Maintaining clear bathroom countertops can feel challenging. With skincare products, toothbrushes, and various items, it's easy to accumulate clutter.
This becomes even trickier in shared bathrooms. If your countertops are overflowing, it's time for a decluttering session.
Clearing your counters while organizing your bathroom will transform it into a calming space you look forward to using.
Strategies for a Clutter-Free Bathroom Countertop
Simply tossing everything isn't the solution. Here's what pros suggest for keeping your bathroom clutter-free.
1. Limit Items on Your Countertops
This might sound easier than it is. Start by identifying what can't go in drawers or storage. Janelle Azar, a professional organizer and owner of A Meaningful Space, suggests keeping items like lotion, contact solution, and face wash handy. Focus on products that require vertical storage.
Consider a thorough Marie Kondo-style decluttering to retain only what a professional organizer keeps on their counters. Carrie Ypma, from Clutter Keeper, recommends displaying only the items you need and truly love. Be strict about what you deem essential, keeping only daily necessities visible.
2. Use Vanity Trays to Organize
Vanity trays available at Anthropologie effectively keep counters tidy. Azar notes that trays help organize items while adding visual appeal.
Trays are also more attractive than traditional storage options, making it less likely for items to topple over. They catch spills from your products, simplifying cleanup. Avoid wooden trays unless they're specifically designed for bathroom use.
Pro Tip: If space is limited, Azar suggests a two-tier vanity tray from Wayfair. A cakestand can also serve as a stylish storage solution.
Owner of A Meaningful Space, Janelle specializes in organizing services tailored for families.
3. Employ Drawer Organizers
Drawers can be your best allies in the bathroom, keeping items hidden. However, large drawers often result in a jumble of smaller items. Carrie Ypma recommends using drawer organizers to keep these items contained, ensuring your counters stay clear.
There are numerous drawer organizers available on Amazon and at The Container Store. Choose various sizes to group similar items together.
4. Utilize Vertical Space
Free wall space in your bathroom presents an opportunity to clear counters. Janelle Azar suggests installing shelves, hooks, or wall-mounted organizers to maintain easy access to items while keeping surfaces clutter-free.
Consider options that don't require drilling, like leaning shelf units. If renovating, built-in shelves are a sleek and unobtrusive choice.
5. Store Medications Elsewhere
It's common to keep medications on bathroom countertops, but this isn't ideal due to humidity. This can negatively affect the efficacy of your medications. Instead, find a cool, dry spot, like a bedroom or living room cabinet, to store them safely. Consider investing in a secure lockable medication storage box.
Carrie is a professional organizer and founder of Clutter Keeper.
FAQs
How do you organize a cluttered vanity?
If you're ready for a bathroom decluttering, Janelle Azar recommends the following:
- Start fresh by clearing everything off the vanity. Only return essential items. Discard expired products or those you don't use.
- Identify your Most Valuable Products (MVPs). Keep daily essentials front and center.
- Regularly swap out items. Apply the 'one in, one out' principle. Schedule seasonal maintenance to keep the area neat.
How can you declutter without tossing everything?
Feeling like you've already minimized? You can still refine your countertop. Janelle suggests a seasonal method: keep only what you currently use. Designate a backstock area for excess items in another part of your bathroom or closet, simplifying access while maximizing space.
For small bathrooms, utilize under-sink storage. Acrylic stacking containers on Amazon can help keep non-essential items organized.
Pro tip: Date your products to avoid using expired skincare and makeup. Use a permanent marker to note the purchase date on items.
Implementing these pro tips will help maintain clear bathroom countertops. Regularly reassess your space to keep clutter at bay.
