Reorganizing Our Bathroom Storage

My suggestion would be to use wallpaper or wrapping paper to cover the insides of the doors with a pretty pattern. Then you will be able to worry more about function on the inside rather than also making it look nice.
.-= HereWeGoAJen´s last blog ..Pictures of a Cute Baby =-.

My suggestion would be to use wallpaper or wrapping paper to cover the insides of the doors with a pretty pattern. Then you will be able to worry more about function on the inside rather than also making it look nice.
.-= HereWeGoAJen´s last blog ..Pictures of a Cute Baby =-.

My first thought when reading this was that you need to separate your stuff from your daughters’ stuff. That is just too many different things in one big container. If that is not possible, may you can find some smaller containers to use inside the bigger containers to hold things. Kind of like the silverware dividers in the kitchen.

My first thought when reading this was that you need to separate your stuff from your daughters’ stuff. That is just too many different things in one big container. If that is not possible, may you can find some smaller containers to use inside the bigger containers to hold things. Kind of like the silverware dividers in the kitchen.

Hi.

I second the notion on having a separate container for each person’s stuff so you’re not having to paw through each others stuff to find your own.

Secondly, when it comes to tall narrow stuff toppling over, consider the silverware basket you see in the new dishwashers. Not necessarily suggesting you use one, but instead consider how they’re made. They have divided sections that are tall and narrow like the stuff they contain. Some have specialty dividers (lids with slots) that the silverware goes into, a single item per slot.

The stuff you are trying to contain is generally tall and narrow–bottles of this and that, toothbrushes, hair brushes, etc. There are a few things that are short and fat, like bars of soap or spare shower poufs or that shaving mirror.

Another concept to consider is the narrow pantry cabinet–the one that you pull straight out of the cabinet bank and is only one or two cans wide, accessible from either side of the pulled-out unit.

Not saying either is necessarily your perfect solution–but tall skinny stuff needs a container suited to it, and the shoeboxes/photo boxes you’ve got there are not intended for this stuff.

shris

Hi.

I second the notion on having a separate container for each person’s stuff so you’re not having to paw through each others stuff to find your own.

Secondly, when it comes to tall narrow stuff toppling over, consider the silverware basket you see in the new dishwashers. Not necessarily suggesting you use one, but instead consider how they’re made. They have divided sections that are tall and narrow like the stuff they contain. Some have specialty dividers (lids with slots) that the silverware goes into, a single item per slot.

The stuff you are trying to contain is generally tall and narrow–bottles of this and that, toothbrushes, hair brushes, etc. There are a few things that are short and fat, like bars of soap or spare shower poufs or that shaving mirror.

Another concept to consider is the narrow pantry cabinet–the one that you pull straight out of the cabinet bank and is only one or two cans wide, accessible from either side of the pulled-out unit.

Not saying either is necessarily your perfect solution–but tall skinny stuff needs a container suited to it, and the shoeboxes/photo boxes you’ve got there are not intended for this stuff.

shris

Throw it all away and go for the all natural look! (just kidding) Just wanted to make you laugh.

Seriously, though…is there anything you can minimize and get rid of? I’m always amazed at how much stuff I have that I don’t use.
.-= Jill Foley´s last blog ..#142 – Let The Waters Rise =-.

Throw it all away and go for the all natural look! (just kidding) Just wanted to make you laugh.

Seriously, though…is there anything you can minimize and get rid of? I’m always amazed at how much stuff I have that I don’t use.
.-= Jill Foley´s last blog ..#142 – Let The Waters Rise =-.

I keep a few items that we use everyday (toothbrushes, hairbrush, deodorant, lotion) on the counter by the sink where we use them. Then Hubby and I each have a small drawer for our personal things (hair stuff, shaving stuff). The rest goes in the medicine cabinet or big baskets like yours under the sink.

I agree with the comments about having separate containers for each person’s items. Maybe you could use hooks to hang a small basket for each person on the wall next to the sink or inside your wardrobe to use the vertical space. They could hold the little every day things and easily be taken down to use and then put back. You could use dividers or jars in the baskets to organize the items. As a kid I loved using pretty jam jars to hold “treasure” (jewelery, lip gloss, hair things). This way you could find your little everyday things and use your wardrobe for bigger/extra things.

I keep a few items that we use everyday (toothbrushes, hairbrush, deodorant, lotion) on the counter by the sink where we use them. Then Hubby and I each have a small drawer for our personal things (hair stuff, shaving stuff). The rest goes in the medicine cabinet or big baskets like yours under the sink.

I agree with the comments about having separate containers for each person’s items. Maybe you could use hooks to hang a small basket for each person on the wall next to the sink or inside your wardrobe to use the vertical space. They could hold the little every day things and easily be taken down to use and then put back. You could use dividers or jars in the baskets to organize the items. As a kid I loved using pretty jam jars to hold “treasure” (jewelery, lip gloss, hair things). This way you could find your little everyday things and use your wardrobe for bigger/extra things.

I also agree with everyone having their own box….I’d also suggest that the boxes be clear so that you can see what is in the box without having to pull it out.

I also agree with everyone having their own box….I’d also suggest that the boxes be clear so that you can see what is in the box without having to pull it out.

Hi Mandi! Here are my thoughts…

1) Purge!! I did this recently and it felt so good! There were half used bottles of stuff that I hadn’t used in ages. It was nice to get rid of it. I also had brand new bottles of stuff that I got free somewhere or just knew I wasn’t going to use. I gave it all way through freecycle.org to someone who could use it.

2) I agree with separating your kiddos’ stuff from yours

Other than that, I am at a loss. We have the exact same set up as you do almost. Deep shelves with the wire racks in the back to elevate stuff from the things in front. It drives me nuts but I haven’t come up with anything else in the meantime. So I will look forward to what you do and other tips your readers have!

Hi Mandi! Here are my thoughts…

1) Purge!! I did this recently and it felt so good! There were half used bottles of stuff that I hadn’t used in ages. It was nice to get rid of it. I also had brand new bottles of stuff that I got free somewhere or just knew I wasn’t going to use. I gave it all way through freecycle.org to someone who could use it.

2) I agree with separating your kiddos’ stuff from yours

Other than that, I am at a loss. We have the exact same set up as you do almost. Deep shelves with the wire racks in the back to elevate stuff from the things in front. It drives me nuts but I haven’t come up with anything else in the meantime. So I will look forward to what you do and other tips your readers have!

How I survive storing bathroom items:

1. Toss More Stuff: Consolidate first-aid stuff in one place. Toss all the extra packaging. Toss expired stuff. Toss half-used lotions and potions. Toss. Toss. Toss.

2. Stash “Bulk” Stuff: Stocked up on TP, toothpaste, and hair gel for the year? Then keep all the goods in one place, not necessarily in the bathroom or personal bins. Hubby’s hair gel is in the same place as the toothpaste and soap for the rest of us. He can “shop” our shelf in the hallway to when he runs out of gel.

3. Use Less Stuff: Quit as much of the stuff as you can. Simplify what you use. Fewer lotions, cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers, hair accessories. It’s the only way I can keep it together.
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

How I survive storing bathroom items:

1. Toss More Stuff: Consolidate first-aid stuff in one place. Toss all the extra packaging. Toss expired stuff. Toss half-used lotions and potions. Toss. Toss. Toss.

2. Stash “Bulk” Stuff: Stocked up on TP, toothpaste, and hair gel for the year? Then keep all the goods in one place, not necessarily in the bathroom or personal bins. Hubby’s hair gel is in the same place as the toothpaste and soap for the rest of us. He can “shop” our shelf in the hallway to when he runs out of gel.

3. Use Less Stuff: Quit as much of the stuff as you can. Simplify what you use. Fewer lotions, cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers, hair accessories. It’s the only way I can keep it together.
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

Can I add another thing?

Or toiletries have changed immensely since learning more about personal care products and their ingredients. There’s a great introduction at Simple Organic: http://simpleorganic.net/beauty-is-more-than-skin-deep-choosing-safer-personal-care-products/.

We swapped quantity for quality about a year ago, and I don’t miss any of this: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4351365681_8ccd542900.jpg. (From L to R: “safe products”, “okay to finish up and then don’t buy again”, and “icky icky so bad for you… must toss now”.)
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

Can I add another thing?

Or toiletries have changed immensely since learning more about personal care products and their ingredients. There’s a great introduction at Simple Organic: http://simpleorganic.net/beauty-is-more-than-skin-deep-choosing-safer-personal-care-products/.

We swapped quantity for quality about a year ago, and I don’t miss any of this: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4351365681_8ccd542900.jpg. (From L to R: “safe products”, “okay to finish up and then don’t buy again”, and “icky icky so bad for you… must toss now”.)
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

Buy more shelves. They sell the brackets at home depot or lowes and will cut MDF to size. If it doesn’t match then you could edge them with ribbon. We used to have an extra deep closet that we used for this purpose and I bought sterlite containers(the plasitc ones with little round holes) and filled them with each item, the ones we didn’t need to access as much were in the back and the everyday ones were in the front. It worked well that way.

Now that we are in the new house I still use them they just aren’t double ot triple deep.
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/194487/view/1957595/-1.html

Buy more shelves. They sell the brackets at home depot or lowes and will cut MDF to size. If it doesn’t match then you could edge them with ribbon. We used to have an extra deep closet that we used for this purpose and I bought sterlite containers(the plasitc ones with little round holes) and filled them with each item, the ones we didn’t need to access as much were in the back and the everyday ones were in the front. It worked well that way.

Now that we are in the new house I still use them they just aren’t double ot triple deep.
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/194487/view/1957595/-1.html

1. i would add one more shelf in there and move your kids’ stuff to that.

2. everybody gets a box or a basket for their stuff and no more than that.

3. toss/gift/recycle/donate

4. simplify the stuff you have left.

5. paint that frosted glass!

1. i would add one more shelf in there and move your kids’ stuff to that.

2. everybody gets a box or a basket for their stuff and no more than that.

3. toss/gift/recycle/donate

4. simplify the stuff you have left.

5. paint that frosted glass!

I recently bought a clear Kaboodle make-up organizer (not a carrying case; but meant to go on top of a dreser). It has tall sections to keep stuff held up. It works perfect for my makeup and hair accessories. They come in all shapes and sizes. Here is one on amazon (mine is not nearly as big- who has that many lipsticks?!?!) http://www.amazon.com/Caboodles-Crystal-Clear-Acrylic-Storage/dp/B000FEDHNS/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1266009044&sr=8-18
.-= Rachel Lyons´s last blog ..A Modren Girls Guide to Bible Study…. =-.

I recently bought a clear Kaboodle make-up organizer (not a carrying case; but meant to go on top of a dreser). It has tall sections to keep stuff held up. It works perfect for my makeup and hair accessories. They come in all shapes and sizes. Here is one on amazon (mine is not nearly as big- who has that many lipsticks?!?!) http://www.amazon.com/Caboodles-Crystal-Clear-Acrylic-Storage/dp/B000FEDHNS/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1266009044&sr=8-18
.-= Rachel Lyons´s last blog ..A Modren Girls Guide to Bible Study…. =-.

I got mine at Target ($14); it’s called the “Caboodle Cosmetic Cutie Organizer” They have it and more online.
.-= Rachel Lyons´s last blog ..A Modren Girls Guide to Bible Study…. =-.

I got mine at Target ($14); it’s called the “Caboodle Cosmetic Cutie Organizer” They have it and more online.
.-= Rachel Lyons´s last blog ..A Modren Girls Guide to Bible Study…. =-.

Ooh… This is great info!
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

Ooh… This is great info!
.-= amandaginn´s last blog ..Feb. 12: I love… =-.

I can’t see any labels. Where are they?

I can’t see any labels. Where are they?

With super deep spaces I would go with something that pulls out…you could get plastic drawers or the slide out cabniet hardware/shelves.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cabinetUndersinkStorage/drawersPullOutTrays?productId=10014873

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cabinetUndersinkStorage/drawersPullOutTrays?productId=10017302

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/drawerOrganizers/modular?productId=10012698

good luck! take some after pics for all of us!

With super deep spaces I would go with something that pulls out…you could get plastic drawers or the slide out cabniet hardware/shelves.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cabinetUndersinkStorage/drawersPullOutTrays?productId=10014873

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cabinetUndersinkStorage/drawersPullOutTrays?productId=10017302

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/drawerOrganizers/modular?productId=10012698

good luck! take some after pics for all of us!

a favorite scrapbooker of mine just posted something similar, ck out her blog http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/ I believe the organizing entry is below the valentines post.

a favorite scrapbooker of mine just posted something similar, ck out her blog http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/ I believe the organizing entry is below the valentines post.

I love the look and ease of having clear plastic drawers (obviously small enough to fit each shelf) – maybe one set of three drawers per person. That helps to divide different items not just by person who uses them, but also by category (e.g. hair stuff in one drawer, toothbrush/ paste and floss in another drawer. You could have a separate set of drawers or more for generic items such as medical supplies. I know it isn’t all that pretty, but like others have said, you could then wallpaper the inside of the frosted glass, or give it a coat of paint.

Looking forward to seeing what you do…
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Activities for 18 months + =-.

I love the look and ease of having clear plastic drawers (obviously small enough to fit each shelf) – maybe one set of three drawers per person. That helps to divide different items not just by person who uses them, but also by category (e.g. hair stuff in one drawer, toothbrush/ paste and floss in another drawer. You could have a separate set of drawers or more for generic items such as medical supplies. I know it isn’t all that pretty, but like others have said, you could then wallpaper the inside of the frosted glass, or give it a coat of paint.

Looking forward to seeing what you do…
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Activities for 18 months + =-.

I have a small vanity unit in a small bathroom so space has to be made good use of: when we installed the new bathroom I put EVERYTHING into washing baskets and only transferred items back to the newly finished bathroom as they were needed in that first week. Surprisingly few items were needed! Then of the remaining items I worked out what would be needed (there is such thing as special occasion makeup for instance) and therefore kept, and what wasn’t needed or shouldn’t be kept, including out of date products. The bathroom has only two drawers plus some undersink storage, so the items I kept were then put into bathroom bags, my favourite were the sort that open right out with little fold out flaps and pockets and a hook to hang over the shower door, they were perfect for every need. One stores makeup, one stores nail polishes and files etc etc. These sit side by side neatly under the vanity or in a drawer. Last time I went away I just pulled out the relevant packs and threw them in the suitcase without the usual search for different items so it’s worked well for me.

I have a small vanity unit in a small bathroom so space has to be made good use of: when we installed the new bathroom I put EVERYTHING into washing baskets and only transferred items back to the newly finished bathroom as they were needed in that first week. Surprisingly few items were needed! Then of the remaining items I worked out what would be needed (there is such thing as special occasion makeup for instance) and therefore kept, and what wasn’t needed or shouldn’t be kept, including out of date products. The bathroom has only two drawers plus some undersink storage, so the items I kept were then put into bathroom bags, my favourite were the sort that open right out with little fold out flaps and pockets and a hook to hang over the shower door, they were perfect for every need. One stores makeup, one stores nail polishes and files etc etc. These sit side by side neatly under the vanity or in a drawer. Last time I went away I just pulled out the relevant packs and threw them in the suitcase without the usual search for different items so it’s worked well for me.

You’ve gotten some great suggestions! My greatest source of frustration is organizing and containing all the little bottles and product containers that seem so necessary. I am getting better at limiting the amount of them I purchase and having less definitely helps!
.-= Tracey´s last blog ..Proud to Wear His Ring =-.

You’ve gotten some great suggestions! My greatest source of frustration is organizing and containing all the little bottles and product containers that seem so necessary. I am getting better at limiting the amount of them I purchase and having less definitely helps!
.-= Tracey´s last blog ..Proud to Wear His Ring =-.

I think you have too much stuff in your box. I’d take out anything that belongs to your children and put it in a separate box.
.-= debbie bailey´s last blog ..Review of The Shack =-.

I think you have too much stuff in your box. I’d take out anything that belongs to your children and put it in a separate box.
.-= debbie bailey´s last blog ..Review of The Shack =-.

Great tips from everyone! I’d add to use plastic container, whatever type you choose: I love those Ikea boxes (I have the same ones on my office’s open shelves) but cardboard is not the best choice for a bathroom: it’s a wet room, there are liquid products in those boxes that can leak, etc. I like Becky Higgins’s drawers in the post that Peggy suggested: see-through, plastic, still looking good through the glass doors… Can’t wait to see what solution you come up with!

Great tips from everyone! I’d add to use plastic container, whatever type you choose: I love those Ikea boxes (I have the same ones on my office’s open shelves) but cardboard is not the best choice for a bathroom: it’s a wet room, there are liquid products in those boxes that can leak, etc. I like Becky Higgins’s drawers in the post that Peggy suggested: see-through, plastic, still looking good through the glass doors… Can’t wait to see what solution you come up with!

Ikea has some great inexpensive pull out drawers. I mounted some in my linen closet and they have totally solved the problem of the deep closet shelves.

Ikea has some great inexpensive pull out drawers. I mounted some in my linen closet and they have totally solved the problem of the deep closet shelves.

My husband and I use a clear door-hanging shoe organizer on the back of our bathroom door. It isn’t the most attractive thing in the world, but it is the only thing I have found that allows us to keep the surfaces uncluttered. We tried your method with the boxes for a while and I felt like we were constantly opening the cabinet doors and there is not much room in our bathroom to begin with.

My husband and I use a clear door-hanging shoe organizer on the back of our bathroom door. It isn’t the most attractive thing in the world, but it is the only thing I have found that allows us to keep the surfaces uncluttered. We tried your method with the boxes for a while and I felt like we were constantly opening the cabinet doors and there is not much room in our bathroom to begin with.

nice job. just be careful of cardboard boxes in a bathroom. they tend to pick up dampness from the room. check frequently for mildewing and mold.

nice job. just be careful of cardboard boxes in a bathroom. they tend to pick up dampness from the room. check frequently for mildewing and mold.

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