If your bathroom feels more like a cluttered storage unit than a serene sanctuary, you’re not alone. Even now that my kids are grown, I still find it easy to let the chaos take over with half-empty bottles of shampoo and an overwhelming number of skincare products. But don’t worry! I’m here to share some simple yet effective tips that I’ve found helpful in whipping my bathroom into shape. Let’s tackle this together, one step at a time, so you can enjoy a space that’s not only functional but also a little slice of calm in your busy life.
Before we dive into these specific steps, I’ve got even more ideas if you’re ready to take your bathroom organization up a notch. In fact, I put together a whole post with 8 Brilliant Bathroom Organizing Tips to help you create a space that’s not only tidy but also a pleasure to use. Check it out for even more inspiration and practical tips. Now, let’s get started with the how-to!
How to Organize Your Bathroom
1. Declutter Your Bathroom Before You Organize
Always start any organizing project with a good decluttering session. There’s no point in organizing things you don’t need. Purge those things first.
The best way I’ve found to declutter it so dump everything out and begin to sort the pile. Toss anything that’s trash immediately. Then sort by type by just creating little piles.
(If you get overwhelmed easily, have lots of mess, or only have small chunks of time to work on this, start small. Empty out only a drawer at a time.)
2. Separate Your Things Into Product Categories
Part of organizing is figuring out what to group with what. In that bathroom that’s best done by grouping your toiletries and other bathroom items by their purpose. Categories like:
- hair spray, gel, dry shampoo
- hair tools (curling iron, blow dryer, straightener)
- face creams, oils, cleansers, and lotions
- toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss
- makeup
- feminine products
- deodorants and perfume
- toilet paper
- medicines
3. Decide What Goes Where in Your Bathroom
Once you’ve sorted what you want to keep, you need to get to finding homes for everything. Will you keep your makeup in a drawer and your hair products on the counter? Or will it all go behind closed doors?
Knowing your organizing personality (and that of any family members that will share your bathroom) will go a long way to making the best choices here. (Don’t know what your organizing personality is? Check out our Organizing Personality Quiz here.)
4. Invest in Bathroom Storage
Add shelving where possible, for things like towels and extra soap. This is especially important if you don’t have a linen closet nearby. Choose containers, baskets, or wire baskets for your items.
Clear Acrylic Containers
Use clear acrylic containers so you can easily see things inside. I LOVE these drawer organizers for the bathroom.
Add a Laundry Basket or Bin
I’m preaching to the choir here. We’ve lived in this house for almost eight years and I only just put a laundry bin in my small space en suite bathroom this year (not pictured in this post). Instead, I STILL carry my dirty clothes to the closet laundry bin every single day. Silliness! I think I’ll order one right now!
Hang Towels from Hooks Instead of Towel Bars
Towel bars are great if you have a lot of space. They allow towels to dry quickly. But they also take up a lot of wall space.
Hooks, on the other hand, will still allow your towels to dry (much better than they would in a heap on the floor) but they take up little wall real estate. If you don’t want to make several holes in the wall, try using Command hooks for hanging towels and other things.
5. Label, Label, Label
I find it’s less necessary in our master bathroom to label things than in the other bathrooms because only Dean and I use that room. But in the bathrooms that the kids or guests also use, it’s very helpful to label containers, drawers, and even shelves so everyone knows where things belong.
FAQs
Begin with a full declutter! Empty drawers and cabinets to get a clear sense of what you have, then sort and decide what to keep.
Regularly assess and declutter, and try simple daily habits like returning items to their designated spots and doing quick cleanups.
Use vertical storage like wall-mounted shelves or hooks, and consider baskets or drawer organizers to maximize every bit of space.
Assign each child their own basket or bin for easy access, and label where items should go to encourage everyone to help keep things organized.
Only keep daily essentials on the counter, and store everything else in cabinets or drawers with organizers to keep surfaces clear.
More Bathroom Organizing Ideas
- How to Organize a Bathroom
- 8 Brilliant Bathroom Organization Tips
- 7 Bathroom Drawer Organization Ideas
- 5 Bathroom Counter Organization Ideas
- How to Organize Under the Bathroom Sink
- How to Organize a Shared Bathroom
- How to Organize a Medicine Cabinet Safely
- How to Declutter & Organize Hair Tools
- How to Declutter Your Makeup and Skincare Collection
- 10 Clever Small Bathroom Storage Ideas for Every Inch of Space
And there you have it! With just a few simple steps, you can transform your bathroom from a cluttered mess into a beautifully organized space that makes your daily routines a breeze. Remember, it’s all about finding what works best for you and your family. So take a deep breath, pick a starting point, and dive in. I promise, once you see how much easier life can be with a little organization, you’ll be motivated to keep it up. You’ve got this!
Is your bathroom organized? Or could it use a little freshening up? Let me know in the comments below!
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