Berry wrote:
Hi Jen,
I absolutely LOVE your blog! I have an organizing issue that I was hoping you'd be able to address on IHeart Organizing.
I am having trouble organizing my bathroom.
- The sink top is littered with perfume, lotion and nail polish
- Drawers are stuffed with make-up and hair accessories. The drawers don't even close any longer.
- Under the sink is a ton of hair products and other random items
I have already gotten rid of all the items I don't feel I need. Any idea on how to group these items and keep them in order would be great! Thanks a bunch!
And here were a couple of simple quick tips that I had come up with for Berry in response to her question:
1. In small bathrooms, it's all about stacking options, to ensure you are using all of the space you can. So for under the sink, my favorite baskets are these Sterilite Stacking Baskets, which can be purchased individually in stores. The handled flip over to allow you to stack the baskets as high as you wish, and their size is perfect for those extra toiletries or rolled up hand towels.
2. We have all seen the magic these little spice racks can work in the kid's space for books or in the kitchen for their intended purpose, corralling spices, but don't forget the bathroom. They would be the perfect inexpensive solution to utilize your vertical wall space. Give them a coat of your favorite paint color and then pop a couple on the walls for rolled up wash clothes, perfumes, lotions and face wash.
3. Stacking baskets don't just maximize space under the sink. Stacking drawer organizers maximize your small drawer storage. Perfect for cosmetics and hair items, these will allow you to get the most out of your space and ensure your counters aren't overwhelmed with clutter.
4. For larger items like curling irons, hair dryers and styling products, I love using a tote {you can use pocketed shower or craft totes} for storage. They hold a ton and can be hung on a pretty hook on the wall to free up valuable space under the counter or in drawers.
Berry took the first step in purging as much as she thought she could. This is the most important step in organizing a small bathroom. Evaluate what you need and say goodbye to the expired and excess bottles as often as possible.
 |
| {source} |
So there you have it, super simple ways to streamline a small bath. Say that five times fast...
What are your small bathroom tips and tricks? Favorite bathroom storage solutions?
love drawer organizers in the bathroom !!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding question and response! We have the smallest bathroom in the lannnnd, and I'm now motivated to be better about vertical space!
ReplyDeleteOn top of the teeny space we also have a pedastol sink that accomodates only my husband's electric toothbrush and a soap pump. My dentist keeps telling me to get an electric toothbrush and I'm all "PSSSHH you fat cat dentists don't know what it's like to have a small bathroom!! There's NOT ROOM for 2 electric toothbrushes!!!!" Hahaha.
I love the small bathroom tips. Our half bath is small and has NO concealed storage at all. I'm thinking about adding some of those spice racks on the wall in a fun color so that I can at least store extra soap and hand towels in there.
ReplyDeleteStacking storage works great in bathrooms because there are so many things that you need, but only use occasionally. Lke hairspray. I never wear it in the week, but when you need some, you need some!
ReplyDeleteWe are in the process of a multi-room basement reno (thanks to our very own flood much like yours), which includes a very small bathroom. I intend to add a shelf over the door. (Here's a link, though I'm not sure if they work in comments.) I might even do one in our upstairs bathroom, too.
ReplyDeletehttp://pinterest.com/pin/31437629/
Love this - thanks for the tips! Do you have any suggestions for containers in a medicine cabinet? I have found some small cups and some narrow baskets, but otherwise am having a hard time finding anything to corral items in the medicine cabinet... Was trying to find something skinny enough but a little taller for stability.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Sherri
How ironic is it that I finally buy a house... and didn't realize the builder (male. figures!) didn't include a single drawer in any of the bathrooms! not one! ummm.. hellooo i need those! =) I've been using #4 the tote idea... its been saving my life and keeping the bulk of my stuff off the counter. i love it! =)
ReplyDeletexoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Great tips! I use wall mount spice racks on the inside of the doors of my bathroom vanity. I didn't want to screw them into the door, so I ended up using heavy duty command strip hooks and it's held up great. The spice racks are perfect for storing all my lady lotions and potions and placing the on the inside of the door provides easy access that is concealed and it doesnt compromise too much of the undersink storage area. Love your blog by the way!
ReplyDeleteThese are good suggestions, Jen. I would have one more recommendation and that is to look up. Even tiny bathrooms usually have space above door posts to install a shelf for the items not frequently utilized.
ReplyDeleteI have like zero counter space, so I got some suction cup small holders to put my toothbrush and toothpaste in. Since those are used so often it was a pain to put them in the linen closet (no vanity drawers in my bathroom either ugh). I also use lazy Susans to put my hair and face products on in the linen closet. Makes everything easily accessible.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. I need more great small closet miracle stories, lol. I'm trying to move my boyfriend's stuff into my closet that I was already busting out the door!
I have moved a lot of stuff *out* of the bathroom. First aid kit, extra towels, extra shampoo and such, all goes in the linen closet. I turned the top of my dresser into my "vanity" and all my makeup and hair stuff is in the top drawer. I also keep my hair dryer in the bedroom since I rarely blowdry in the bathroom. They do make some nifty containers/baskets that you can mount on a wall for the hair dryer as well.
ReplyDeleteI am LOVING these ideas! Thank you for sharing. I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see that I'm already using some of you're ideas, like the baskets under the sink. I also put a towel hook along the top of the door to hang my towels and bathrobe.
ReplyDeleteWe have small bathrooms too. After 6 years of throwing stuff in little piles here and there, I finally bit the bullet and reorganized our bathroom and the kids bathroom. The biggest help of all? Drawer organizers. Don't know what I ever did without them.
ReplyDeleteYou can check out my before and afters here.
http://ciancifamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/randomness.html
Great ideas... and funny - I recently created more storage space on my bathroom wall :)
ReplyDeletehttp://onceuponagrainofsand.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/funky-drawers-re-purposed/
I was actually really excited about this post, alas.. it still doesn't solve our small bathroom issues! We have no drawers (nope, not a single one) and no counter space. It's literally the minimal amount of counter you can have around your sink. 1 cabinet. Over the toilet storage we have, and that is where everything is jam packed. *sigh* military homes are not great, lol
ReplyDeleteJen, these are great tips! Love that spice rack from IKEA - what a great find. And I use those stacking baskets in my kitchen pantry. So handy.
ReplyDeleteIn the bathroom, I love small baskets to categorize items in my medicine cabinets. And I added an inexpensive plastic drawer unit under our sink since our vanity didn't have any drawers.
Here's a recent blog post I shared recently detailing our master bath:
http://makingittooperfect.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-13-clutter-free-bathrooms.html
To organize my makeup, I couldn't seem to find a make up bag that fit all the odds and ends I had. Also, I've run the risk before of zippers breaking, seams tearing...It was just a mess.
ReplyDeleteThe solution I've found? A tackle box! So many of my lip glosses and whatnot fit in the small compartments in the tray and there was also the long slot available for eyeliner, lipliner and mascara. There's the large compartment at the bottom too, for all those cumbersome items. Also, when you need to go, just lock and go!
Also, tackle boxes are easily customizable -- a quick coat of spray paint or puff paint and you can make it fit the decor of any room. Hide under the sink or on the counter.
Great solutions to an overly common problem! I really like the drawer dividers (now if only I had a drawer!) & the stacking baskets (totally need those!).
ReplyDeleteRight now our bathroom is teeny tiny & we only have the small space under the sink. I removed 2 shelves of a bakers rack & we use it as an over the toilet shelf. So far it's working well! I definitely need some vertical storage =)
I love the spice rack idea, I never would have thought of using one in the bathroom but it's perfect!
ReplyDeleteIn the UK it's still fairly unusual to have a cupboard under the bathroom sink, or counters. most standard fit bathrooms have pedestal sinks. We bought a small cupboard, a little like a bedside unit, with a small drawer, which deals with our less used toiletries, and toilet paper rolls (my parents have 3 bathrooms and found that kitchen paper-towel holders were the best solution for their spare rolls) and the drawer keeps our extra facecloths so it's easy to switch. we have a tiny medicine cabinet so I only keep topical creams there, and all the other meds I keep in a plastic tub in our wardrobe, with some painkillers and plasters in a little tub in the kitchen cabinet. We use our linen closet for towels. before we had the cabinet we used small stacking plastic lidded boxes to organise our things, they just sat under the pedestal.
love the idea of painting a spice rack and hanging it to hold washcloths!
ReplyDeleteLove the spice rack idea and YES...stacking is KEY. My master bath is about the size of a small pantry LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat about bathrooms that don't have drawers? I really like the ideas you outlined!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa!
DeleteI wonder if something like this could be a great solution in a drawerless bathroom: http://www.bhg.com/blogs/better-homes-and-gardens-style-blog/2012/06/07/i-spy-smart-small-bathroom-storage/
xoxo!
Jen
I also have a super tiny bathroom and no drawers! no medicine cabinet! no counter! I use an over the door shoe organizer with the clear pockets for extra stuff like toothpaste, bandaids, brushes, etc. it's not hidden from sight, but it still looks organized!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, do you have any suggestions where I can buy nice shower bottles (flip top). Hate to keep the large body wash, shampoo and body lotion hanging from my shower caddy. It would be so nice to see them all in similar looking (8 or 10 oz) bottles with labels - it would look so easy on the eye :).
ReplyDeleteHi there!
DeleteYou can find them at Target in the travel section. I have also seen a variety at the Container Store.
xoxo,
Jen
I have a tiny bathroom with three small drawers and with three kids and a man that refuses to throw out his collection of hotel shampoos it's difficult to keep everything we need tidy and accessible. A new bathroom is on the cards when we can afford it but in the meanwhile the biggest bathroom fixes I found are not being afraid to get rid of body butters and other items I received as gifts (usually at a work Kris Kringle) and never used. I also resist the urge to buy items I rarely
ReplyDeleteuse (like hairspray) in big sizes because they work out cheaper, but get travel size ones instead. A little more expensive but saves a lot of space. I have a small jewelry box on the counter for my 4 year old girl's hair tie and earring stash. It's accessible for her and visible and that means I don't find stray hair elastics everywhere! Toothbrush holders are suction capped to the wall by the sink to keep them off the vanity (and the floor!) and toothpaste is kept with them using Velcro dots. Inexpensive and always within easy reach. Just a few things that work for me :)
You shouldn't be surprised to know that you’re not limited to just a shiny white bowl anymore. Bathroom sinks come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and materials and with a wide range of price tags.
ReplyDelete