. Consider these options:

• drawer units
• freestanding cupboards
• shelves with pull-out storage baskets
• wall cabinets with mirrors
• full-height units with shelves and/or cupboards
• ladder shelving.

Plus, you don't have to stick to the well-known bathroom brands – many other stores, such as John Lewis and Argos, sell freestanding bathroom furniture and bathroom cabinets. 

Before buying, check the furniture is intended for use in the bathroom, as it will be exposed to a lot of moisture and heat.

Tall bathroom cabinets

Full-height bathroom cabinets, also called bathroom tallboys, make maximum use of space. 

You can get units that are all cupboard with shelving inside - these come with one or two doors, sometimes with one glass-fronted section -  or one that is half cabinet and the other open shelves.

Slimline units and corner models are great if you don't have a lot of room, but you can also go for a wider unit. 

Ideally, get one that is as tall as possible, but make sure you can still reach items stored higher up. 

Before you buy, measure the space carefully. If you're doing your bathroom from scratch, take into consideration the floor, insulation and underfloor heating that will be fitted. Also, check whether you'll be able to get it into your bathroom, even if it will fit once in place.

If it's not full-height, to really use every inch available, you could buy a basket for added storage on top.

Style-wise, there are a wide range of options, including wood, mirrored, painted shaker and gloss white.

Bathrooms shelving units

Shelving units come in all shapes and sizes although, like bathroom tallboys, floor-to-ceiling ones make the best use of space. 

But you could go for a half-height unit and use the top for decorative items or choose wall units to keep the floor clear. The latter also allows you to unlock space over other elements, such as your bath or toilet. 

Again, the look and feel of it doesn't have to be limited - try open metal shelving units, slatted wood to echo a Swedish sauna, or glass versions to allow the light to bounce around the room. You can see some examples in our gallery of bathroom storage ideas.

You could also consider a bathroom ladder shelf as a more compact alternative if you have a small space. Visit our page on small bathroom ideas for more tips on utilising all the space in a miniature room.

Hooks, rails and baskets

Also think about boxes, wicker baskets, wire racks, hanging rails and hooks. They could be a useful way to solve storage conundrums. 

For example, shelves with wicker baskets could be the perfect way to make use of wall space and hide spare toiletries. 

Wire racks are a great way to have regularly used toiletries to hand in the shower. But they can get rusty over time if always left damp.

Lastly, don't forget that a radiator can be used to hang towels and flannels.

Bathroom mirrors 

A bathroom mirror can make the room seem lighter and larger, and many now include features such as lights and internet connectivity. 

If your bathroom lacks space, try a folded corner mirror, which wraps around two walls and will accentuate the existing space and light. Or try a skinny vertical mirror to create a greater sense of height. Alternatively, try an unusual shape such as an octagon mirror. 

A light-up mirror will bring brightness to a dull, dark room, even if it’s just a simple one back-lit with LED lights. There are a vast range of styles to suit any bathroom. 

'Smart' bathroom mirrors are popular as they do far more than just show a reflection. On a smart mirror you can watch TV or streaming services, and display information such as your calendar, news, weather and transport updates.

Before splashing out on an expensive gadget mirror, consider how often you will  use all the new features and any technical difficulties you may encounter. For example, if you struggle to get a strong internet connection in your bathroom, trying to watch Netflix on your smart mirror is going to be frustrating. 

Bathroom lights

Lighting is an essential part of a well-designed bathroom, altering how the room looks and feels. Consider the times of day you are going to spend time in the bathroom, and whether or not there is natural light you can use.

Ideally, a bathroom will blend three types of lighting. First, ambient or downlight from a main light provides illumination to the whole room. Second, accent lighting to emphasise a room feature or to create effects. Finally, task lighting to help with specific activities. 

As mentioned in the section on bathroom mirrors, you can get LED lighting for your mirror. This will make tasks such as shaving or applying makeup easier and help shape the ambience of the room. 

Make sure  any lights you buy are functional, providing enough light as well as looking good. 

How Which? rates bathroom brands

In June 2023 we asked 6,833 Which? subscribers and members of the public about the bathroom they bought in the past five years and their experiences with the company they bought it from.

Respondents rated the retailer for the buying process, such as how knowledgeable the staff were and how it dealt with problems, and the quality and durability of the bathroom itself.

To be able to rate a brand's bathroom overall, they needed to have bought three of the following items: tap, shower, bath, toilet and shower enclosure. We also asked people to rate these individual components.