End Morning Madness! 4 Steps to Organised Bathroom Storage
Save time getting ready in the morning with these quick and easy decluttering tips for your bathroom cupboards
Amy Revell
4 March 2018
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering. I'm based in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and work with women to help them create the beautiful homes they've always dreamed of. As an author, speaker and podcaster, I love all things decluttering and embrace the freedom that minimalism brings.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering.... More
When was the last time you ventured to the very back of your bathroom cupboards? Here are some tips to declutter and organise this area to save you time (and money).
Whether you’ve been living in your home for 15 years or 15 weeks, a bathroom declutter will save you time getting ready in the morning. Plus, you’ll be surprised by how much accumulated clutter you can easily let go of, giving you much more open space.
1. Empty out
First, grab a rubbish bag for anything that needs to go directly into the bin. Ensure some wipes are nearby to clean the cupboards and drawers down once everything is out. Then create space on the floor or benchtop where you can sort things. I usually use the floor, as you can empty every single item out of the bathroom cupboards, drawers, shelves and off the vanity top and lay them out so you can see what you have.
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First, grab a rubbish bag for anything that needs to go directly into the bin. Ensure some wipes are nearby to clean the cupboards and drawers down once everything is out. Then create space on the floor or benchtop where you can sort things. I usually use the floor, as you can empty every single item out of the bathroom cupboards, drawers, shelves and off the vanity top and lay them out so you can see what you have.
Mini Makeovers: 9 Compact Bathroom Renovations
While the cupboards are empty, take the opportunity to give them a wipe out, as bathroom cupboards often end up covered in product, dust and hair. No doubt you’ll find some lonely hair clips living at the back of the bathroom cupboard too.
2. Dump expired products
Once you have everything on the floor, the next step is to throw out any expired products. In almost every bathroom there are products that have expired (sometimes ones that are decades old) that need to be thrown away. Grab your rubbish bag and you’ll be surprised how many items end up in it.
Once you have everything on the floor, the next step is to throw out any expired products. In almost every bathroom there are products that have expired (sometimes ones that are decades old) that need to be thrown away. Grab your rubbish bag and you’ll be surprised how many items end up in it.
Remember that you put these products on your skin, hair and nails, and you don’t want to absorb out-of-date chemicals into your body. If you can’t remember when you purchased it, the chances are it’s time to discard.
This is also a good time to dispose of products that you keep thinking you’re going to use, but probably never will. Orange nail polish? Out. Purple eye shadow? Out. Self-waxing kits? Unless you’ve used them in the last six months, say bye bye.
This is also a good time to dispose of products that you keep thinking you’re going to use, but probably never will. Orange nail polish? Out. Purple eye shadow? Out. Self-waxing kits? Unless you’ve used them in the last six months, say bye bye.
3. Categories and containers
My key organisational advice for bathroom cupboards is to use storage baskets inside the cupboards or drawers, so that you both contain categories and are able to access items quickly and easily. The following categories are common to almost every bathroom I’ve ever helped declutter and organise:
My key organisational advice for bathroom cupboards is to use storage baskets inside the cupboards or drawers, so that you both contain categories and are able to access items quickly and easily. The following categories are common to almost every bathroom I’ve ever helped declutter and organise:
- make-up
- hair products
- sunscreen
- tanning sprays and lotions
- moisturiser
- basic first aid
- sanitary products
- shaving
- nail polish
- eye care
- medications
- perfumes
I suggest using baskets with handles to make accessing things at the back of the cupboard easier. This way you don’t have dead space at the back where products fall out of sight and out of mind. Use either a black marker or label maker to label the containers, so you can quickly and easily see what is there. You can then put things away quickly, without having to pull each basket out first.
How to Fight, and Win, Your War on Waste
How to Fight, and Win, Your War on Waste
One added advantage of having products stored like-with-like is that when you want to paint your nails, for example, instead of rummaging through a drawer trying to find the polish, file and top coat you can quickly and easily grab the basket where everything is kept.
If you have a large make-up collection, it’s even more helpful to further categorise the contents into different types of products. You might like to have smaller containers, keeping lip colours, eye products, foundations and blushes separate. This will also help you know what products you have, and will save you money. When you run out of one eye liner, you can quickly and easily find another one that you already own instead of buying a replacement.
See more beautifully designed bathrooms for inspiration
See more beautifully designed bathrooms for inspiration
4. Use it
Now that you know what you have, a useful tip is to use the products you already own rather than buying new products. Use the sunscreen you have before you buy any extra. Finish the hand cream you have before you trying a new product. Rediscover lipstick colours you forgot you owned. Your wallet will thank you for it.
Now that you know what you have, a useful tip is to use the products you already own rather than buying new products. Use the sunscreen you have before you buy any extra. Finish the hand cream you have before you trying a new product. Rediscover lipstick colours you forgot you owned. Your wallet will thank you for it.
You may also rediscover forgotten products that inspire you; think massage oil, a pedicure set, bubble bath or hair treatments. Take some time out one night to pamper yourself a little bit… it can be your reward for doing a great job of decluttering your bathroom cupboards.
Tell us
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Tell us
Share you best bathroom storage ideas in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or save this story. Join the conversation.
More
Browse storage and decluttering stories on Houzz
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Decluttering bathroom drawers of out-of-date samples and barely used products is the one task I seemingly ALWAYS need to do. I did it only 3 years ago when we were selling our house. Some of the products I swear I've seen before are hanging around in the current house. Geez...I keep telling myself I'll do it today, then there's always something much more interesting to do. But I think I'm gathering steam...and I will do it...soon.
A tip for all of those little containers of shampoo, conditioner etc which we ALWAYS snaffle from hotels.....and never use. Ditto the amenity packs from air travel. Bundle them up for donation to womens' refuges. When women flee from a situation they usually can't even take a toothbrush with them so these kinds of products are always gratefully received - you can pop them in the many unused makep & amenity bags you also have stashed.
If you have an existing vanity that needs a storage revamp, these stainless steel wire baskets can be added. The base is made of white acrylic so perfect for wet areas - its a durable solution. Here is a link to more information.