Containing clutter is a constant struggle. But the solutions don’t have to cost a lot. And the peace of mind that comes with an organized house? Priceless.
We present a series that shows you how to declutter your house, one room at a time, with budget in mind. For the third installment, we tackle the bathroom.
Bathrooms are typically small, so organization is key, even inside cabinets and drawers. Use every available inch — horizontally, vertically, and on the backs of doors.
When in doubt, take it out.
When cabinets and drawers become so cluttered you can barely close them, or you just can’t find what you’re looking for, then it’s time to empty them out.
Bathrooms get cluttered easily because you’re always bringing in stuff but seldom taking it away. Before you can get organized, you have to decide what you really want to keep (and don’t if it’s expired!).
Stackable baskets are the best.
These are my favorite organizing tools, and they can be purchased at your local supercenter for less than $4 each. The best part is, as the name suggests, they stack!
So much space under bathroom sinks gets wasted, especially when the cabinet is tall. Why not use the vertical space to optimize this unused area?
Place like items in each basket. Then label the baskets so you can clearly see where everything has been tucked away.
Drawer dividers come in handy, too.
Drawer dividers are essential to containing clutter in the bathroom. Fortunately, there are multiple types of draw dividers available at your local supercenter.
Longer dividers work for larger and deeper drawers to separate bulky items such as hair dryers, curling irons, brushes, and makeup bags. The smaller, basket-type dividers are ideal for shallow drawers, to hold things like makeup, brushes, clips, creams, toothbrush, toothpaste, tweezers, and other smaller necessities.
Don’t forget about the door.
There are oodles of over-the-door hooks you can use to hang bathrobes and towels. Another trick: A canvas shoe holder also works in the bathroom to store basics such as hair brushes, curling irons and flat irons, hairdryers, or lotions.
Don’t forget about the other doors — on your cabinets.
Adhesive hooks are amazing organizational tools. Stick them on the back of a cabinet door to hold small baskets, which you can fill with hair accessories or little tools like tweezers.
Depending on the size of your cabinet door, and the depth of your shelves inside, you could use bigger adhesive hooks to hold tools like a curling iron or flat iron.
The secret is in the folding.
Fold bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths the same the way. It not only looks nice when you open the cabinet door, but it also leaves more room on the shelf. And you can probably use it!
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Stacey Rayburn is the owner of Organized Chaos With a Twist.