Do you have a budget for renovation? Expand your shower! Get rid of the silly alleyway.

I'd just use that odd bit of space to to tuck the hamper out of sight.

Floorstanding Heated Towelrack?
Cabinet w/ drawers and shelves?
Laundry bin?
Towel/Robe hooks?

If you need storage, Ikea has the Perfekt Nexus shelving unit (in the Kitchen Dept.), which is 9 inches wide by 30" or 39" tall, priced at $69. It seems like it would be great for storing towels, bath items, etc.

Litterbox? "Secret" hideout?

I have nothing useful to contribute, but have to say that I wish I had a space like that next to my shower. Then I could blow the wall out and actually make it bigger without losing my entryway closet on the other side. Instead, I'm relegated to head injury as I bump the wall trying to shave my legs in my sad little 3x3 shower.

My first thought was a hamper as well. It seems like the obvious choice. I would also second magicsbm's idea of a cabinet or shelving of some sort. You could use the bottom portion to store lesser use item and keep towels on top.

Could also be a great humid place for a larger plant.

if you don't use the space for litter or the trash can, i'd somehow affix glass shelves in there and use it for storage...

you should definitely use the space for storage. something with a lower door and open spaces above would be nice for not cramping up the small bathroom. Or you could put a small tree in there to make use of the light that only shines in the alley :)

Love that tile and that sink!

shelves.

You could put up two tension rods and create a small area to hang dry your clothes. Hang one above the other to get double the drying room. Then you could hang a narrow curtain to hide it all.

1) Cat litterbox space with custom shelves above
2) Mirror on a top track that slides toward the entry door to access storage behind
3) large vase with tall grasses
4) Large vintage floor lamp
5) Create a vanity area for a small child?
6) Extra hanging closet space for stuff that can fit on small hangars - pants, purses, ties, scarves - with a curtain hung at the opening

This is all I can think of - you've definitely got an awkward space there.

My worst awkward space is my bedroom, which is essentially a closet that you have to walk through to get to the bathroom. We block off the bed with a thick curtain when there are guests to create a little more privacy and still leave a "hallway" to the bathroom.

ditto-ing the shelves idea...

How bout a bare tree, to hang damp towels on.

use that little alcove for shelving. put in something chrome colored and stack to at least 6'

Hamper or small storage shelf - a small curtain would allow you to make it a small broom closet.

If you can't enlarge the shower, then I suggest a shelf (or shallow drawer) on slides so you can slide it out for access. I also like the plant ideas.

I would suggest open shelving for linens & toiletries. You could also hide it behind a curtain that matches your shower curtain.

one can never have too many shelves...

Build a shelf at the height of the window. Fill it with moisture loving plants and use the space underneath for storage. Cover the opening with a curtain or even a narrow little door. You'll have a nice little greenhouse with a hidden compartment.

It screams for a hamper (preferably pull out, so you can have shelving above).

I'm with just about everyone else on this one, that space is destined for a storage unit of some kind, though I wouldn't put a litter box under my shelves of towels, unless you really like that smell.
what tiles, btw!

Put one of those my buddy dolls from the 80's in there. Really freak your friends out.

a tropical fish tank. the bathroom is an undiscovered yet ideal setting. the difficult dimensions could house a rectangular tank. the green tiles have a fittingly underwater theme. regular light from the window above. and radiantly colored, flitting fish to welcome you under the sea.

I'd also curtain it off and use it for storage of items that you don't need very often....so long as they will be ok with the himidity of a bathroom.

I had a similar space in my bathroom. I did what emilyamelie suggested and hung a tension rod and curtain to hide my vacuum, swiffer, mop, etc. I put stackable storage drawers in the back to house extra linens and towels as closet space was limited in this particular apartment.

I'm with teacupcake, it's for a litterbox. You don't have a cat? Easily remedied! Get thee to your local shelter and save a furry little life.

Gotta love those random spaces. I agree on hamper and shelving above it. Despite its awkwardness I would LOVE to have this space in my bathroom. Ours has floor space only for toilet, tub, and vanity, so I'm getting ready to install overhead shelving to solve our storage woes.

lol @ Comicgeek. brilliant!

I would put in either a narrow drawer unit on wheels or a hamper on wheels (one that loads from the front, not the top) below and then park a couple of sun-and-damp-loving plants on top to take advantage of the window. Or, if you're not digging on the plant thing, put some wall-mount hooks above to hang robes, towels, and bath accessories on.

Or get one of those snazzy fan-fold towel racks and mount it on the wall under the window.

Hang some see-through-ee strings of capiz shells, or lil' latern balls, and then put some strings of lights in between. In the day, the window will light up the shells and lanterns, and at night, turn on the strings of lights. The little alley will become a light installation!

I would put a a long sheveling unit (liek somehting cheap from ikea) and use it for storage! I have next to NO storage in my new bathroom and would die for more!

If you get a 3-sorter hamper (http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77003&PRODID=10024155) it will fit the space perfectly and you can practice your laundry basketball with that third bin.

What's to the left of the sink - I was thinking a mirror on that back wall, but curious as to what it might reflect from the other side of the room?

Also, if there happens to be electrical within reach, a towel warmer would be wonderful on that shower wall.

coat tree to hang towels
curtain it off and store stuff
put a skinny tree in there that likes humidity
hang a plant from the ceiling

great tile!

http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/

Looks like a great place for storage. A cd or dvd tower from Ikea would fit there, but a better idea would be to get some custom fitted shelves in so you can have really deep storage. But lots of great ideas here, just depends on your needs.

Eekster & Comicgeek - !!! hilarious! to both of you!

I'm with everyone . . . shelving was what first came to mind. Some lovely glass shelves . . you could put a nice plant on top (keeps your bathroom air fresh, always a bonus), and store towels or whatever you'd like down the way. What a useful little space.

Or, like others have said . . . bust out the wall and have a nice big shower with a window. :)

Ikea makes an interior mechanism for a corner kitchen cabinet that allows you to pull out and turn a cabinet to use up otherwise inaccessible space. I think you could hack that device along with the hamper idea, its my favorite serious idea. (no picture to be found, of course)

Favorite silly idea; angle an amusing standee (cardboard cut-out) in there so it can only be seen while standing at the sink. Something scary to freak out guests, or inspiring for your morning psych-up.

If you were in NYC, you could rent that space as a studio.

It looks like there's a window in the nook. You should get some vine-ey hanging plants that will fill up your nook with green without blocking the natural light.

One of these might look nice: http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/jewzeb.htm

And they're insanely easy to take care of and propegate. Really. If bits break off you can just stick them back in the soil and they're fine.

I would use it as an in-law suite!

I have a similar space in my rental bathroom, and I put a curtain in front of it and use it for storage of TALL items. Specifically, all the cheap horizontal blinds that came with the place.

I vote for hamper or one of those skinny rolling carts that you can cover with fabric when you don't want to see the stuff.

I have the exact same space in my (owned) condo and I didn't think too much about it - it is now full of shelves of varying heights to fit all my linens, towels, toiletries, toilet paper, litter bags, laundry detergent. Something that helps is that the stuff I pull out of the shelves the most are in stylish baskets so that you can pull them down fast and look at them, and the basket hides the not-so-pretty old sheets or sleeping bags. Below the bottom shelf, which is three feet high, I put a rolling three shelf cart with all my cleaning supplies so that I can roll it around the apartment as I clean and then roll it right back under (it also hides the stacked litter bags behind it - and looks nice in gleaming stainless steel to match my bathroom hardware.

There's a window in the nook, right?

Put a nice piece of wooden tabletop about where the thin black line is. Use it for decorative knick knacks, pile of towels, a plant... something not too heavy looking. Mirror in the back to help spread the light.

Drawer unit or hamper on weels underneath. You may not be able to use the full depth of the nook, but half is still good.

A bar. One definitely needs a bar with cocktails in the bathroom.

Find tiles that match the original. Make a tiled shelf at the lower darker line level that fills the horizontal space. Then install frosted glass or dark doors towards the front. Use the space behind door for storage. A few towels placed above would look nice too.

WOW. Thank you for all the creative ideas (and for making me laugh more than once!). I will definitely share the results.

Sarah

How does that space even exist? It's 12" wide? Who installed the tile--a toddler?

You could put some of the storage furniture in there that others have suggested, but to get the full benefit of the window the best solution in the long term would really be to get ride of that wall and expand the shower space.

Who builds a wall 12" away from a window? I've seen some weird home renovations but that takes the cake.

Ooh! You should build a tiny replica of your bathroom in the nook, complete with awkward nook. Then you could put a tiny replica of THAT bathroom in that awkward nook, and so on to infinity!

How about a planter with some dramatic black bamboo? It's vertical and has a small footprint, doesn't attract bugs, will thrive in the humidity, and it would be gorgeous with that amazing tile.

Shelving and a hamper.

Two or three tall wicker baskets with lids (like a laundry hamper) for storing spare towels, toilet paper rolls, and even dirty laundry. Wicker will look classier than a prefab shelving unit.

Trust me, the only thing worse than weird, awkward spaces is a lack of weird, awkward spaces. I live in a city in which any house older than me is rare - almost every home is newly, efficiently and sensibly laid out, with no unexpected gaps or quirks. The effect is stullifying. I'd kill for a home with wacky idiosyncracies and character.

big ol' tropical plant, of course!

I vote for a shelving unit on wheels that's low enough to slide under the sink and around the corner. It would be really annoying to have to squeeze back there to access your storage, but if you can wheel it out, pile some folded towels on it, and wheel it back, you might be inclined to actually use it! If the corner's too tight for that, the only thing I can think of are wall-mounted shelves that go all the way back to the rear wall, which I think would require a professional, or someone who can drill through tile without breaking it.

get one of those super narrow sinks (how much basin does one need? even for "fine washables", plus they are incredibly cuteandadorable). now you have some access.

and you can still do something useless and pretty in there!

all the suggestions so far are terrific.

I don't know, the whole thing feels frenchy... I'm feeling metal, modern or turn of last century... something by Matigot, or old medical cabinetry... metal and glass...

the priority should be pleasure over that old killjoy utility

Use that sunshine for a nice tall plant!

This is so odd, I have a very similar space in my retro bathroom as well. The man that lived in my home had a disability and we assumed it was for his arm crutches, but now I'm thinking...maybe not? I "towel tower" similar to the one recommended from Ikea. I keep some perfumes, towels and a couple decorations on it. It really works well and doesn't look akward once it's in and filled. Hope this helps :)

I think people are missing the point on how narrow that space is... i've never seen a hamper of shelving system that would fit in 1'x3'... even if you could find some shelves... how would you get the stuff from the very back out?? I agree that maybe a plant would work there... plants can usually grow to their environment and there's plenty of light there... it would add even more personality to your lovely tiles!

I gotta say though, that would be an awesome hiding spot for hide and seek!

I'm consistently amazed at how its almost always the awkward spaces that end up being show stoppers because your forced to deal with them and make them something spectacular. For instance my old apartment had a hideous door frame with raw sheet rock that separated it from the room next door. I used nail heads to attach fabric to the cutout in such a way that it looked like wallpaper - it totally made the room!

For the little space pictured...a curtain across the front, a few shelves and you've got storage space for the ginormous Costco sized toilet paper packages!

We have a similar awkward space behind the door to our bath- because of the layout, you have to close the door to get at it. The previous owners installed a built-in skinny organizer up to the ceiling with drawers and shelves. We were really impressed with how well it fit the space- I think it was part of a closet system. We also just painted the bath bright white & black- the nook is black & the organizer is white- I love it! Works REALLY well for storage- I would recommend something similar to store things you don't always need (extra tp & paper towels!) Plus, it allows us to stock up on things when there are good deals to be had!

OK went and checked- the organizer we have should fit that space. Definitely look into closet systems that usually have all different sizes. Might even be able to make something if you're handy!

I wouldn't go the curtain route- reminds me of college dorms & will look like you're hiding something.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70049687

Put in a wine rack, and fill it with shampoo, other toiletries, and rolled up towels.

I immediately thought of shelves--Maybe on drawer slides so you can get to the back?

I LOVE the buddy doll, tiny bathroom replica and in-law suite ideas! Or you can just put a little shrine there, dedicated to the Flying Spaghetti Monster or something, complete with sacrificial offerings, incense, fairy lights, candles and stuff.

Of course, a laundy hamper, a plant and shelves would make more sense, but I guess you already have a solution for that -- so I would love to see one of the funnier suggestions. Please share the final result!

shelving or hamper. put wheels or rollers on the bottom.

i don't have a space like that, but i LOVE the idea of using a wine rack for shampoos and rolled up towels! :)

Wow! And I thought I'd seen awkward spaces! :-)

What to do totally depends on your budget of course. Are you standing at the door when you take that shot or is there more room in there (doesn't sound like it)?

I think if you could afford to, I'd make the wall to the shower a half wall all the way across to the window wall. Put your sink on that half wall & build a long long sliding drawer under it (to fit the length of the nook and how far you can actually pull it out!) that you can store all sorts of things in. You'll also have a shelf for your daily shower items and some nice daylight shining into the whole space, which now seems to be blocked by the shower wall! Move shower head if necessary (you don't have to put the pipes in the wall if budget does not allow, just make sure they're a feature to suit the retro style!)

Oh & probably put a mirror on the end wall (where the nook ends) but you could probably also fit a full length mirror on the wall where your current sink mirror is.

Good luck!

Tip

OR - just get rid of that enclosed shower completely and open up the space. :-)

why thats where you store the vaccume cleaner, put up a shelf - store cleaning supplies, and curtain off with the $5 tension rod, and curtain