Bathroom Organization 101
Looking to get organized but not sure where to start? The bathroom is our top recommendation for your first space to tackle. That’s because the inventory in here is typically less than that of other spaces in the home, and implementing a system in the bathroom can majorly transform your day-to-day routine. To get your bathroom organized, it’s as simple as implementing our 5-step method:
Remove all contents from the space
This step can feel like the most overwhelming, and that’s because it’s the part where you see every single thing that lives in a space at a glance. But taking it all out is really the best (and only) way to see everything you own so you can survey and make educated decisions on what to keep, where to keep it, and how to store it.
Categorize & sort
Once you’ve pulled everything out of your bathroom, you can begin to identify the larger categories that make up your bathroom’s inventory and sort through your items, grouping like-items together. This step will require you to create categories that are unique to your specific routine, but here are some general categories we often work with:
Face and skincare products
Hair care products
Oral care products
Medicines, vitamins, and supplements
Makeup
Travel products
Bath and shower products
Linens
First aid
Heat tools for hair
Shaving products
Feminine care products
Discard & donate
Check your expiration dates! It can be tempting to keep toiletries that have expired, but remember the reasons they have an expiration date in the first place. Not only does the quality of the product break down, but these kinds of products also collect bacteria over time that can cause breakouts on skin or other problems.
Add organizational systems
Structured acrylic or plastic is usually the default pick in bathrooms because it’s easy to wipe down and with a mostly liquid inventory, spills are going to happen! We also love utilizing clear containers in the bathroom because they make it easy to find anything at a moment’s notice. If you decide against micro-sorting or using smaller dividers within drawers/bins, but you still want a clean and refreshed look every time you step into the bathroom, consider using opaque containers to conceal items.
Here are my Jeneral Guidelines for category placement in the bathroom:
Under the sink
Small towels
Bath soaps
Face washes
Toilet paper
Stockpiled products
In shallow drawers
Toothpastes & toothbrushes
Cotton products
Shaving products
Makeup
Hair ties & accessories
In cabinets or on shelves
Linens & towels
Shampoos & conditioners
Medicines
Tall bottles & jars
Makeup bags
Lotions
Perfumes
In deep drawers
Hot hair tools
Toilet paper
Tall bottle & jars
Face washes
Bulky gadgets
Maintain
Once each item and category have a home in your bathroom, you will always know where to return them when done with use. When organizational systems are in place, it’s really hard not to maintain them, but it does require commitment, especially in an area that is so frequented. Remember, small daily habits make all the difference!
Here are our favorite products to use in the bathroom:
In cabinets or on shelves
Under the sink
In shallow drawers
In deep drawers
On the countertop
No matter how you decide to tackle your bathroom, what’s most important is that you choose systems that are going to work for your needs. It’s important to really think about how you operate in your bathroom as you zone, categorize, and select products.
For tips, tricks, product picks, and inspiration for home organization, make sure you grab your copy of Life in Jeneral if you haven’t yet and sign up for the LIJ Book Club! There’s a 70 page workbook with exercises to help you work through your emotional barriers and goals in relation to organizing, and of course, step-by-step guidance to do the work. For even more support and encouragement, follow along with the book club on our Instagram, too!