Bathroom Tips to Borrow From Tidy People
If you're forever picking up rubber duckies off the bathroom floor, and pushing dust-capped bottles aside, these tidy tips might be for you
Lara Watson
11 July 2016
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing and I'm currently a freelance writer/editor. I live in a converted dye factory in East London and am forever searching 'exposed brick' on Houzz.
Houzz UK and Ireland Editorial Staff. My background is in creative lifestyle publishing... More
The bathroom is one of those rooms that seems to need constant cleaning, but there are ways to keep things fresh and sparkling – and clutter-free. Reduce the amount of time between complete deep cleans by trying these easy fixes for bathroom neatness.
Add plenty of storage
This is the most effective way to clear the decks. Creating permanent storage to organise your toiletries and cleaning products (not to mention hide the plumbing, as shown here), is always a winner, and can be done even in small spaces. This bright, fun bathroom has plenty of shelf space for prettier products, while the vanity unit and wall cabinet hide the rest away.
An off-the-shelf cupboard like this mirrored cabinet is an easy way to add neat storage space to your bathroom, and it makes your walls work as hard as possible. If you have a little alcove it can slot into, all the better. If you have a trickier space, it might be worth asking a professional to build in a bespoke solution.
This is the most effective way to clear the decks. Creating permanent storage to organise your toiletries and cleaning products (not to mention hide the plumbing, as shown here), is always a winner, and can be done even in small spaces. This bright, fun bathroom has plenty of shelf space for prettier products, while the vanity unit and wall cabinet hide the rest away.
An off-the-shelf cupboard like this mirrored cabinet is an easy way to add neat storage space to your bathroom, and it makes your walls work as hard as possible. If you have a little alcove it can slot into, all the better. If you have a trickier space, it might be worth asking a professional to build in a bespoke solution.
Display matching towels
It may sound obvious, but present spare towels in a neat and orderly way. Make sure they all match – or group similar ones together – and fold or roll them on their own dedicated shelf for a spa-like effect. It adds a little luxury to the room.
You need places to hang wet or used towels too, of course. Notice how hooks have been hung discreetly here, around the corner. You could also place a basket near the door for towels ready for the laundry.
Give your bath towels pride of place
It may sound obvious, but present spare towels in a neat and orderly way. Make sure they all match – or group similar ones together – and fold or roll them on their own dedicated shelf for a spa-like effect. It adds a little luxury to the room.
You need places to hang wet or used towels too, of course. Notice how hooks have been hung discreetly here, around the corner. You could also place a basket near the door for towels ready for the laundry.
Give your bath towels pride of place
Carve out a home for toys
It’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘decorating’ your bathroom with your kids’ toys. Foam letters stuck to the tiles, brightly coloured storage bags, and novelty hooks hanging over the bath may function as storage of sorts, but they can look cluttered and create a space that’s not relaxing at all for you.
Family rooms like this require a simple solution for tidying toys away and storing them neatly (over and over again), and this wire basket on a recessed shelf under the basin does a great job. The toys are still within easy reach, but the wire baskets allow them to be piled in rapidly after bath time and any water to drain away.
Swap your child’s colourful storage bag for a stylish adult alternative – hanging baskets, for instance, or wicker containers placed on a high shelf above the bathroom door if you’re short on space.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘decorating’ your bathroom with your kids’ toys. Foam letters stuck to the tiles, brightly coloured storage bags, and novelty hooks hanging over the bath may function as storage of sorts, but they can look cluttered and create a space that’s not relaxing at all for you.
Family rooms like this require a simple solution for tidying toys away and storing them neatly (over and over again), and this wire basket on a recessed shelf under the basin does a great job. The toys are still within easy reach, but the wire baskets allow them to be piled in rapidly after bath time and any water to drain away.
Swap your child’s colourful storage bag for a stylish adult alternative – hanging baskets, for instance, or wicker containers placed on a high shelf above the bathroom door if you’re short on space.
Embrace baskets
This purpose-designed wall unit is stacked full of wicker and canvas baskets and bins. The bottom bins are great for chucking in laundry, while smaller baskets on the higher shelves offer the opportunity for storing each family member’s toiletries separately.
The cotton linings in the baskets can easily be washed, which makes them ideal for this environment too.
This purpose-designed wall unit is stacked full of wicker and canvas baskets and bins. The bottom bins are great for chucking in laundry, while smaller baskets on the higher shelves offer the opportunity for storing each family member’s toiletries separately.
The cotton linings in the baskets can easily be washed, which makes them ideal for this environment too.
Ban piles of jewellery
The edge of the basin or the benchtop next to it are magnets for rings, earrings, necklaces and watches, but not necessarily the best storage spots for small valuables.
Here’s an idea: make a feature of your jewellery and turn your bathroom into a bit of a dressing room instead by adding small hooks to the wall to show off each piece. Position hooks randomly, as here, or, for a super-neat result, try lining them up in a dead-straight, horizontal row for an almost artwork-like effect.
The edge of the basin or the benchtop next to it are magnets for rings, earrings, necklaces and watches, but not necessarily the best storage spots for small valuables.
Here’s an idea: make a feature of your jewellery and turn your bathroom into a bit of a dressing room instead by adding small hooks to the wall to show off each piece. Position hooks randomly, as here, or, for a super-neat result, try lining them up in a dead-straight, horizontal row for an almost artwork-like effect.
Include a cleverly placed ring dish
Alternatively, opt for a shallow dish near (but not too near!) your basin to hold your jewellery. Or try this idea, where the owners have carved an ingenious impression into their stone dresser benchtop. If you make it look like a design feature, suddenly it’s no longer a pile of stuff.
7 artistic ways to display jewellery
Alternatively, opt for a shallow dish near (but not too near!) your basin to hold your jewellery. Or try this idea, where the owners have carved an ingenious impression into their stone dresser benchtop. If you make it look like a design feature, suddenly it’s no longer a pile of stuff.
7 artistic ways to display jewellery
Add a magazine rack
This is a simple solution if you’re the kind who has a stack of books or newspapers in the bathroom. Pop a choice few tomes in a wall-mounted rack to keep them not only tidy, but drier too, and enjoy reading in the bath.
Spending time identifying how you use a space and creating a special home for the items you tend to keep in there creates order.
This is a simple solution if you’re the kind who has a stack of books or newspapers in the bathroom. Pop a choice few tomes in a wall-mounted rack to keep them not only tidy, but drier too, and enjoy reading in the bath.
Spending time identifying how you use a space and creating a special home for the items you tend to keep in there creates order.
Work a scheme
If you treat your bathroom with the same design perspective you’d use in, say, your living space or bedroom, you’ll find it easier to stick to a colour scheme that will help to dictate what to display and what to hide. This way, added details, such as special toiletries, bath mats, shower curtains and ornaments, will be harmonious with the room, creating a space that’s a joy to be in, with every detail considered.
If you treat your bathroom with the same design perspective you’d use in, say, your living space or bedroom, you’ll find it easier to stick to a colour scheme that will help to dictate what to display and what to hide. This way, added details, such as special toiletries, bath mats, shower curtains and ornaments, will be harmonious with the room, creating a space that’s a joy to be in, with every detail considered.
Display your best, hide the rest
Try to keep your toiletries to a minimum. Many of us have been given ‘smellies’ and bath sets, but how much do we actually use? These things tend to sit around gathering dust and inching towards their expiry dates, so have a good clear-out and only display what you use on your shelves.
13 bonus bits of bathroom storage
Try to keep your toiletries to a minimum. Many of us have been given ‘smellies’ and bath sets, but how much do we actually use? These things tend to sit around gathering dust and inching towards their expiry dates, so have a good clear-out and only display what you use on your shelves.
13 bonus bits of bathroom storage
amorybrown.co.uk
Use ledges sparingly
Things feel generally calmer and you’ll feel more in control if you have fewer bits and pieces around to distract you. Treat your bathroom as a sanctuary and don’t fill ledges or windowsills with unnecessary objects and products. A couple of coordinating candles here, a piece of art there, and everything else stored away makes for a clean space in which you can relax. And it will take less time to dust.
TELL US
How do you keep your bathroom neat? Share your tips and tricks in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more tidy bathroom solutions
Things feel generally calmer and you’ll feel more in control if you have fewer bits and pieces around to distract you. Treat your bathroom as a sanctuary and don’t fill ledges or windowsills with unnecessary objects and products. A couple of coordinating candles here, a piece of art there, and everything else stored away makes for a clean space in which you can relax. And it will take less time to dust.
TELL US
How do you keep your bathroom neat? Share your tips and tricks in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more tidy bathroom solutions
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Great article. Display the best and hide the rest!
In a small space like a cloakroom a basin shelf with integral towel rail can help keep things tidy. This solid wood shelf is from our ArtLine colleciton
I agree having "pretty" soaps and lotions on display you never use that gather dust is pointless. Instead make what you USE everyday pretty!
I bought four 1 litre pump bottles (they were actually empty body wash bottles I saved & removed labels from) then I had stainless steel letters made S for shampoo, C for conditioner, B for bodywash & F for facewash. I then siliconed them to the bottles.
They look amazing on display instead of the different size and labelled mess I used to have with everyone who uses my bathroom commenting on them and how clean and neat the bathroom looks! They're also easy to refill and with a whole litre of each I don't need to refill them often!