Too many belongings, too little space… New approaches and solutions are being added every day to the endless possibilities for bathroom storage and organisation.
Bathrooms are busy spaces where daily routines often change, making it difficult to establish and maintain order. Even keeping dozens of beauty and healthcare products in a limited space takes considerable skill. However carefully you put things in drawers, one morning you may find the basin surrounded by creams, brushes, tweezers and towels.
That is why you need to reorganise regularly and make use of new approaches. Here are some fresh solutions to replace clutter with a system.
Your first task should be to get rid of unnecessary clutter. Take everything out of your cabinets and examine each item to decide whether you need it. If it is time to part ways, either move it out of the bathroom or remove it from your life altogether.
Next, categorise your belongings: hair products, skincare, dental care, hygiene products, first aid, electrical appliances and so on. Grouping them on an empty surface will help you see how much storage space you need. Do not limit yourself to storage boxes; jars designed for kitchens, miniature drawers and baskets can also work well. Opaque boxes can make your cabinets look less cluttered and help you quickly identify where to find what you need. Clear shoe boxes sold in DIY shops, for example, can do the job perfectly well.
Another important point is whether you always follow your personal care routine in the bathroom or prefer to take it elsewhere. This is particularly relevant to make-up products, which can take over a bathroom: the answer could free up a surprising amount of space. If you complete your routine in the bathroom, you will need to keep all your products there in fixed storage boxes. If you spend more time elsewhere, however, foldable travel organisers that hang behind the door can solve the problem. Simply take one with you whenever you need it, freeing up bathroom space at the same time.
Here is a solution for committed experts in applying make-up in small spaces. If you are determined to do your make-up even in a tiny bathroom, you probably have plenty of products with nowhere to go, and the basin will inevitably become surrounded by pencils, mascara and lipsticks. A tray that fits directly over the basin can provide the surface you need, creating a workspace where you can open and use your products freely. If you have a drawer large enough to store the tray with everything still on it, you have hit the jackpot.
Our final note is for those who cannot imagine a bathroom without a medicine cabinet. Many people's bathroom cabinets contain enough products, from plasters to vitamins, to resemble a small pharmacy. However, this habit does not make the bathroom the ideal place for them. Heat and humidity can shorten the shelf life of many products. What can you do? Start by reading the labels. If a product says “store in a cool, dry place”, it does not belong in the bathroom. Although keeping your toothbrush on the basin may seem convenient, for example, a closed cabinet is a better place to keep it free from germs. A 2015 study found that particles released when a toilet is flushed can travel up to 80 cm. Better safe than sorry: keep your toothbrush away from these particles and use a sanitiser that destroys bacteria and viruses on it with ultraviolet light.
