Marine Canvas Water Buckets as Bathroom Storage

My kids’ bathroom is short on storage space, especially around the tub and shower. Where to stash clean washcloths and bottles of shampoo (my teens, it turns out, need a different shampoo for every occasion)?  I found the answer at a marine supply store.

Above: A cotton canvas water bucket (designed to draw up water over the side of boats) hangs on a hook adjacent to the tub and shower, putting washcloths within arm’s reach. It works equally well for storing hairbrushes and shampoo. Photograph by Janet Hall.

Above: I sourced the practical–and washable–Cotton Canvas Water Bucket from Hamilton Marine. It’s 9.5-inches high and 8.5-inches in diameter, and has a padded rim that keeps the opening from collapsing shut, making it easy to grab things from the bucket with one hand; $35.99. Photograph by Janet Hall.

Above: Also used in camps in the Civil War-era, this Canvas Water Bucket has appealing rope handles; $25.99 at C&C Sutlery.

Above: Looking to add a dash of color? The Dartmouth Canvas Factory Water Bucket is available in 11 colors (including orange, shown here). It stands just over nine inches tall; £24.00 from the Dartmouth Canvas Factory in the UK.

Above: The Marine Tote from Clare Vivier is $165.

Discover more uses for our favorite everyday fabric: See all of our Canvas posts, including the Object Lessons: The Classic Canvas Tote, Canvas Storage Containers, a DIY Painted Canvas Tissue Cover, and Gardenista’s Canvas Weekend Bags.

Go to Nautical Style for more seaworthy design ideas. And take a look at Gardenista’s recent discovery: Collapsing Linen Buckets Made in the 1950s for the French Army.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 9, 2009, as part of our issue The Color of Spring.