Bathroom Organization on a Budget
Why is it that those bathroom cabinets and drawers always find a way to become a disaster? Now is the perfect time to get your bathroom organized and, more importantly, stay organized!
Creating organization in your bathroom or powder room can be a daunting task, but doing so makes daily life that much better. Think about it — outside of your kitchen or bedroom, you probably spend the most time in your bathroom. Whether that means getting ready for a night on the town, completing your skincare routine or just getting down to “business,” your bathroom is an important space in your home and deserves love, too!
Many people that I’ve spoken to mention that they not only see organizing as an intimidating task, but also an expensive initial investment. I definitely agree, to some extent, that this process can be a bit pricey, but it doesn’t have to be! As long as you have an idea of your goals, do your research and create an initial budget for your investment… you will soon be living in budget-friendly, organized bliss!
Oftentimes, if you have more than one bathroom in your home, your guest bathroom or powder room always becomes the most presentable. Whether that’s because you intentionally keep it that way or because no one uses it, your guests often see the best your bathroom or powder room has to offer. Most times, it’s your personal bathroom that needs the most intervention. If you are the only one going in a particular space, you are more likely to let chaos ensue.
Let me tell you something… YOU deserve better! Organization and a peaceful, calming space should not be luxuries reserved for those that visit your home — you also deserve to relish in the splendor of a clean and orderly bathroom.
Below you can find my tips for creating a clean, organized and peaceful bathroom or powder room, but doing so on a budget.
Create a plan that includes your needs, wants and what you intend to invest in this project.
Before heading to the store and simply buying every storage solution in sight, make a list of what items you need to achieve your goals, other things that you may desire to level=up your space and the budget you intend to stick to for the project. By having a plan in place, you are more likely to stay on budget from the start.
Storage solutions and organizational products can tend to be pricey, but understand that this initial investment is often the only investment you’ll need to complete your goals for a desired space. Do your research, try various stores and don’t be afraid to return items if you find similar options that are less expensive.
Clean your space first.
It’s always easier to start with a clean slate and let’s be honest, bathrooms can hide major unwanted dirt, grime and bacteria. Pull out the gloves, cleaning supplies, trash bags and get to work. It feels much better to have a clean AND organized space, rather than an organized space that still feels dirty.
I recommend cleaning your bathroom weekly to ensure it remains free of unwanted bacteria and germs. Personally, Saturday mornings are when I try to get all my weekly chores done. If you get into a routine with your weekly cleaning efforts, you’ll never feel that it gets too difficult to tackle!
Labels, labels… and more LABELS.
I truly can’t say this enough — if you want to stay organized, invest in or make yourself some labels. By labeling different bins, cabinets and drawers, you are automatically less likely to put something in the wrong place. As i’ve mentioned in a previous blog posts, labeling also helps other members of your household or guests when trying to find various products or knowing where to return something once finished.
Clear storage bin vs. cloth or wooden storage bins.
Use clear bins for products/items you don’t care about guests seeing or that you may need to see for easy access. Use cloth or wooden bins for products you’d like to “hide.” Products I typically “hide” include: hair styling stools (really anything with a cord that can look messy), feminine hygiene products, medications, first aid supplies and excess oral hygiene products.
Put your most used products in the most accessible place.
If you use hairspray everyday, don’t store it in the back corner of your bathroom cabinet. I have a bin labeled “daily routine” where I keep products for my skincare and oral hygiene routine. This includes products such as toothpaste, floss, makeup remover, cleanser, serum and various moisturizers. Having a “daily routine” bin or basket also a great trick when you have children — that way, they can pull out the one bin they will need for either their morning or nightly routine without going through every drawer and creating a disaster.
Once every season, you should go through your products and medications to get rid of anything that is expired.
I guarantee if you go through everything in your bathroom today, you’ll already begin to de-clutter and organizing simply by letting go of those things that are expired. When you do this, you can also easily remove any bins you have and do a thorough wipe-down of the interior of your drawers and cabinets. This helps ensure that your bathroom stays clean and never gets too difficult to handle. After all, we don’t want our space to get back to the place we started!
Some great places to shop for bins, baskets and containers if you’re just embarking on your journey towards and organized living space are HomeGoods, Target, Walmart or even Dollar Tree/Dollar General.
Links to some of the products seen in these photos can be found by hovering over and clicking on the desired photo. Any other products that are not linked were purchased at HomeGoods (aka heaven).
Organization, once you’ve achieve what you desire, is such a rewarding process.
Trust yourself and don’t be afraid to experiment with unique ideas or solutions until you find what best suits you, your family/roommates and your living space. You’ve got this!
