Toilet brushes and plungers are items best kept close to where they're used. Not every bathroom has a nearby under-sink cabinet with room to stash this stuff—and not everyone would want to store these items in such a cabinet, anyway. But leaving something like a plunger sitting out isn't anyone's idea of cool decor, so well-designed storage products really help.

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The Ballo toilet brush, designed by Jozeph Forakis for Normann Copenhagen, is an example of one interesting approach; the brush is stored in a base that disguises what's being stored. Replacement brush heads as available, so there's no need to discard the whole product just because a brush wears out or gets too grungy. However, I can also see a child, a cat or a dog treating this as a toy, as it (intentionally) wobbles back and forth, so pet owners and parents of young children might want to look elsewhere. It's made from injection molded polypropylene.

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The Kali toilet brush from Authentics, designed by Doshi Levien, is another product providing discreet storage for the brush. It's scaled for those with small bathrooms, at 39 cm tall and 13.5 cm wide; for comparison, the Ballo is 50 cm tall and 22 cm wide. Again, replacement brush heads are available. It's made from ABS.

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While some people will want a fully enclosed toilet brush holder, especially those concerned about protecting their children or pets, others will be fine with a holder that is open on one side. The Simplehuman design includes a magnetic collar to secure the brush to the housing, so the brush (and housing) can be moved from one room to another by just holding the handle. This would be nice for anyone who doesn't always have two free hands, or anyone who would have difficulty bending down to grasp the base.

The brush itself has a crescent shape to clean hard-to-reach areas around the rim; the outer bristles are stiff to scrub at stains. This untraditional design has both fans and critics; some find it harder to use than a simpler brush. Since the handle is stainless steel, this brush won't work well for those who use a bleach-based cleaner, unless they are good about ensuring all bleach is washed off the handle before stowing it away. 

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Toilet brush holders could also be wall-mounted, as with this one from Blomus. The holder comes off the wall bracket for easy cleaning when needed. This design will appeal to those who have small bathrooms with limited floor space—and anyone who likes to keep things off the floor to make cleaning the floor easier. It might also work well to keep the brush away from a pet or small child. 

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Renters  might not be allowed to install the recessed Tino brush holder from Componendo, but it's a nice design for those who don't have that constraint and who have the available wall space. The advantages of the wall-mounted brush holder apply to this design, too. The brush, the box it sits in, and the pivoting plate can all be readily removed for easy cleaning.

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Plungers are something most people prefer to keep hidden away, and plunger holders like these will do the hiding. However, some buyers have complained that the plunger handle is too short and the plunger head is too small. Also, having the lid attached to the plunger makes it somewhat awkward to use.

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Mary Jo Kringas created the Sani-Plunge when her first child started to crawl around and put everything he could find into his mouth. She began looking for "a plunger holder that would keep him alive at least into adolescence" and had no luck finding what she wanted: a toilet plunger holder that would hide the plunger completely, would not leak any waste water, and would require significant effort for a toddler to get at the toilet plunger itself. So she created what she needed.

The Sani-Plunge is plastic with a hinged flip-top lid. And there's no compromise on the plunger itself; it comes with a 16-inch Perfect Plunger which Kringas says is "the best toilet plunger available anywhere."

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Those who don't feel the need for an enclosed plunger could use something like the Simplehuman design, with the same magnetic collar as the company's toilet brush. The company put some consideration into the plunger itself; its flange is "designed with a narrow profile to work more efficiently with modern toilets." 

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Of course, the toilet brush and plunger could also be stored together in a single caddy, such as this one from Polder. However, some buyers have complained about the quality: brushes that broke off the handle, plungers that inverted,  and plastic that off-gassed. It's a good reminder that a design needs to factor in the quality of the materials being used. 

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Superior Houseware has a bathroom caddy that stores the toilet brush and plunger together in a closed design, with vented holes to allow the tools to dry out after use. It's another product that a parent who's baby-proofing the house might find useful. While the design does a commendable job of fitting both products into a reasonably small container,  the caddy might still be hard to fit into a small bathroom with limited floor space.

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The recess-mounted Hy-Dit, made from injection molded plastic, has space for a plunger and a brush (which are included) and even a toilet bowl cleaner. However, the plunger that comes with the Hy-Dit seems to be a sink plunger, not a toilet plunger—if I'm right about that, purchasers may well want to find another plunger that fits. The door is reversible and can therefore be installed on either side, and it can be painted or stained to fit into the rest of the room. 

With the possible exception of the plunger choice, it's a clever design, allowing all the cleaning products to be stored together—off the floor, out of sight, and away from children and pets.