So you're finally getting your own place.

Since you have enrolled in college for the upcoming semester, you're moving into an apartment near the school. Or perhaps you are transitioning from on-campus housing into an off-campus living arrangement. More than likely, you will have at least one roommate who will be living with you.

That means sharing your living space with another person - including the lavatory. Though apartment bathrooms aren't known for being spacious, you can increase their storage capacity using one or more of the following bathroom organizers.

Gray Expandable under Sink Shelf

Even if you have storage space under your bathroom sink, it may not be enough. You may have towels, cleaning materials, spare bathroom supplies, and other items which need to be stowed there.

That's why this expandable under sink shelf is so handy - because it can provide additional shelving space for those necessary items. The chrome tubing can expand from 18 inches to 30 inches in width to fit perfectly into most under-sink cabinets. The metal shelving can be rearranged to accommodate the sink's drainpipe.

Tension Shower Organizer

Most bathing areas have little or no built-in storage space. As a result, you may be forced to place soaps, shampoos, shower gels, razors, and other bathing items on the side of the tub or on a separate counter outside of the bath or shower. And because you live in an apartment, you may be discouraged or prohibited from installing storage units that must be nailed or screwed into the wall.

This tension shower organizer solves that problem by providing five adjustable shelves that fit in the corner of your bathing space. The shelves attach to a matching plastic-coated iron bar which can expand up to 98 inches in length. This allows it to stand freely and be held in place at the top and bottom by the ceiling and floor. The organizer lets you store your bathing necessities out of the way while providing easy access to them during bathing.

Over Door 2 Basket Towel Rack

Many apartment bathrooms only have a single towel rack with space enough to hold one bath towel. This presents a problem when two or more people use the bathroom for bathing. In addition, these bathrooms rarely have enough storage space for bathing essentials or spare bathroom items.

The over door 2 basket towel rack addresses both of these problems by turning unused space into an organized storage area. The metal unit has two arms which fit over the top of interior doors of any size without the need for tools. The rack not only has a towel bar which is wide enough for two bath towels, but it also has two wire baskets. These baskets can hold extra hair accessories, shampoo, soap, or spare facial or toilet tissue.

Hanging Expandable Makeup Organizer

If your apartment is occupied by two or more females, drawer space may be at a premium. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find exactly what you need during a busy morning in an unorganized drawer full of lipstick, makeup, mascara, brushes, and other cosmetics and personal items.

But a hanging expandable makeup organizer can almost double the amount of storage space in any drawer. This acrylic tray can expand up to 18 inches to fit the width of any standard size drawer. When installed, the tray hovers a few inches above the bottom of the drawer to create an extra layer of storage while still allowing the drawer to close properly. The organizer is divided into eight compartments of various sizes which are designed to hold makeup brushes, cosmetics containers, hair accessories, and more.

Suction Towel Bar Shelf

Like the bathing areas, the sink areas of most apartment bathrooms provide limited space for hanging towels. But you may wish to have two or more hand or facial towels that are easily accessible but do not take up sink counter space. And again, your apartment lease may not allow you to put up an extra towel bar that requires nails or screws for installation.

A suction towel bar shelf does not require any hardware to be installed; instead, it remains affixed to the wall because of sturdy rubber suction cups which leave no permanent markings. The plastic unit has two metal towel bars for facial or hand towels. It also features a plastic tray where soap, razors, more towels, or other personal items can be stored.

Chrome over Toilet Space Saver

Generally speaking, apartment bathrooms have little storage capacity but quite a bit of unused space. One excellent example is the space over a toilet tank. Furniture that is designed to fit over the tank does exist, but these freestanding pieces can be very expensive and cumbersome.

However, the chrome over toilet space saver is lightweight and easy to assemble, and is available at a fraction of the price of similar units made of wood or other materials. The space saver comes with two shelves which provide plenty of room for towels, spare bathroom supplies, and personal items. In addition, robes, shower caddies, or other hooks can be hung on the shelves and supports for extra storage capacity.

Though apartment bathrooms can be small, the spaces inside them can be better utilized in order to store more items. And the better organized the bathroom, the less stress is generated between roommates getting ready for class or a night out!

Mitchell Worthy is a freelance writer who writes about home maintenance topics and products such as bathroom organizers.