• About
    • About Blue i Style
    • Tour Our Home
    • Free Organizing eBook
    • Blogging Resources
  • Work With Me
    • Interior Decor & Organizing Services
    • Partnerships & Collaborations
    • Blogging Resources
  • Features & Press
  • Policies & Disclosures
  • Contact

Blue i Style

Creating an Organized & Pretty, Happy Home

  • Decor
    • Tour Our Home
    • Room Makeovers & Design Plans
    • Decorating Tips & Tutorials
    • Outdoor Decor
    • One Room Challenge
  • Organizing and Cleaning
    • Organizing Tips & Tutorials
    • Organizing By Room
    • Organizing on the Go
    • Cleaning
  • DIY
    • DIY Tips & Tutorials
    • Smart Home & Safety
    • Paint Tips & Projects
    • Crafts
    • Cricut Projects
  • Kids
    • Decor & DIY for Kids
    • Organizing Kids
    • Life With Kids
  • Five Minute Projects
  • Holidays & Entertaining
    • Seasonal & Holiday Decor
    • Entertaining
    • DIY Gifts & Gift Guides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Organizing· Organizing Kids

Stylish Bathtub Toy Storage that Transforms for Guest Luxury

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Bath Tub Toy Storage that Transforms to Guest Luxury

Bath time with a toddler is so much fun!  At almost 15 months old, Beckett is now really starting to enjoy playing with toys in the tub, but with that comes the challenge of storing all those toys.  There is a small bathroom right off of Beckett’s nursery, but it only has a shower. That means that bath time occurs down the hall in the bathroom attached to our guest room.

We have plenty of storage space in the bathroom cabinet, but the problem was that by the time the tub toys finally dried, and I got around to putting them away in the cabinet, it was time for another bath.  As a result, the toys ended up living on the edge of the tub most of the time.

I had been searching for a new tub toy storage solution – one that would allow the toys to be quickly picked up and put away after bath time, even when still wet.  While shopping at Ikea a while back, it occurred to me that the Grundtal rail system could be just the answer.  I liked the coordinating white plastic Grundtal containers that are made to hang from the rail – but at $10-$16 each they were more than I wanted to spend.  After a bit more searching around the store, I discovered that the Rationell Recycling Bins also fit onto the Grundtal rail, and at only $3.99 each they are a much better deal (these bins are no longer showing up on the Ikea website, but the Colorado store had a large inventory just a month ago).  Update:  These white bins are showing up on the Ikea website once again, but are now being called the Rationell Waste Sorting Bins.

We decided to install the Grundtal rail just above the tiled tub surround, making sure it was positioned such that when hung from the rail, the bottom of the white bins would just overlap the top of the tile.  Scott started by inserting an anchor and screw at the top left of the rail, then, after leveling the rail, he marked the locations for the remaining three screws and finished the installation.  
Because we want to be able to put the toys away while they are still wet, and allow them to properly dry, Scott used a small drill bit to drill numerous holes in the bottom of the bins so that all the excess water will drain right out.  
Once holes were drilled in the first bin, we hung it from the rail and filled it full of water to test it out. We discovered that because of the angle at which the bins hang, some water was pooling along the front edge. Scott drilled one more row of holes right along that bottom front corner of the bin and that easily solved the problem.
Once all the holes were drilled, I hung the five bins from the rail and quickly realized that while they were perfectly functional, I wanted to add a little something-something to make them prettier.  I decided to add fun bath related words to the front of the bins, and settled on: splish, splash, wash, bath, and scrub.  {Click here for details on how I made the labels} 
With the bins labeled, I hung them back on the rail and filled them with all of Beckett’s tub toys, as well as baby shampoo, body wash, and wash cloths.  Quick, and simple, but oh-so-stylish tub toy storage!
Stylish bath tub toy storage
Stylish bath tub toy storage
The bins hang securely on the rail, and are very light weight and easy to lift off.
Bath tub toy storage
And the bins provide ample storage for all of Beckett’s bath time toys!
Stylish Bath Tub Toy Storage
By installing the rail just low enough so that the bottom of the bins overlaps the tile ensures that we can put the away wet toys and the excess water will drain out without getting anything wet that shouldn’t be.
Bath tub toy storage
I love our new bathtub toy storage, but best of all, when we have guests visiting, the Grundtal rail can quickly transform from toddler fun to guest luxury!
Bath tub toy storage transforms for ugests
When friends come to visit, we want them to be comfortable and relaxed in the guest bathroom, and while bath tub toys are fun, they don’t exactly scream relaxation.  So to transform the rail for guests, we can quickly stash away the bins of toys in favor of more grownup bath time essentials.
Ikea Grundtal rail for bathroom storage
Since the guest bathroom doesn’t have a towel bar, the Grundtal rail provides the perfect spot to hang a towel by the tub.  One Ikea Grundtal S-hook holds a loofah, while two more S-hooks hold a Polytherm Shallow Basket from the Container Store, which provides ample space for a bar of soap, body wash and lotion.   
bath tub organization
Bath tub organization
And there you have it… the solution to our bathtub toy storage challenge that also met the requirement of being stylish enough for guests.  Here’s the complete transformation:
Bath Tub Toy Storage
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

03.27.13 36 Comments

« {decorating with style} Nursery Reveal!
Bathroom Storage Outside of the Bathroom »

Comments

  1. Erin says

    March 30, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Hi Angela! Thank you so much for sharing your post with me! LOVE this idea!! So smart!

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 2, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Erin!

  2. Laura Jane says

    April 2, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    Love it! I love how you added the extra holes to the bins to prevent water pooling. I have that problem with a few things but never thought to do that! And I love your labels.

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 2, 2013 at 6:17 pm

      Thanks, Laura. I'll be posting later this week about how I made the labels…

  3. KatieBelle says

    April 2, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    Such a cute idea! My kids are all teens now…but my son (almost 18) was just reminiscing a few days ago about the blue mesh bag of toys we always had in the bathtub-remembering singing and putting toys away at the end of bath time. Cherish these "bathtub toy" days! All too soon he'll be shaving πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 2, 2013 at 6:18 pm

      Thanks, Katie. I can't believe how quickly he's grown up just in this first year, so it almost brings a tear to my eye thinking about how soon he'll really be grown up!

  4. Leanne Leeper says

    April 2, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Hey! Stopping by from the Iheart Organizing party. This is a fabulous idea! I'll definitely be looking for those buckets!

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 2, 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Hi, Leanne. I was frustrated that I couldn't find those white buckets on the Ikea website any longer, but they are now back, just with a new name. They are now being called Rationell Waste Sorting Bins and you can find there at: http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/10169946/. Hope that helps!

  5. Sharon ~ Life After Empty Nest says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    This is a great idea! I love that you can change it up for guests…or if you don't have little ones. Awesome job!

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 3, 2013 at 3:54 am

      Thanks, Sharon. I really like the versatility as well!

  6. Beth says

    April 2, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    Love those labels! So stinkin' cute.

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 3, 2013 at 3:55 am

      Thanks, Beth. I'll be posting the details about how I made the labels at the end of this week if you want to stop back by!

  7. aj says

    April 3, 2013 at 12:31 am

    wow looks great!!

    Reply
  8. Katie Dire says

    April 3, 2013 at 3:47 am

    I absolutely love your tub toy storage! I'm so glad you shared this because I've been looking for a solution to how to properly drain the toys and how to store all the shampoos, etc. but anything I buy falls off the wall so your DIY system looks like it would work great… and its adorable!

    Reply
    • Angela says

      April 3, 2013 at 3:59 am

      Katie, I'm so glad my idea is helpful to you! I'd love to see how it turns out if you do something similar!

  9. Kenia Perez says

    April 3, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    I love the idea! I will be copying you very soon. Just one question… Do you think the metall railing would rust with the water splashing on it?

    Reply
    • Angela, blue i style says

      April 3, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Kenia, good question. I wondered about that as well and did some research before buying the Grundtal rail from Ikea. From what I read, it is 100% stainless steel and should not rust. I read on several forums that people had used the Grundtal rail in their bathrooms (some directly in the shower) and that they had no problems of rusting even after a couple of years – so I don't expect the splashing in the tub to be a problem. It is probably a good idea, however, to cover the screws with silicone to keep those from rusting.

  10. Sarah says

    April 9, 2013 at 4:27 am

    This is really clever. Love it!

    Reply
  11. camelot says

    July 14, 2013 at 3:54 am

    Hi, i love your idea. Could yo please tell me whih is the lengh of the rail? Thanks a lot!

    Reply
  12. Angela, blue i style says

    July 15, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Camelot, the length of the Grundtal rail that I used is about 31 inches. Ikea also sells to shorter Grundtal rails that are approximately 16 and 23 inches long.

    Reply
  13. Unknown says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:31 am

    What a great idea! Can I ask what color blue you painted the wall with, love the color – it would be great in our guest bathroom. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Angela, blue i style says

      August 7, 2013 at 6:12 pm

      Actually, the walls are a dark grey. The paint is from Kwal, and it's AccuTone CL-3236A. If you want to see some other photos of the bathroom and attached guest room where you can get a better view of the color, check out:
      http://www.blueistyle.blogspot.com/2013/07/HoneymoonInspiredGuestBathroom.html
      and
      http://www.blueistyle.blogspot.com/2013/07/HoneymoonInspiredGuestRoom.html

    • Unknown says

      September 1, 2013 at 1:52 am

      Thank you so much – it truly is lovely!

  14. RobinTMH says

    August 26, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    This is FABULOUS!

    Reply
    • Angela, blue i style says

      September 4, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      Thanks, RobinTMH!

  15. Christy James says

    February 7, 2014 at 5:01 am

    I just might have to steal this idea! Love it…Pinning for sure! XO

    Reply
  16. Heather{Our Life In a Click} says

    May 2, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    So cute! I love how it can be transformed for guests! I miss having littles and bath toys!

    Reply
  17. Sinea Pies says

    May 17, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    LOVE this! Just pinned it to my Organizing Everything board.

    Reply
  18. Julie Jochems says

    May 19, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    What diameter is the rail? I would love to try this with a curtain rod instead since we don't have wall to drill into. Do you think that would work?

    Reply
    • Angela, blue i style says

      May 19, 2014 at 7:43 pm

      Julie, The rail I used is about 3/4 inch in diameter. By curtain rod, do you mean a tension shower curtain rod? I think that might work, but you would likely need to find a different kind of baskets because I the diameter of the shower curtain rod will be quite a bit larger. You might want to look for baskets with an open weave that you could have from shower curtain hooks.

  19. Our Pinteresting Family says

    July 30, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    This is a fantastic idea!!!

    Reply
  20. Good Time Charlie says

    July 30, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    What a great idea!!! Definite pinning. I would love these for the luxury items in my bathtub!

    Reply
  21. Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:00 am

    Fabulous solution! I love that you showed how to style it for the littles and mama!

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    April 3, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    This is a great storage idea. Functional and looks great, too! Pinning this for sure!

    Reply
  23. Li says

    January 16, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    can't find the bins on ikeas site!! πŸ™ desperately need this in my life. any other bins you think would work?

    Reply
  24. James M House says

    December 8, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    It looks so amazing! I can’t believe you made that yourself! Love!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Sarah Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Angela

Angela, the founder of Blue i Style, strongly believes that decor should be functional, organizing can be beautiful, smart DIYs help stretch your budget, and an organized and stylish home can still be practical for life with kids.

Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and 5280 Home magazine, and online by HGTV, the Today Show, Good Housekeeping, and more. She was also named a 2018 Stylemaker by Better Homes & Gardens.

You can reach Angela at angela@blueistyle.com

COPYRIGHT & PHOTO SHARING POLICY

All text, images, and other content that are part of this blog are the property of Blue i Style, unless otherwise noted. All material is copyright protected.

If you wish to feature one of my projects, feel free to share a single photo (no collaged images, or images with text overlays) as long as the no pin code is used to prevent my image from being pinned from your site.

All features must include credit to Blue i Style with a link back to the original content (not just to the homepage). The project steps, supply list, and/or sources may not be disclosed.

Please read my full content and photo sharing policy to ensure you comply with all guidelines. Failure to do so constitutes copyright violation.

Create At Your Own Risk

Any and all content on this website is for personal use only and created exclusively for inspiration purposes.

Creating with my suggested methods, products used, and tools is at your own risk.

Please ensure you are following proper guidelines with anything used, and you receive professional guidance when necessary.

Read my complete disclosure at: Policies & Disclosures.

Sponsorships & Affiliations

To help fund this blog, I accept some forms of advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate links.

If you buy something that I recommend, you pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission. As always, all opinions are my own.

Blue i Style is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

I use an affiliate marketing service which may automatically put links into some posts, so please assume any/all links may be affiliate links.

Read my full Disclosure Statement.

Copyright © 2022 · Dazzling Theme theme by Restored 316

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest