This $10 Find Solves Storage Woes in Super-Small Bathrooms
Making a beautiful and functional home in just 200 square feet of living space is certainly a challenge, but it’s one that renter Gina Caprari tackled brilliantly. Trying to find an affordable place to live in San Francisco isn’t easy, but when Gina found this sun-filled space she jumped on the chance to move in — despite how tiny of a footprint it has.
“I’ve always wanted to live solo, so even though this apartment is tiny, it has really become a symbol of my coming into my own — a little piece of San Francisco I’ve carved out that’s all mine, after over a decade living in the city on an educator’s budget,” Gina wrote at the time of her house tour.
Nearly every corner of the space has been intentionally designed to maximize space. Wall shelves on several walls hold both books and meaningful options. Gina actually created the little kitchenette out of compact furniture and smart organizers. And she even custom-built and designed a versatile table that serves as a side table and a fold-out coffee table, and even provides storage.
Along with tall ceilings, a lot of bright, white walls, and Gina’s smart small-space planning, her micro-studio feels much bigger than it is. “She is small but mighty — every item serves not one but two, or even several purposes,” Gina wrote.
When I come across renters living well in such small spaces, I pay particular attention to the items they’ve purchased for their home. If it’s something they’re willing to spend money on and make room for, I tend to consider it a good investment as well. I found quite a few items that Gina had purchased for her home to be smart additions, but there was one item I had actually never seen before, either.
It’s a toilet paper roll holder that’s way more exciting than it sounds.
What Is the TQVAI Over-the-Tank Toilet Paper Roll Holder?
It’s simply never occurred to me before to make use of the sides of a toilet as storage space, but this cheap ($9.99!) over-the-tank toilet paper roll holder you can find on Amazon does just that. Acting just like an over-the-door storage tool, this toilet paper holder’s design allows it to rest on the lip of the toilet bowl underneath the toilet bowl lid — no drilling or adhesives required. The simple hooks can fit up to two toilet paper rolls, and the stainless steel finish promises to be waterproof and rust-free. The toilet paper roll holder is fairly utilitarian in design, so I wouldn’t call it cute-looking, but it’s also not offensive either.
The TQVAI Over-the-Tank Toilet Paper Roll Holder Adds Storage and Function to Rooms of Any Size
“Have you ever been taking care of business and come to the paperwork only to find out there’s only a strip of paper left?” begins a review on the Amazon product page. “Then you look across the room to the vanity and hope there’s a roll under there. Or, if you have a pedestal sink and you already know there is nothing there. What next? Holler through the door in hopes that someone can hear you. There is a better way; the TQVAI Over The Tank Toilet Paper Roll Holder Stainless Steel hangs on the side of the tank and looks kool [sic] and it holds two spare rolls of toilet paper. No searching. No screaming. No problems. If you have a half bath or really any bathroom you need TQVAI Over The Tank Toilet Paper Roll Holder Stainless Steel.”
If there’s enough room on either side of your toilet, you can actually purchase two of these holders — one for each side of your commode. But don’t limit yourself just to the tank — Gina actually uses another one of these holders in front of her toilet on top of what looks like a radiator. Product photos on the Amazon page imply you can use this type of holder anywhere you might have a door or similar surface to rest it on, as well as hints that it’s not just toilet paper that these holders can handle. One image shows a bunch of bracelets arranged on the two hooks.
The item is marked as a “frequently returned product,” as some reviewers have had trouble making the holder work with their particular brand/shape of toilet, so make sure you check out your own toilet bowl and lid to see if this holder will fit.
If you need storage for more than just two rolls, know that this behemoth holder makes room for four rolls. Discovering this organizer has opened a whole world of over-the-toilet solutions I didn’t know about. Did you know you can store paper towels (for some reason?) with it?
To see more of Gina’s smart small-home solutions, visit her house tour.
Buy: TQVAI Over The Tank Toilet Paper Roll Holder, $9.99