How to Organize a Small Bathroom When You’re Broke
Having a small bathroom means not a lot of room for storing all of your toiletries. However, taking the time to organize them correctly makes a huge difference. Keep reading for some great tips on how to organize a small bathroom on a budget.
Over the years I have had to learn to cut back on the number of lotions, body sprays, and shampoos I used. Whenever there was an amazing sale at Bath and Body Works and I had coupons, I was stocking up on their lotions and body sprays. Half the time the body sprays never got used more than a few times and they took up lots of space.
Having a small bathroom means I have to steer clear of those sales and limit myself. (Now I have a candle hoarding problem, but that’s a different story.)
My husband and I built and stained shelves for our small bathroom and now we have more storage space. Now organizing everything isn’t as difficult because I have more space to put things. So today I’m going to share some great tips with you on how to organize a small bathroom.
Click here to see all of my home organizing tips!
How to organize a small bathroom on a budget
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1. Use the space you have
Since we are renovating our bathroom, we completely redid the closet space. Instead of a closet we now have open shelving, which makes the bathroom look a little bigger. If you have extra space above your toilet, add some floating shelves and place items in baskets.
Also, consider adding a shelf over your bathroom door to store extra rolls of toilet paper or items you don’t use often. This is a great place to store items you stock up on like extra shampoos and soaps, too.
2. Use baskets and jars
I love using jars and baskets to store things in the bathroom. Cloth cubes are also great for storing items and they are very inexpensive. I can usually find some unique baskets at thrift stores and rummage sales, so make sure you take advantage of those places. I like keeping my washcloths in baskets to keep them nice and organized.
My cotton balls and Q-tips are kept in cute little glass cookie jars from Dollar Tree and I keep round cotton pads in a mason jar. Dollar Tree has so many storage options, but sometimes you just have to think outside the box.
Another great use for baskets is to hang them on your wall to use as shelves. This is a cheap way to organize a small bathroom and get extra storage space.
3. Shop your home
Look around your home for items that you already have that you can use to store items. For example, mason jars are great for holding bath bombs, makeup brushes, and round cotton pads. Small dishes and bowls can hold jewelry or other small items you use regularly.
I like to keep my nail files and clippers in a small galvanized bucket my mom gave me last year. It’s the perfect size and so cute!
4. Repurpose empty containers
Before you throw away that empty plastic butter container, think about what else it can be used for. Clean it out, sand it lightly to scruff up the plastic, and spray paint it to match your décor. Then use it as a 1st aid kit, or storage for scrunchies, bobby pins, and hair bows. Add a label to the outside of the container so you know what’s inside.
5. Organize items as you use them
As you are organizing your bathroom, think about what you use most often, and place those items near the front of your shelf or drawer. Drawers are perfect for organizing makeup and nail polish, but if you don’t have drawers, plastic bins work just as well.
6. Use the space behind your door
Over-the-door racks are great for extra storage space. If you don’t have a lot of counter space or no under-the-sink space, then consider investing in one of these racks. It makes is so much easier to organize your products and keep items together.
7. Repurpose Office Supplies
August is a great month to stock up on office supplies during back-to-school sales. And those office supplies can be reused to organize a small bathroom with no extra space! For example, a wire file holder hung on the wall is perfect for storing your hairdryer and flat iron. Or place it by the toilet to hold magazines or extra toilet paper.
8. Think vertical
While I don’t have any counter space in my small bathroom, I still love the idea of using tiered trays to organize items in the bathroom. These are perfect for holding deodorant, small lotions, perfume bottles, or anything you can think of! Plus it clears up counter space, too.
You can make your own tiered tray out of plates or pie pans from Dollar Tree like the one below. Isn’t it so pretty?
9. Use the toilet
(Not that way!) The top of your toilet tank is the perfect place to add a basket or bin to hold extra toilet paper rolls or toiletries. It’s like having an extra shelf!
10. Take advantage of corners
When we installed our new bathtub, we lost the shelving our old one had. So we decided to take advantage of the corners and add corner shelves. They work perfect at holding our bath products, plus they have hooks for hanging items on.
11. Use the floor space
Don’t forget that you have a floor in your small bathroom! Take advantage of the space and add a rolling cart to store cleaning supplies or a cute basket with a lid for storing towels.
12. Keep like items together
Another great tip when you organize a small bathroom is to keep all the like items together. This not only looks nice, but it makes it so much easier to find things quickly. Keep cleaning supplies together, hair products together, first aid supplies together, etc.
For example, I keep my lotions, nail polish, and perfumes on one tray all together. In a separate basket I keep my hairdryer, curling irons, and flatiron.
13. Use a lazy susan
Place a lazy susan under your bathroom sink so you can easily reach items in the back. Choose one that has a lip around the edge so small items don’t fall off. Put taller items in the center and shorter items around them so that everything can be seen easily.
14. Hang items from a tension rod
Install a tension rod or a towel bar in your shower and place hooks on it for hanging things in squeeze bottles such as face wash. This is a great idea if you don’t have shelves in your shower and don’t want to hang any.
15. Hang a mesh shower organizer
Mesh shower organizers are really nice for extra storage space in the shower and they hang right on the same hooks as your shower curtain. When they get messy you can always throw them in the wash with your towels.
16. Use spice racks
Spice racks don’t have to be limited to the kitchen. They also work perfectly as shelves in the bathroom. Nail polish bottles fit perfectly on spice racks. The next time you see a spice rack while thrift shopping, grab it and give it a fresh coat of paint.
What’s your favorite way to organize a small bathroom? Do you have some amazing organizing hacks you’d like to share?
Before you can organize you have to declutter. Make sure to check out my post on how to have a clutter-free bathroom quickly and grab a free checklist while you’re there!
#3… very interesting ?
Thank you! I try not to buy more than I have to. 🙂 I hope you’re doing well!
Not bad. Getting discouraged with the whole blog thing lol but I read and comment.
I can completely understand that. 🙂
You do?
Yep! Sometimes it can get very frustrating depending on the circumstances.
I read “when you’re broke” and I knew this was for me. 😉 I love the mason jar idea! And the baskets. When we bought this house the owners left a lot of stuff behind, including baskets in the upstairs bathroom (which is really not super small) and now I know why 🙂
I love using mason jars and baskets! They’re great for so many different things. That’s cool that the owners left baskets behind. Now you can put them to good use! 🙂
We have this really awesome spot for our towels and wash cloths but I really want to use your idea of putting them in the baskets now.
Awesome! 😀
Great tips! I especially love the shelves!
Thank you so much! They were a lot of fun to build, too. 🙂
I liked using the back of the toilet too, and then we got new toilets with the flusher on top! Dang it! I had adjust.
Oh no! Well, at least you have other places to store things. 🙂
Love the suggestion
Thank you so much! 🙂
Our bathroom is teeny! And there are four of us! I have so many projects I need to do. And I get so many good ideas from you <3 My next question would be – how do you find the time for all of the DIYs?! I think I just need to buckle down and make them happen.
I’m so glad my ideas have inspired you! 🙂 For my DIY’s – I get up before everyone else and work on most of them then or do a bunch in one day. I have to make time to make things because that’s my relaxation. 😀
That is smart! My kids wake up whenever I get up… But maybe they’ll grow out of that stage haha!
It won’t be long. As soon as my daughter turned 13 (in March) she can barely drag herself out of bed by noon. HAHA!
Nicely done my friend!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Clever,
Thank you!
Lots of amazing ideas for storage! I can’t get over the shape of your toilet. The tank looks round!
Thank you! It is really round! It’s really weird. But it was the cheapest and on sale. Lol!
I like it! ?
So many great ideas Michelle! I actually can’t put anything on the toilet because that is wear the button is we push to flush…lol Using shelves is such a storage saver. Thank you for sharing all your ideas.
Thank you! Someone else mentioned they have a toilet like that, too. I’ve never seen those before! 😀
Great advice! I like reusing things like jars and baskets and so on 🙂
Thank you! It’s nice to be able to reuse things you already have. Saves a lot of money! 🙂
Wonderful ideas and including the basket’s is also nice !! ?
Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked the ideas! 🙂
You’ve shared a lot of clever ideas here Michelle. It just occurred to me that I always walk back to my bedroom to grab some cotton wool from the packet to cleanse my face when I could just store some in a pretty glass jar, so thanks for the idea. I already use the top of the toilet but really only as a ledge to put decorative items such as candles, diffuser, or a pretty bottle of lotion.
Thank you! I’m glad you found them helpful. 🙂 Using the back of the toilet for decorations is a great idea, too!
Some good ideas Michelle. Our bathroom is minute 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found them helpful. 🙂
I always love your tips, Michelle, there’s always something I hadn’t thought of before!
Thank you! I’m so glad you find them helpful. 🙂
I love the tips you shared. ❤
Thank you so much! 🙂
You are welcome. ?
These are great tips. We use the corners of our shower for storage as well – so useful! I hope the renovation is going well!
Thank you! Corners are so nice to have for shelves. 🙂 We’re almost done with the bathroom. We have to wait on a new saw because ours burned up while my husband was cutting the pieces for the drawer front. It figures! LOL
Still SO impressed you guys are doing everything yourself. What an accomplishment!
Thank you! It’s been quite an experience. ?
Great ideas! I also like to repurpose small cardboard boxes by decorating them and using them to organize closet shelves.
Thank you! Using boxes is a great idea! I’ll have to do that since we’ve been ordering online more during this pandemic.
Wonderful!?☕️☕️
Thank you! 🙂
I appreciate your tips. Some of them i will take over for me 🙂
Thx.
Best Regards
Bernhard
Thank you! I’m glad you found them helpful! 🙂
Have a good start into the next week, Thank you for visiting my blog 🙂
Best regards
Bernhard
Thank you and the same to you! Thank you for your visit as well. 🙂
These are such great ideas for storage… I will be doing some bedroom/bathroom organizing when I am off.
Thank you.
Thank you! I’m glad you found them helpful! 🙂
And buying the toilet cleaner as well, lol. I know what you mean. On my days off I go around cleaning the toilets, so I know what you mean about being on your hands and knees.
Totally loved this, my bathroom is so tiny.
Thank you! I hope you found some helpful ideas here. ?
Those glass jars are really cute and perfect for the cotton balls ?
Very useful ideas! I always try to be organised but sometimes I do buy too many soaps and body wash ? ? ?
Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a soap and body wash obsession. ?
Haha…don’t worry! I guess is veeeeery common ?
Michelle I think you outdid yourself with this one, love everything, I love the basket on the toilet with the paper that is such a great idea and looks so nice, love the basket. Using spice rack and lazy suzan, that is such a great way to store things, easy to get to. Thank you these tips are so great. xoxo
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found the tips helpful. I love baskets and use them for so many things around the home. I need to get to the thrift store and find some more. ?
Very good tips, everything looks nice ❤
Thank you so much!
These are great ideas, we have a tiny bathroom so storage is very limited, a couple of shelves and a basket on the floor is about all we have room for. I’m forever repurposing empty jars and candles for beauty supplies! I tend to keep the majority of it in my bedroom though where there’s a lot more free space x
Thank you! It’s hard when you have limited space. Repurposing candles is a great idea, too!
I love the shelves that you put up, especially the pipe detail underneath. Defintely a great way of increasing the storage space.
Also so many great storage ideas in this post. I love using old jam jars for storage, I have my cotton pads and hair accessories in some. Great way to recycle too!
I am terrible at not using products fully up, so always have lots of bottles with the little leftovers in. Time for a de-clutter I think!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Thank you so much! We built the shelves ourselves. They were so much fun to make!
I love the idea of using old jam jars. What a great storage idea!
Thank you for commenting! 🙂
Have a blessed week, Michelle!
Thank you so much!! And I wish the same for you! ?
I loved these ideas and I was impressed by the title. keep writing amazing posts like this!
Thank you so much!
I have a really tiny bathroom. I like to use storage baskets. I also love using fancy and cute storage containers to hold my stuff.
Having cute storage containers can make a lot of difference when you have a small bathroom.
These little tricks are so useful and handy thanks for sharing ?
Thank you! I’m glad you found them helpful. 🙂
I love these tips, Michelle. I especially love the changes you’ve made in your bathroom. You’re doing an amazing job!
I see the body wash from High Country Lavender too! 🙂 I hope you are enjoying her stuff. I can’t imagine using anything other than her soaps to clean and moisturize my face, that’s for sure!
I adore the basket you’ve chosen for the toilet tank storage. It’s perfect and adds a lot of charm to the space. I agree with you – in small bathrooms, the back of the toilet is prime real estate!
I also love the “shop your home” idea. You’re right – re-purposing something we already have into a better spot is a brilliant way to go. I’ve been surprised how many times I used an item in a different room or different way, and thought, “Wow, why didn’t I do that before??”
Another perfect post from you, my friend. How are you feeling? Sorry that I’m so far behind. I’m having some major medical going on at the moment too and it has been keeping me worn out. (sigh) Praying you are on the mend and getting good news. ?
Thank you so much! 😀
I am loving the body wash. My mom and I were going to go there this weekend but now were supposed to get rain from the hurricane so we’ll have to wait. I absolutely love her stuff! Thank you so much for telling me about her! She was excited when I told her a friend told me about her products. It made her day!
I’m feeling a little better, although there are still some issues that we can’t figure out yet. I’m sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. You are in my thoughts and prayers! I hope you feel better soon! Hugs and love!
So many great ideas, you have thought of everything.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the tips!! I need this!!
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading! I’m glad you found it helpful!
Now that we are finally reaching the finishing line on our bath remodel these tips will definitely come in handy! LOVE the idea of using a three tier stand for storage! Thanks for sharing, Michelle!
How exciting that you’re almost finished remodeling the bathroom! I’m sure you’re going to love it. 🙂 Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the tips!
Love the idea of hanging baskets on the wall, never thought of that and the little DIY tiered shelf is really sweet!
The bathroom looks great especially with the shelves above the toilet ❤️
Thank you so much! We just have a few more things to finish and then I’ll finally be able to share the entire bathroom. ?
Awesome!! I’m excited to see the reveal!!
Love this! I think I drive my husband a little crazy rearranging to organize…but I LOVE shopping my home for things to help in another space!
Thank you! It’s so much fun to rearrange and use what you already have. ?