When it comes to the bathroom, most of us desire a tranquil, peaceful space where we can retreat and refresh ourselves. Typically, we start and end our day at least in part, in our bathroom. Who wants to begin and end the day in a cluttered, disordered space? The time we will save and the peace we will feel from a functional and beautiful bathroom is well worth the effort of setting up and maintaining a system of order and organization.
3 Common Problem Areas in The Bathroom
Medicines
When is the last time you went through your medicine cabinet? Do you have medicines and first aid supplies stashed all over the house? Here are a few recommendations to get your medicine cabinet under control.
Gather up all medicine and first aid supplies from around the house.
Remove all expired medication. Contact your local pharmacy for safe disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Make a list of what you have and what you are lacking. Keep your "need to buy" list with you and stock up on medicines and first aid supplies as you are able.
Decide where you will store all of your medicine and first aid supplies. For most people, the bathroom is the logical storage spot. Just be sure it is easily accessible but safely out of the reach of children.
Choose an appropriate vessel to house all of the medicines and first aid. A plastic box with a child-proof lid is a good idea if you have kids. Stackable plastic storage drawers also make great containers for these supplies as you can organize things according to type of ailment or body part (ie, one drawer for cold & allergy meds, one drawer for vitamins and supplements, one drawer for bandaids and first aid, etc.). If it is helpful for you, keep a copy of your supply list in or near the storage vessel, so you always know what you have.
Towels
Is your bathroom cabinet overflowing with towels? Or do you find yourself without enough towels to meet your family's needs? Here are some tips to help you establish order in the linen cupboard.
Make sure you have enough towels to meet your family's needs. For each person in the home and for the number of guests you can accommodate you need: 2 bath towels, 2 washcloths and 1 hand towel. So, for a family of 4 who can occasionally house 2 guests you would need 12 bath towels, 12 washcloths, and 6 hand towels.
Make sure there is a place to hang towels to dry in the bathroom, preferably one hook or bar for each person who uses that bathroom. Hanging towels to dry between uses will cut down on laundry and prolong the life of your towels.
Assess your towels regularly. Are they getting tattered and dingy? It may be time to replace them. The "retired" towels can be used for dog washing, car washing or other cleaning projects around the home, garden & garage. Animal shelters will often take old towels as well.
Experiment with different folding or rolling techniques to find the one that fits the most towels in your space.
If your bathroom has limited or no linen storage, you may want to put extra towels in a basket nearby, or if needed you can store extras in plastic bins under a bed.
Consumables
Cosmetics, shampoos, body wash, lotions and hair products...consumables are the things that can really consume our limited bathroom space, leaving it at least visually cluttered, if not physically cluttered.
Decide which products are necessary and best for you and your lifestyle. Which items are important enough to be given valuable bathroom real estate?
Consider pairing down the number of products by opting for multipurpose products. For example, shampoo/conditioner in one, a very gentle soap that can be used on body and face, moisturizing foundation with added sunscreen, etc. Also, finding a product that multiple family members can share; ie, a "clean" smelling body wash (as opposed to spicy or floral) that guys and gals would both enjoy using.
Group like items together in baskets or bins for easy access and clean up. For example, a hair care basket containing brush, blow dryer, hair gel or spray, straightener and bobby pins can be easily tucked away in a cabinet or closet and taken out as needed.
To further reduce visual clutter, consider decanting the products you will keep out into pretty matching jars, containers or baskets.
Small Steps
If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter throughout your home, the bathroom can be a very manageable first step towards organization and functionality in your space. Just take it slow, think about how you can order your bathroom so that you are not serving it, but it is serving you and your family. One cabinet and drawer at a time you can cultivate beauty by bringing order out of the chaos that is the family bathroom.
ORGANIZATION RESOURCES FROM THE ART OF HOME
Free L.I.V.E. Organization Guide (downloadable PDF)
