15 Bathroom Organization Ideas

Bathroom modern with brown and black accents — Photo:
Suleyman Ozkan / GETTY IMAGES

Your bathroom is likely one of the most frequently used rooms in your home, which means the space can quickly become unruly. From makeup items and paper products to skin care bottles and hot tools, bathrooms are home to many everyday essentials, making them difficult to organize. But when you take a closer look, you'll find there are many underutilized areas of your bathroom waiting to be put to use. To help, we're sharing the best bathroom organization ideas that will ensure you're making the most of your space.

Anna Bauer, organizing expert and owner of Sorted & Co.
Meredith Goforth, professional organizer and founder of House of Prim
Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing

01 of 15

Add Shelving Above the Toilet

shelving for towels and soap — Kostikova / GETTY IMAGES

If you're short on storage space, consider adding a shelving unit above the toilet. You can use this space for storing extra products or items you don’t use on a day-to-day basis, says Meredith Goforth, professional organizer and founder of House of Prim. Over-toilet shelving is also a good place for extra towels if you do not have a linen closet near your bathroom.

02 of 15

Use Your Linen Closet for Overflow

Linen closet for bathroom overflow — brizmaker / GETTY IMAGES

If you have a linen closet, make sure you're maximizing its storage potential to save room in your bathroom for necessities. "For extra supplies you plan to use, but only on occasion, it’s smart to store them separately from your daily routine items, perhaps in a nearby linen closet," says Goforth. "Keeping these products separate allows for you to focus on your ‘go-to’ products on a day-to-day basis."

03 of 15

Use a Rolling Cart

rolling cart in bathroom — didecs / GETTY IMAGES

A rolling cart will help you keep every day items right where you need them. "I often recommend having a rolling cart in the bathroom if it fits with your routine," says Goforth. "For example, if you often do your make up in different locations, a mobile solution, such as a rolling cart, would be ideal."

04 of 15

Keep On-Display Items Tidy

tidy display items — OksanaKiian / GETTY IMAGES

For items like cotton swabs and toothpicks that you prefer to keep on your sink, remove them from their bulky containers and store them vertically instead. "My favorite pretty bathroom containers are small metal planters or metal candle holders," says Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing. They are often large enough to hold essentials vertically, and you can find pretty things in your style and colors."

05 of 15

Keep Like With Like in Drawer Organizers

Sink drawer organizers — brizmaker / GETTY IMAGES

Keep like with like by storing your bathroom necessities in drawer organizers. "I highly recommend drawer organizers for optimizing your bathroom drawer, specifically for make-up and skin care products," says Goforth. "Aside from the sleek and clean aesthetic of clear containers, being able to see all your cosmetics at a glance helps you breeze through your makeup application and ensures you never miss a step."

06 of 15

Use Baskets

baskets for shelf in bathroom — brizmaker / GETTY IMAGES

If you have open shelving in your bathroom, conceal your items in attractive baskets. "Baskets are great for organizing groups of things, creating a cohesive color scheme or style, and hiding messy things in plain sight while making them look calm and cohesive," says DeMorrow. "You can bring a space together and make it look really organized by using bins or baskets that are the same shape, size, and color."

07 of 15

Use Tiered Organizers for Under Sink Storage

The area under your sink can get messy fast—avoid this by using tiered sliding organizer drawers for neatly storing your items. "Buy the right size to fit in your space, measuring around the plumbing bits," says DeMorrow. "Don’t overload them—assign each drawer a job. In my case, one drawer contains nail polish, while the taller, open drawer on top holds cleaning supplies."

08 of 15

Keep a Hamper for Clothes and Towels

Hamper in bathroom — Oleksandr Shcherban / GETTY IMAGES

If your bathroom frequently builds up with dirty clothes and towels, then consider investing in a small hamper for the space. "Hooks and hampers are a must in or near a bathroom," says DeMorrow. "If you only have the floor, then that’s what you and your family members use."

09 of 15

Use a Lazy Susan

Lazy susan on shelf — Liliia Bila / GETTY IMAGES

Lazy Susans aren't just for the kitchen. "Lazy Susans with high walls can be great for holding medicines and other small bottles that you need to access everyday," says DeMorrow. "A large-diameter lazy Susan on a shelf can help to utilize a deeper shelf better. Things don’t get lost in the back when a flick of the wrist rotates them to the front."

10 of 15

Utilize the Inside of Cabinet Doors for Storage

bathroom cabinet — Derin-Photography / GETTY IMAGES

There are many areas in your bathroom with untapped storage potential, such as the inside of cabinet doors. "When thinking about maximizing space, be it your bathroom or kitchen, taking advantage of hanging space and getting creative is key," says Anna Bauer, organizing expert and owner of Sorted & Co. "We love placing command strips to hang hair tools or adhesive bins to place hair ties and brushes."

11 of 15

Use the Back of Your Bathroom Door

Robe hanging on bathroom door — Fancy/Veer/Corbis / GETTY IMAGES

Just as you'd do in a clothes closet, the back of your bathroom door is a great area for storing everyday essentials. "If you are short on storage space, one space that is often under-utilized is the back of a bathroom door," says Goforth. "I love how easily accessible and highly visible (yet out of the way) this location is. This is a great solution to storing skincare products, makeup, and other accessories that you use daily."

12 of 15

Hang a Shower Caddy

If the soaps and conditioners in your shower don't have a home, consider using caddies that hang off the shower head or a shower curtain with pockets to categorize your items, says Bauer.

13 of 15

Install a Medicine Cabinet

One of the best storage opportunities in a bathroom is a medicine cabinet, which is ideal for holding makeup, skin care items, medicine, and other daily essentials. "If you don’t have a medicine cabinet but have a good amount of toiletry items, it may be a good idea to add one to ensure you’re maximizing your space," says Bauer.

14 of 15

Use Catch-All Trays

Tray in bathroom for candle and accessories — Liudmila Chernetska / GETTY IMAGES

Catch-all trays offer an aesthetically pleasing way to keep items neat and tidy. "Use jewelry dishes to hold pieces you regularly take off to shower, mini bins to hold hair ties and bobby pins, and recycle used candles to hold your makeup brushes," says Bauer.

15 of 15

Decant Soap Bottles

Rather than taking up space with almost empty shampoo bottles, decant them into attractive containers. "Decanting can help remove bulk as lots of packaging can take up valuable space," says Bauer.

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