Is your bathroom a big mess? Can’t find what you need when you need it? Then use this list of items as a guide to what you should absolutely store in your bathroom, and what items you should move elsewhere.
Store These Items
Some items are just made for the bathroom. Maybe you only use them in this room—like toothbrushes or shampoo—or maybe it just makes sense to store them in here. Even if you occasionally dry your hair in your bedroom, keeping your hairdryer in the bathroom with your other hair tools and hair products is logical.
Toiletries: Keep items like toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, facial moisturizers, face wash, eye cream, contact, and contact solution. Store these as close to the sink as possible, and store extra supplies under the sink if you have room. Toiletries can become bathroom clutter, so keep them to a minimum. Towels: Store face cloths and hand towels in a drawer to keep them close at hand and so they don’t topple over. Store bath towels in your linen closet. Either way, keep towels close at hand. If you have guests coming over, consider moving them to a more prominent spot so guests won’t have to wonder where the towels are. Shower supplies: Keep razors, shaving cream, body wash, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and anything else you use in the shower or tub stored close at hand. Use a tall shower caddy since it uses vertical space so well. Hairdryer, curler, flat iron: Your hair styling products like a hairdryer, flat iron, and curling iron are traditionally stored in the bathroom where they are used. If you can hang them, they will be easier to reach, but many people don’t want to actually see their hair styling tools out in the open all the time. Keep yours in a drawer if you have one handy. Many people hang them on the inside of the cabinet door under the sink. Whatever you do, make sure to separate them out so you are not hunting for them among toiletries. The cords can easily create a big mess. Toilet paper: If you have space under your sink, store extra rolls there. If you have room for a basket on the floor, keep them there. There is nothing worse than having to hunt down more toilet paper when you really need it. First aid kit: Make sure you store this in a place that someone can find it easily if directed. A good tip is to store it in a bottom drawer so you can yell “bottom drawer on the right.” The bottom is ideal since it won’t crowd out the stuff you use every day in your top drawer.
Potential for Storage
Unfortunately, unlimited bathroom space isn’t a real thing. If you lack a linen closet, it might make sense for you to store your extra bedsheets in the bathroom near your towels. For that reason, items in this category are going to be individualized based on your lifestyle and home space.
Jewelry: You might keep a small tray next to the sink where you put your everyday jewelry like your watch and earrings. Special-occasion makeup: You may be able to keep all of your makeup in one spot, but some people have larger collections. If this is the case, you don’t want your special-occasion makeup crowding out the basics you use every day. Linens: If you don’t have a linen closet, store your bedding and linens on a bathroom shelf. Papers and reading material: If you must store reading materials in the bathroom next to the bathtub or worse, next to the toilet, then contain them. A pile of magazines and books spilling across the floor really adds to the clutter and uncleanliness of a bathroom. Try a wall magazine rack or a small basket.
Do Not Store
Evaluating what should and shouldn’t be stored in your bathroom does more than just reduce clutter. Since bathrooms tend to get steamy, take care not to store (even for a little while) items that can easily be damaged by heat or humidity.
Medications: Consider moving your medication to the kitchen. When you take a pill, you usually take it in the kitchen because that’s where the water glasses are. Secondly, humidity and heat are bad for most meds. Move your medications to a small bin in the kitchen or on a shelf in a kitchen cabinet.Non-waterproof electronic equipment: If you like to listen to the news while you take a shower, invest in a waterproof radio or speaker to stream music or podcasts. Don’t bring your smartphone into the bathroom to charge on the sink while you shower.Paperwork, mail, bills: Paper gets warped in humidity and when wet.
The Bottom Line
With these storage ideas for your bathroom, you’ll know just where to find all of your go-to products, supplies, toiletries, and linens. The tidier space can not only make your mornings more efficient but also make your routine more relaxing and enjoyable. Don’t forget to return items to their proper place after using them to stay organized.
