A Spa of Any Size

Turn that cramped, cluttered bathroom into haven of organization with these simple storage solutions

By Dani Altieri Marinucci
CTW Features

No matter the size, an organized and clutter-free bathroom will yield less stressful morning, afternoon and evening routines for the whole family. Image courtesy iStock

Small bathrooms often lack linen, toiletry and medicine storage, but instead of opting for those ugly plastic bins, try these innovative ways to create more space and less clutter for all of your bathing necessities.

“When I think bathroom, no matter how small, I think SPA,” says Standolyn Robertson, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Glenview, Ill. “By eliminating all clutter even a small bathroom can be an escape.”

Clear the counters, advises Robertson, except for decorative items or attractive containers for cotton balls and Q-tips. But for everything else, even if it’s used every day – get it out of sight.

So what to do with the toothbrush, paste and mouthwash?

Create a carryall! Bathrooms collect a lot of things that are easily categorized and stored together in a basket or tote. “One for your morning routine, one for before bed, first aid, cold and flu, manicure, hair dyeing, spa treatment,” says Robertson. By organizing and sorting all your bathroom tools into individual “kits” you can just grab it, use it and then put it back. Each tote fits easily under the sink, neatly on shelves or into cabinets or drawers. And it’s a great way to “train” other family members to straighten up before they leave the bathroom.

For the medicine cabinet and drawers, Robertson suggests using zones to group items together. Medicine cabinets now come with a lockable section for keep-out-of-reach items, and dividers come in all forms, even adjustable to fit any size drawer. And when you label the shelves or dividers things get returned like magic. “People always honor their labels,” promises Robertson.

Turn tables or a Lazy Susan are perfect for maximizing under counter space, linen closets and those dead corners. Clear stackable shoe boxes use vertical cabinet space efficiently. If linen closet storage is at a premium, roll towels and place them in an attractive floor basket or on shelves above the toilet.

Use your walls to expand storage space without sacrificing style. Select attractive containers to fill shelves or deep shadow boxes, or hang a trio of wall baskets.

Keep the shower clutter-free from shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles. Not only do they consume valuable space they encourage mold and are awkward to handle when wet. Robertson recommends shower soap dispensers. “They attach to the wall easily, eliminate all those clumsy bottles, can hold multiple products, and encourage portion control, saving money.”

One final tip: Color-code your towels and toothbrushes, says Robertson. Assigning a color to each family member ensures everyone uses their own “stuff” and when a wet towel is found on the floor, “it makes identifying the offender so much easier!”

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