How to Organize Your Bathroom: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Bathroom of Your Dreams

Is getting ready in the mornings a hassle for you? Is your bathroom a hot mess? Then you need this step-by-step guide on how to organize your bathroom so you can have the functioning bathroom you’ve always dreamed of!

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Why should you bother to organize your bathroom?

• Saves time cleaning
• Less time searching for items
• It’s more relaxing to start and end the day in a clean, clutter-free bathroom
• Saves money (you’re not re-buying items you already have but can’t find)
• Be better prepared for emergencies (easier to keep all first-aid items together and find them as soon as you need them)

The first step to amazing bathroom organization: cleaning

Before you can organize your bathroom, you must get it clean. To clean your entire bathroom efficiently and quickly, follow these steps:

1. Remove all items. Take everything off the counters, toss used towels (dry of course) in the hamper, remove bathmats and trashcans, and take all your products out of the shower/bathtub.
2. Dust and sweep. Grab a long-handled duster to dust off light fixtures and vents, and clean any cobwebs from corners. Then sweep (or vacuum) to pick up the debris.
3. Spray shower and/or tub with cleaner and let soak. Don’t forget the shower track and door if you have one.
4. Clean other surfaces. Wipe down towel racks, shelves, blinds, doors, handles, walls, and baseboards. Clean the mirror, wipe off the sink countertop, and clean the entire sink.
5. Scrub the shower/tub. By now the cleaner should have done most of the work for you, allowing you to lightly scrub shower walls, floors, and any shelves. Don’t forget to clean the shower door, too.
6. Scrub the toilet. Sprinkle or spray toilet cleaner into the toilet, scrub with a toilet brush, then flush the toilet. If there is a lot of buildup, let the cleaner sit for a minute while you clean the outside of the toilet with an all-purpose cleaner.
7. Mop the floor. My bathroom floor is tile, so I like to mop with Tide powder laundry detergent. To do this, add one teaspoon of Tide powder to the bottom of a spin mop bucket and fill to the line with hot tap water. Stick the mop in the water to soak it, then use the foot pedal to spin it about 6 times. Then mop the floor as usual.

The second step to amazing bathroom organization: decluttering

Now that your bathroom is clean from top to bottom, it’s time to move on to the next step: decluttering. Decluttering your bathroom is a lot easier when most of the items are removed. You can go through items as you’re putting them back.

Before you get started, have a couple of boxes close by for items you plan to get rid of. Also, have a trash bag handy for items that will need to be thrown away. It may also be a good idea to have a basket nearby to place items in that belong elsewhere in your home.

Questions to ask yourself while you’re decluttering the bathroom:

While you’re working on decluttering your bathroom, ask yourself these questions. And if you have to pause to think about it, the answer is that you probably don’t need it.

• Do I use this?
  • The question is NOT “will I use this one day?”. You either use it right now or you don’t.
• Is this product still good?
  • Most beauty products have a lifespan of 6-18 months after opening. If you notice the scent, color, or texture is “off”, then it has probably gone bad and should be tossed.
• Is this an extra item?
  • Do you have multiple bottles of the same lotion? If they’re all used, try putting them all into one bottle and throwing the extra bottles away. If you have unopened products that you stocked up on because of a “good deal” months ago, consider donating the extras that will never get used up.
• Would I buy this today?
  • Ask yourself if you would still buy that item again today and how much you love it. For beauty products, ask yourself if you love the color and if it really looks good on you. Does it work well for your skin type? Is it as effective as you thought it would be? For bathroom décor items, ask yourself if they are adding function or attractiveness to your space, or are they just causing more clutter?
• Can I reduce the space this item is taking up?
  • Are there multiple bottles of the same product that can be combined? Is there more appropriate storage that would make this item easier to access? Can I remove the packaging for more reduced storage?

Bathroom Items to Get Rid of While Decluttering

• Towels that are torn or ripped (turn them into rags!)
• Cosmetics & skincare products (Skincare products tend to have a “chemical” smell as they get older or sometimes the texture is a bit off.)
• Hair accessories & hair care products (Hair care products can have a “chemical” smell when they get old, too.)
• Perfumes/colognes (Perfumes should be stored away from heat vents and shower steam as they make the perfumes break down quicker.)
• Trial-sized bottles that will never be used
• Shaving products, such as old razors
• Bathroom cleaning supplies (combine multiple bottles of the same products to condense them into one bottle)
• Bath toys (Throw away squirt toys that may have mold inside. Get rid of toys the kids have outgrown and no longer play with.)
• First aid supplies (Toss anything that has expired.)

The third step to amazing bathroom organization: organizing

Finally, all that hard work cleaning and decluttering your bathroom is going to pay off. Now you get to organize everything you have left so your bathroom will be functional and relaxing. You’ve made it this far, so keep going to find out how to organize your bathroom.

How to organize your bathroom for a more functional space

Create more space by using height to your advantage.

A great way to maximize the space you already have is to create more space by starting with height. Think about the areas in your bathroom that hold items but have wasted space above them. For example, you may have a basket under your sink that’s perfect for holding haircare products, but there’s still some space above the basket. Consider adding clear stackable bins instead. This will double the amount of space you had before.

Also, think about the space above your bathroom door. If there’s enough space between the doorframe and the ceiling, install a shelf to create space for extra items.

Use empty wall space, such as above the toilet, to your advantage by adding shelves. Shelves will help you organize your bathroom easily.

Create product categories and label them.

Instead of placing all items together in place, create categories for your products. For example:

• For your skincare routine, place the items in a bin with the morning routine products in the front and bedtime routine products in the back, making sure to label the bin. Or place them side by side in a caddy and label each side.
• For extras, place them in labeled baskets or bins elsewhere so they’re not taking up so much space.

Use your entire sink space.

Sink space can have some amazing storage potential if you use it wisely. Small bathrooms only have so much space so here are some tips to organize your bathroom sink space.

If you have a pedestal sink:

• Place a three-tiered rolling cart next to the sink. Create sections just as you would underneath a cabinet.
• Consider a pedestal sink cabinet. There are many different options to choose from depending on whether you want open shelving or closed.

If you have underneath cabinet space:

• Hang cabinet door organizers on the back of cabinet drawers for holding cleaning supplies, perfumes/colognes and body sprays, lotions, or any random items.
• Add a tension rod or two to hang spray bottles from or small baskets.
• Use clear stackable bins with pull-out drawers to hold smaller items such as nail polish, washcloths, cotton rounds, and small extra items such as toothpaste. Don’t forget tothe drawers with what’s inside!

Use the bathtub area for storage space.

The bath area is an often overlooked space when it comes to adding extra storage space. Consider hanging hooks on the bathtub wall and adding waterproof baskets to hold items such as kid’s toys, razors, or any other bath items.

Use hooks instead of towel racks.

Hooks take up less space so more can be added. Add hooks wherever you have space, such as behind the bathroom door, beside the shower, or near the sink.

Keep your décor simple.

Décor probably isn’t the first thing on your mind when you start to organize your bathroom. However, it can play a large role in tricking the eye. In order to keep the clutter to a minimum, your bathroom décor should be simple. Here are some tricks to think about:

• Replacing bulky light fixtures with new and updated ones will make your bathroom look more open.
• Change out dark lighting to brighter lights.
• Repaint the bathroom walls with bright, light colors. Use darker colors as accents for your cabinets or even the color of your towels and shower curtain.
• Adding plants will keep your bathroom fresh as well as take up moisture. Hang a moisture-loving plant, such as a fern, near a window for a quick and easy bathroom uplift.
• Add pops of color with a shower curtain, bathmat, and towels. Whenever you want to switch out your color scheme, just replace and update the fabrics instead of repainting.

Your bathroom doesn’t have to be a cluttered, uninviting hot mess of a space. It can be a relaxing place to unwind at the end of a long day. All you need to do is put forth a little effort into getting your bathroom clean and organized. It is possible to organize your bathroom and have a functioning space that allows for quicker morning and bedtime routines.

Having a small bathroom teaches you what you really need in a bathroom. And you will quickly learn what causes more clutter and chaos.

What are some of your favorite bathroom organizing tips?

Do you have an organizer in your bathroom that you just could not live without?

Find more cleaning and organizing tips here:

• 24 Amazing Organizing Ideas for Every Room in Your Home
• Clutter-Free Series with Printable Checklists
• Bedroom Organizing Ideas That Will Work for Anyone

Looking for a fun DIY for your bathroom that’s super cheap? Try this:

• Rae Dunn Inspired Soap & Lotion Dispensers