Lately I’ve been focusing on organizing our homes, and today we’re talking about how to have an organized bathroom. So far we’ve addressed the Kitchen, the Family Room, and the Bedroom. Things are about to get even more intimate as we head into the Bathroom. :-)
Compared to other rooms in our homes, it might not seem like the bathroom should need much of our attention when it comes to organizing. But when you think about it, it’s a pretty vital room! We begin each day in the bathroom by showering, brushing our teeth, putting on makeup, and so on.
Having to deal with the clutter and chaos of a disorganized bathroom can influence your mood for the rest of the day! So here are some steps I recently took to ensure that my bathroom routine, and hopefully my mornings as a whole, remain chaos-free.
The first issue I confronted was the fact that I was using the corners of the tub as storage for my shampoo and conditioner and wanted a better storage solution. I hopped on Amazon and picked up a shelf, a mirror, and a hook to hang up in the shower. The shelf now holds my shampoo and conditioner, and it has some hooks on the side where I can hang my razor.
The mirror is for my husband, who prefers shaving in the shower. He can put his shaving cream and brush on the shelf while he is shaving, which is super convenient.
The hook hangs on the opposite wall under the showerhead, and is the perfect place to hang our loofahs.
Another thing I picked up was a step trash can. Until now we had a small, open trash can, and it was kind of gross. It also contributed to the cluttered feeling in the bathroom when it was full. This new one I picked up is the perfect size and it has a removable liner which will make it easy to empty when it gets full.
I also picked up an inexpensive over-the-door towel rack to hang our bath towels on. This freed up the existing towel rack, which we can now use for hand towels for our guests to use when we have company over.
With shower-related issues sorted, I now had to face my storage issues. The medicine cabinet that we use to store most of our daily-use toiletries felt cluttered, but I wasn’t sure what I could do to improve things. Then I saw these great small bins at Target and knew they were my solution! They’re perfect for keeping the little things contained in the cabinet, such as tweezers and nail clippers. I also got another one for my husband’s comb collection. ;-)
Fortunately, the under-the-sink situation has stayed pretty organized since I wrote about it on the blog a few months ago, so I just needed to tidy it up a bit.
Other Ways to Organize Your Bathroom
If you have drawers in your bathroom that never seem to stay orderly, then drawer organizers are a must! Everything will have its own space and stuff won’t be rolling around every time you shut the drawer.
Hair dryers can take up a lot of space inside a cupboard or drawer. Get it out of the way while still keeping it accessible by mounting a magazine rack to the inside of a cupboard.
An empty stretch of wall can be a great place for extra storage. If you’re a lover of mason jars (and I mean, who isn’t??), then why not get yourself one of these cute mason jar organizers?
I’ve seen this clever method for storing makeup all over Pinterest lately. Simply hang a sheet of metal (even a sheet pan would work). attach some adhesive magnets to your makeup, and hang your makeup from the sheet. No more digging around in drawers to find your mascara!
More Ideas You'll Love
If your bathroom doesn’t have a lot of existing storage, there are a ton of great options out there for you. Wire shelves are relatively inexpensive and can add storage to even the most narrow of bathrooms. There are also shelves that go over the toilet if you’re seriously cramped.
How do YOU stay organized in the bathroom?
I use different containers to keep things together. One for hair ties and bobby pins, another for band aids and such, nail clippers and tweezers in one container. Hair brushes and combs in there own basket. I loved the idea for using a magazine rack to store my hair dryer in! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the mason jar idea. I use command hooks on my wall next to the mirror to hang my blow dryer, straightener, and curling iron.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas! I bought a fabric shoe holder with 16 pockets (4 across, 4 down). Poked small holes in the bottom of the pockets (to allow water to drain), & put our needs in each pocket. A pocket for “girls” bodywash, “boys” bodywash, shampoo, conditioner etc and hang it in the shower. I took a tension rod & laid it on the opposite side of the shower head to hang it (I have no wall on one side, just a shower curtain) & it works great, although you could probably hang it on the shower rod also. I only needed 8 pockets, so I cut in the middle, & when I need to replace it, I have another ready…just add a few grommets! ps. I sent one with my daughter to college…she loves it…AND it’s machine washable!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is the source for that tower in the last photo? Love it! Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just click on the words “wire rack” in the text underneath the picture :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I cannot use my under-the-sink cabinet storage so things are a bit cluttered on the sink area which I don’t like. I used to use an over-the-door shoe organizer, but found that it did not do very well with heavy items and ended up tearing. However, I’m thinking that maybe I could use one for lighter items, especially makeup, which would work better I think.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.To add, I really like Command adhesive hooks. A great way to get them is at Michael’s and I use the 40% coupons on these. Love that they are removable and can be reused. I’m on a very tight budget and use workable items that don’t cost a lot – a Sterilite cart on wheels, Sterilite small 3-drawer organizers, dollar store drawer organizers, wire baskets to use empty vertical space. I think also that decluttering really helps and is necessary when you have a small house or small rooms (as I’m in the process of doing). :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.An over the toilet shelving unit is awesome for adding additional storage space.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I installed a pegged rail instead of a standard towel rack. Each family member has a peg for their wet towels to air dry and use again. Less washing makes the towels last longer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have 3 daughter’s ranging from 2-9, and our biggest organization problem in the bathroom is hair doodads (dozens of headbands, charities, bows and clips). The bows and clips went on a clever bow holder a friend made (2 ribbons hanging from a pink painted piece of wood). For our plethora of headbands I covered 2 oatmeal containers (the large ones) with pretty fabric using glue and the headbands are slipped around the containers. You can fit about a dozen thin headbands from top to bottom. Then all the hairties, scrunchies, bun makers, Bobbie pins, etc are organized in small zip veggies and shoved inside the oatmeal containers. Lid goes on and problem solved. I got this idea on pintrest. There are tons of different ones using different things to hold the headbands. I liked this one because of the inside storage.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ok. Autocorrect. Charities should have been hairties and veggies should have been baggies. Should make more sense now. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can I just say… I HATE THE BATHROOM, I’ve organized and purged, and organized again, it never ever stays organized….. ugh….. That’s all, thanks for the post.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have a three compartment dispenser that goes in the shower. I have shampoo, conditioner and body wash in it. Now the bottle clutter is gone and the kids don’t waste as much of the expensive toiletries because bottles can’t fall over accidentally!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a little pocket chart I think it was for jewelry but it hangs on a towel rack and holds all the little things as I don’t have any drawers and pipes fill up space under the sink. I also keep all the hair bands on a metal ring that hangs on a hook.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep my bathroom organized several different ways. All of our cold meds, pain relievers, band aids, etc, go on the door of our linen closet on an Elfa system. Everything is visible and easy to put back or straighten quickly when others (dh, dd) don’t put things back correctly. I also take the time 2 x a year to go thru the meds and toss anything that has expired. These tips take only a few minutes and I can always tell what I have at a quick glance.
I use my daughter’s bath time to clean under my sink in the bathroom. I have everything containerized, so it only takes a few minutes every other month or so, to pull stuff out, wipe out the cabinet and make sure everything is in it’s place.
I love using the time my daughter is in the shower to “steal” a few quick minutes to keep things straightened up in the bathroom, with so many products things can get out of hand quickly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hung a jewelry organizer over the shower curtain in my girls’ bathroom. They keep their lotion and shower gel in the taller pockets, ponytail holders in the smaller pockets, and then their brushes and combs in the larger pockets at the bottom. It keeps the drawers free from all of their hair stuff plus it’s easy for them to find.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Were did you find the the trash can pictured?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tend to use shoe size bins for organizing in the bathroom but I can definitely use many of your tips. I think my son’s bathroom needs some simple bins to organize his mess. Thanks for sharing all the great tips.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a roll up makeup bag with a hook on it that i keep items in i would take traveling. It’s easy to use stuff from it when I just hang it on the towel hook and easy to put back.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have something similar to the mason jar thing that you showed on my wall, however everything else is pretty cluttered and frustrating. I have no drawers only a cabinet under the sink…>:(. I am def going to look into these organizing ideas because it is becoming unbearable!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the tips you mention plus I always keep paper towels now near the sink just in case of spills and a Mr Clean so I can always have a clean sink which I can’t stand it to be dirty… I use a kitchen rack in my one bath to keep my towels stacked there so whenever anyone is visiting can always find their clean towels I love the towel racks so very much and I a have a crafty fish hook for my own towels … I believe whenever grandchildren visit they should leave the bath room as they found it which is dry and clean :) love your tips and all your inspirations to get organized.. I am learning not to leave any medicines in the bathroom to be safe and to protect the little visitors that might want to investigate… and wow what a great giveaway… wtg but I just love it when organized pros help peeps like me to improve my home … I grew up w/o a mother to teach me and feel like omgoosh I need to learn so much.. thanks tons
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the ideas posted for organizing a bathroom! Especially screwing baskets to the inside of the vanity cabinets. Perfect for not getting your stuff wet with a leaky sink.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have such a small bathroom it is so hard to organize anything. I did invest in a 3 drawer rubbermade stand to put sanitary/hair/nail/razors ect. I also have drawers under the sink to contain my mess but it doesn’t always stay neat so I will definitely have to try the under the sink suggestions.
I have a full medicine cabitnet and another over the toilet cabinet for extras, but even with everything having a place the small space looks cluttered. Definitely need a makeover.
thanks for all the great ideas—carol-ann—
I prefer to use the vertical space in my bathroom because out counter space is so limited. I use a corner shower organizer, the kind that is a tension rod and has the shelves, on the corner of my counter. It has four shelves and since it is a tension rod it holds itself steady from the counter to the ceiling and frees up the counter space.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My tip: I have a small bathroom. There are 2 adults plus 3 small children. I found 2 small twin size h eadboards and stacked them on top of one another and screwed them to the wall for towels and bathroom items. I also put an over the toilet shelf over my washing machine so I could put laundry supplies. I bought the h eadboards at a thrift shop for 10$ piece. Everyone that comes over asked where did you get your beautiful piece for your bathroom? When I tell them it’s two h eadboards stuck together they can’t believe it. I also made a cereal station for my children. I have 2 big containers where they can turn the knob and cereal comes out. The pop tarts are in cute dollar tree baskets . The toaster is on the same shelf with plastic spoons and bowls. My children LOVE it ! They feel so big fixing it themselves.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Our only bathroom is 5′ x 7′, including the tub, so organization is MAJOR. I installed a hook in the ceiling above the back end of the tub, in the corner, and hung a plastic 3-tiered kitchen basket. This is a great place to store all of our tub toys – we just scoop them out of the tub and drop them into the baskets, sorted by size, and the water drips right back into the tub!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried to find a way to include a picture of my organization DIY that I made using foam poster boards (cut to size ), spray adhesive, material (2 different patterns /colors), scissors, hot glue gun, ruler and nails, but I couldn’t find a way to attach my picture. I am so proud of my completed DIY shelf for my everyday make-up and it can be customized to the size you need. I have been using it for the last 5 months and I cannot put into words How Nice it has been during my rushed morning routine to have my everyday make-up at arms reach and a way to keep my counters clutter free easy and fast. Since make-up isn’t very heavy, I haven’t had a problem with the foam board not being sturdy enough. I came up with the idea by watching a YouTube video about making a drawer organizer out of foam board and fabric and just customized the sizes and made it into my own fabulous shelf that I can take with me to my new vanity area when I finally get around to setting it up.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your idea of using a magazine rack as a blow dryer holder. I also use towel hooks behind the door but instead of rods that I found do not allow towels to dry I found a set of four hooks of a wooden slat that fits the width of my door. We hung it at doorknob level to allow each of my children to have a place for their own towels. I also hung a small corner shelf behind the toilet for electic toothbrushes
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