Bathing Bliss: 10 Steps to a Well-Organised Bathroom
Transforming your bathroom into a relaxing sanctuary is easier – and more satisfying – than you might think
Ashling Kwok
25 July 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor, Freelance Journalist, Copywriter and Editor based in Sydney.
Houzz Australia Contributor, Freelance Journalist, Copywriter and Editor based in... More
There is no better way to start the day than walking into an organised, clutter-free bathroom. But keeping your bathroom neat and tidy can sometimes feel like an ongoing battle, particularly if space is tight and you have limited storage. So how do you create a stylish, functional bathroom where everything you need is at your fingertips? Simple – you start with a big clean-out and then put some savvy storage solutions in place. Here’s our easy 10-step guide to getting it done.
1. Get motivated
The bathroom is the one room in the home that is used every day. It’s where you get ready to face the world and deal with the stresses of life. Walking into a messy, cluttered bathroom first thing in the morning can have a huge impact on how you start your day. If you can’t locate what you need or find yourself tripping over things on the floor, you’ll only leave the house feeling stressed. An organised, clutter-free bathroom will help get your day off to a great start.
The bathroom is the one room in the home that is used every day. It’s where you get ready to face the world and deal with the stresses of life. Walking into a messy, cluttered bathroom first thing in the morning can have a huge impact on how you start your day. If you can’t locate what you need or find yourself tripping over things on the floor, you’ll only leave the house feeling stressed. An organised, clutter-free bathroom will help get your day off to a great start.
2. Be ruthless
Once you’ve decided to make the change, you need to be ruthless. Go through everything in your bathroom cupboard and work out whether you still need it. Throw out old cosmetics and medications, and check the use-by dates on everything in your bathroom cupboard. No doubt there will be numerous products that you haven’t used in the last year. If you are holding onto things ‘just in case,’ you will never achieve a tidy bathroom. Once you’ve done a big clear-out, you’ll be amazed at how much extra space you’ve created, which will no doubt fire you up to keep your bathroom clean and tidy.
Once you’ve decided to make the change, you need to be ruthless. Go through everything in your bathroom cupboard and work out whether you still need it. Throw out old cosmetics and medications, and check the use-by dates on everything in your bathroom cupboard. No doubt there will be numerous products that you haven’t used in the last year. If you are holding onto things ‘just in case,’ you will never achieve a tidy bathroom. Once you’ve done a big clear-out, you’ll be amazed at how much extra space you’ve created, which will no doubt fire you up to keep your bathroom clean and tidy.
3. Get organised
Once you have thrown out all the unnecessary items and identified those products you use the most, it’s time to get organised. This might sound daunting, but it’s easy if you know what to do. “Savvy and multi-functional storage solutions are the key to any modern bathroom, and there are plenty of clever options available,” says Daniela Santilli, business manager at bathroom company Reece.
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Once you have thrown out all the unnecessary items and identified those products you use the most, it’s time to get organised. This might sound daunting, but it’s easy if you know what to do. “Savvy and multi-functional storage solutions are the key to any modern bathroom, and there are plenty of clever options available,” says Daniela Santilli, business manager at bathroom company Reece.
Want a fabulous bathroom? Find a bathroom renovator on Houzz
4. Clear those surfaces
The next step in the process is analysing exactly how often you use each item. This will help you work out where products should be placed. “It makes sense to put your toothbrush in a nice caddy on the vanity bench as it’s used a couple of times a day,” says Cathy Player, expert organiser at Howards Storage World. “Things you use less often can go in lower drawers or harder-to-reach parts of the cupboard. Always be careful to store sharp items and medicines out of reach of children, and keep electrical items away from hazards such as water.”
The next step in the process is analysing exactly how often you use each item. This will help you work out where products should be placed. “It makes sense to put your toothbrush in a nice caddy on the vanity bench as it’s used a couple of times a day,” says Cathy Player, expert organiser at Howards Storage World. “Things you use less often can go in lower drawers or harder-to-reach parts of the cupboard. Always be careful to store sharp items and medicines out of reach of children, and keep electrical items away from hazards such as water.”
5. Group things together
One of the easiest ways to keep everything in order is to store similar products together. Player suggests using caddies or containers to keep things sorted. “Keeping things grouped instantly adds order and makes it easier to locate it again. It’s worth keeping in mind the simple idea that ‘if you can see it, you’ll use it,’” she says. “That’s how you avoid having items go out of date because you’ve simply lost them in the cupboard or drawer.”
One of the easiest ways to keep everything in order is to store similar products together. Player suggests using caddies or containers to keep things sorted. “Keeping things grouped instantly adds order and makes it easier to locate it again. It’s worth keeping in mind the simple idea that ‘if you can see it, you’ll use it,’” she says. “That’s how you avoid having items go out of date because you’ve simply lost them in the cupboard or drawer.”
6. Use clever tricks
Once you start investigating the range of storage solutions on the market, you will be amazed at the vast array of products you will find. “Simple products such as shelf separators will help you keep similar items grouped on shelves. They also make it easier to pull the whole group out of the cupboard,” Player says. “If you simply put your items on the shelf, you are effectively condemning the items at the back to a long-term archive, as it’s simply too difficult to access them. Similar principles apply with drawers.”
Browse beautiful bathrooms here
Once you start investigating the range of storage solutions on the market, you will be amazed at the vast array of products you will find. “Simple products such as shelf separators will help you keep similar items grouped on shelves. They also make it easier to pull the whole group out of the cupboard,” Player says. “If you simply put your items on the shelf, you are effectively condemning the items at the back to a long-term archive, as it’s simply too difficult to access them. Similar principles apply with drawers.”
Browse beautiful bathrooms here
7. Tidy your drawers
Clear drawer dividers are a great asset in a bathroom as they’ll keep everything organised and accessible, according to Anton Randall, director of home styling and organisation firm In the Closet. “There are some great shapes and sizes on the market to suit any type of drawer,” he says. Player concurs, adding; “You can also get ‘double decker’ organisers that will give you greater utility out of deeper drawers. Measuring items beforehand can help streamline the shopping process.”
Clear drawer dividers are a great asset in a bathroom as they’ll keep everything organised and accessible, according to Anton Randall, director of home styling and organisation firm In the Closet. “There are some great shapes and sizes on the market to suit any type of drawer,” he says. Player concurs, adding; “You can also get ‘double decker’ organisers that will give you greater utility out of deeper drawers. Measuring items beforehand can help streamline the shopping process.”
8. Seek out smart storage
When it comes to storing your lotions and cosmetics, Randall suggests using a step storage system, as this will help you find the products you are looking for quickly. Step systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are an affordable way to keep things organised. Meanwhile, Santilli suggests “organising your shelves, drawers and cupboards by corralling similar items into tumblers, boxes or baskets to keep everything easy to find.”
When it comes to storing your lotions and cosmetics, Randall suggests using a step storage system, as this will help you find the products you are looking for quickly. Step systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are an affordable way to keep things organised. Meanwhile, Santilli suggests “organising your shelves, drawers and cupboards by corralling similar items into tumblers, boxes or baskets to keep everything easy to find.”
9. Hang things up
One of the simplest way to keep your bathroom neat is to add extra shelving. If this is not possible, hanging items up is another way to ensure your bathroom remains organised. “Nooks, hooks, shelving and wall-hung vanities create plenty of storage while still allowing the bathroom to feel open and spacious,” Santilli says. “Wall-hung accessories such as toothbrush holders and soap dispensers are a great way to keep organised, and are the perfect solution for a small bathrooms.”
One of the simplest way to keep your bathroom neat is to add extra shelving. If this is not possible, hanging items up is another way to ensure your bathroom remains organised. “Nooks, hooks, shelving and wall-hung vanities create plenty of storage while still allowing the bathroom to feel open and spacious,” Santilli says. “Wall-hung accessories such as toothbrush holders and soap dispensers are a great way to keep organised, and are the perfect solution for a small bathrooms.”
10. Keep it clean
Now that you have cleaned out your bathroom and created a relaxed, clutter-free haven, how do you keep it that way? Scheduling regular clean-outs – even if it’s just a few minutes every weekend – is the first step as this will prevent mess from building up. Then treat yourself to some soft towels and luxurious bathroom accessories to inspire you to keep your things spick and span. Fresh flowers and scented candles are the perfect finishing touches and will encourage you to look after the sanctuary-like bathroom you have just created.
Now that you have cleaned out your bathroom and created a relaxed, clutter-free haven, how do you keep it that way? Scheduling regular clean-outs – even if it’s just a few minutes every weekend – is the first step as this will prevent mess from building up. Then treat yourself to some soft towels and luxurious bathroom accessories to inspire you to keep your things spick and span. Fresh flowers and scented candles are the perfect finishing touches and will encourage you to look after the sanctuary-like bathroom you have just created.
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Great ideas, have main bathroom and ensuite to renovate and this gives me great inspiration and ideas, love the colours
Great article. We have a small bathroom with limited storage, but had never thought of putting a funky shelf / cubby above the bath until now. So excited by the gorgeous ideas.
We have recently completed a renovation of our ensuite. The new design, which is tidy and easy to clean, meant the loss of 2 drawers and 2 cupboards. These were replaced by 2 recessed, mirrored shaving cabinets; a loss of more than 50% of our storage space. I was more than a little worried. When the reno began, I placed all items into a large box and as we needed them, they were taken out and left on a dresser. By the time we were finished with the reno, there were only a handful of items which had been used. These items easily fit into the new cabinets with plenty of room to spare (phew)! Roughly half the remaining items were thrown away and the rest are in a smaller box and being stored elsewhere. Everything left in this smaller box will be thrown away a year after the reno commenced.