De-Stressify Your Bathroom

Is the state of your bathroom stressing you out? For most of us, the bathroom is the first room we spend time in after waking up, and nothing is worse than starting the day by facing a stress-inducing mess. To wrap up Bed and Bath Organizing Month, I’m sharing my favorite tips for keeping your bathroom orderly and your countertops clear and clutter-free.

Between makeup and makeup brushes, hair care items, dental care supplies, nail and skin care products, shaving tools, and possibly even medications, there’s a lot going on in what is likely the smallest room in your home. And if you share a bathroom with others, multiply all of the above by two or more. Yikes! It’s no wonder your bath feels anything but spa-like. The good news is that with these five simple tips and some minimal maintenance, you’ll be able to keep it tidy, organized and functional.

#1 Streamline - Clear away all those excess bottles of...whatever. Get rid of the half-used conditioner you no longer use, empty bottles of lotion, expired eyeshadow and lipstick, and horrible hues of nail polish you will never wear. If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you know that I issue a simple 1-day (more like 1-hour) challenge each month...a simple task to put you on the path toward more orderly living. The June challenge is to perform this very task. Keeping half-used bottles of products you no longer use is not going to make you miraculously use them up. It’s going to make you lose your mind from having to navigate through the clutter they create on a daily basis. 

(Aside: Once you’ve completed this step, go to my Facebook page and add a comment, photo or GIF to the pinned challenge post at the top for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card in the monthly prize drawing. You have until June 30th to enter.) 
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#2 Categorize - Once you’ve cleared your clutter, divide what’s left into some basic categories:

• Hair care (brushes/combs, hair dryers and curling irons, hair products and hair accessories)
• Nail care (polish, clippers, files, remover and accessories)
• Shaving (foams and gels, razors/blades, cleaning cartridges, trimmers)
• Dental (brushes, replacement heads, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash)
• Skin care (lotions, toners, moisturizer, cleansers, masks)
• Eye care (contact lenses, cases and solution; glasses cleaner/cloths)
• Makeup (including brushes and other implements)
• Medications/first aid
• Travel/sample sizes (keep in a small basket with your travel stuff and/or gym bag)

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#3 Take stock - It’s okay to stock up on your favorite products to ensure you don’t run out, but take note of what you have before you purchase more. If you decide to switch brands, use up what you have first or otherwise eliminate the old brand so that you don’t end up having to repeat #1. Also be sure to organize to allow adequate space for storing your stockpile, and try not to exceed it.

#4 Think Vertically - Most bathrooms have limited space, so maximizing your vertical storage options can make a huge difference. Here are a few examples:

• Place items in magnetized baskets or containers that can be hung from a mirror or the side of a metal medicine cabinet.
• Hang shelves on the wall or over the door to hold rolls of toilet paper, towels, jars of Q-tips and cotton balls, or baskets of makeup or toiletries
• Use corner shelves or hanging caddies in the shower to hold shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors and other shower products and keep them off the ledges where they can create clutter and get knocked over easily
• Install hooks for towels or hanging baskets/totes on the wall or behind the door
• Store all manner of products in transparent shoe pocket organizers hung on the back of the bathroom door
• Add door racks to the inside of closet or cabinet doors. (Check out my video tutorial on making your own for just $1!)
• Utilize otherwise unusable space with over-the-toilet shelving

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#5 Clear countertops daily - Put everything away after each use to reduce surface clutter. One easy way to do this is to place all of the items you use each morning in a single basket or tote you can pull out of a cabinet, closet or off a shelf when you’re getting ready and then put the whole basket away when you’re done. Easy peasy! 

Following these five strategies is guaranteed to de-stressify your morning routine. What are your favorite bed and bath organizing secrets? Please share them in the comments or email valerie@easypeasyliving.com!

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Coming Soon: July is Organizing for Dollars Month! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be covering how better organization can save you money and the financial benefits of owning less, as well as sharing some budget-friendly organizing tools and tricks to help you streamline your home and life. Make sure you don't miss out! Subscribe to the EPL Blog to receive each weekly issue right in your inbox.