Four Steps To The Organized Bathroom of Your Dreams

The bathroom is often overlooked when it comes to home organization when in reality, it’s one of the most frequented spaces in your home! There are so many benefits to organizing this space, one of which being that when everything has a home, your daily routine can be completely streamlined. When it comes to organizing your bathroom, however, you may initially find yourself overwhelmed. The majority of the inventory in this space is smaller, and there tends to be more than you thought once everything is pulled out. When you take the time to tackle your bathroom organization, we have a feeling that you may actually look forward to that nightly skincare regimen. Here are some tips to get you started!

1. Purging your bathroom

We know it can be hard to let go of skincare & beauty items. It's common to tell yourself you might use something in the future. We highly encourage that you block out these thoughts and try to be as objective as possible when purging. Take the time to go through each category, section by section, and discard items that you haven't used in years, got for free, or are expired/damaged. What you'll be left with are the items and products that you actually use and love. Ask yourself these questions (and be honest!):

• Do I currently use this product?

• Is this part of my everyday routine?

• Do I have multiples of this product?

• How long have I had this for?

• Do I actually need this?

• Why did I buy this in the first place?

The purging process is undoubtedly overwhelming to do on your own. If you feel like you need help, our how-to bathroom guide provides step by step guidance on how to most effectively go through your items as well as what to toss vs. sell vs. donate. It’s hard to let go of your belongings, and sometimes it takes an objective voice to help guide you along the way!

2. Shelves vs. drawers vs. cabinets

The first step in placing things in your bathroom once you’ve purged is determining what items are best suited for which storage spaces. Here is a quick list that samples what should be placed where:

Cabinets & shelves:

• Linens & towels

• Medicine

• Lotion

• Perfume

• Toilet paper

Shallow drawers:

• Toothpaste & toothbrush

• Makeup

• Face wash

• Hair ties & accessories

Deep drawers:

• Hair straightener

• Curling iron

• Bulky bathroom gadgets

• Tall products

3. Space-saving hacks we love

If you're tight on space in your bathroom, it may seem like a challenge to stay organized. It can seem impossible to create systems when there's no space to store your categories in! Luckily, there are so many alternative ways to save space and make the most of what you're working with. If your bathroom lacks drawer & cabinet storage or there's simply not enough for your inventory, consider using some of these hacks:

• Decant and discard packaging

• Use the back of the door

• Use a mobile cart

4. Styling your bathroom

Now for the fun part! You likely have some extra bathroom ideas that don't quite fit into any of your new bathroom systems. Whether it's bath salts, perfumes, or scented candles, you can use small, fresh decorative pieces for a touch of countertop flair. The key is to decorate your counter with a few accent pieces but to avoid overfilling the space, as it can sometimes look cluttered. Depending on your style preferences, a clean countertop is just as stunning! Here are some of our favorite styling tips:

• Use aesthetically pleasing baskets & bins for storage in exposed areas

• You can use your everyday toiletries to add stylish flair! If you want easy access to these at all times, use a counter organizer to keep these items out and tidy

• Feel free to place bathtime items and/or candles on the countertop as well for a decorative (and still functional!) accent

Hopefully, our tips based on the Life in Jeneral method help you to kick start your organizational journey. You’re steps away from achieving your dream aesthetic in your space! If you feel like you need more of our guidance along the way, check out our How To Organize Your Bathroom guide! It’s a downloadable PDF complete with 20+ pages of detailed, in-depth guidance based on the LIJ organizing method. This guide expands on the tips above as well as: 

• How to organize your bathroom based on its type

• Jeneral guidelines for placement in the bathroom

• Our favorite bathroom products

...and so many more exclusive LIJ tips and tricks!