30 Creative Bathroom Organizing Ideas for Instant Decluttering

Bathrooms are high-traffic zones, inevitably accumulating clutter from everyday items like skincare, paper products, and styling tools.

This makes organization seem challenging.

However, look closer and you’ll find untapped storage potential.

We’ve compiled the best ideas to help you utilize these hidden spaces effectively.

Add Shelving Above the Toilet

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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.

Use Your Linen Closet for Overflow

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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.”

Use a Rolling Cart

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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.”

Keep On-Display Items Tidy

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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.”

Keep Like With Like in Drawer Organizers

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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.”

Use Baskets

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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.”

Use Tiered Organizers for Under Sink Storage

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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.”

Keep a Hamper for Clothes and Towels

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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.”

Use a Lazy Susan

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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.”

Utilize the Inside of Cabinet Doors for Storage

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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.”

Coordinate Bottles to Cut Down on Clutter

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Showers and tub surrounds are often cluttered with multiple shampoos and soap bottles.

One way to encourage a minimal approach to bath products is to coordinate your bottles.

Transfer your shampoo and other products into a matching set of bottles.

You’ll be so caught up keeping your bottles looking photo-ready that you’ll be less tempted to buy any unnecessary products.

Add a Tiered Organizer

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Any bathroom with a little extra floor space could benefit from the addition of a tiered organizer.

Some people use small rolling carts, which have the added benefit of being easily mobile to move supplies to where you need them.

Stock the top levels with items you use regularly, and store infrequently used items, such as extra toilet paper, on the bottom.

Plus, a smaller tiered tray would work well for storage on the bathroom counter.

Attach Everyday Makeup to the Wall

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Think about the items you reach for every day when you get ready in the bathroom.

If you do your makeup there, consider attaching some removable storage containers directly to the wall.

You can either make a custom caddy or purchase ready-made organizers for this purpose.

Just be aware that some stick-on organizers can damage the wall underneath, so you might be better off drilling a few small holes for a cleaner patch job if you ever want to remove the organizer.

Stack Toilet Paper in a Basket

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One of the most obvious places to keep extra toilet paper is on the back of the toilet.

But that can give off a rather cluttered and unappealing look. So there are several ways to make this storage spot more attractive.

For instance, simply find a basket that fits the top of your toilet, and stack a couple of rows of toilet paper inside and out of sight.

Use a Freestanding Cabinet for Linens

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If you have a bathroom with enough floor space, consider adding a freestanding piece of furniture, such as a decorative cabinet, for additional storage.

This extra furniture can be a brand new or custom-built piece.

Or you can also repurpose an old sideboard, armoire, or dresser to suit your needs.

Use Clear Bins to Organize Under the Sink

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To maximize the space under the sink, acquire some clear plastic storage bins in varying sizes to organize products into categories.

Label each bin with categories, such as skin care, hair care, dental care, and more.

If you don’t have shelves under your sink, find bins that are stackable or purchase a unit with drawers. 

Make sure everyone using the bins adheres to their labeled purposes to maintain organization.

Divide Vanity Drawers Into Sections

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Don’t allow your bathroom vanity drawers to look like junk drawers.

Instead, purchase drawer dividers and group like items together to make the drawers functional and appealing storage spaces.

The drawer you see here stores items that are used every day, and any excess products are stored under the sink.

Remember, no two drawers will look alike.

Curate your vanity drawers with commonly used products that make sense for your household.

Create Places for Dirty and Clean Towels

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Bathrooms are easier to keep clean and organized when there’s a spot for everything.

If possible, designate a small spot for a hamper, so clothes and wet towels don’t end up in a pile on the floor.

To save space, you can roll some clean towels and store them on top of the hamper. 

Just be sure to keep them neat for a spa-like appearance.

Use a Lazy Susan in a Bathroom Cabinet

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A turntable or a lazy Susan works well for storing lots of small products that you want to remain accessible.

Instead of needing to reach over something to get to an item in the back of a cabinet, you can simply turn the lazy Susan.

If you have multiple types of items to store, consider adding more than one turntable if space allows.

Lean a Ladder for Towel Storage

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One of the most straightforward ways to hang towels in a bathroom is to add some hooks or a towel bar to the wall.

However, many designers also incorporate ladders into modern bathrooms for hanging towel storage that maximizes vertical space.

Plus, you can hang hooks and baskets from a ladder to store washcloths and other toiletries.

Store Items on a Cabinet Door

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After you put everything away under the sink, chances are there is still some wasted space on the back of the cabinet doors.

To take advantage of this space, attach clear bins to the doors in which you can store items you use often.

Label each bin, and add dates to items that have an expiration. That way, you’ll know where everything is, and nothing will go to waste.

Designate a Spot for a Hair Dryer

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Not every bathroom needs storage for several hair tools.

However, most bathrooms will contain at least one hair dryer that you’ll have to keep somewhere.

And that can be easier said than done, as hair dryers are generally an odd shape.

So this bathroom organizing idea uses an over-the-door rack that is designed to fit wider items, including hair tools.

The best part is you don’t need to drill any holes to hang it.

Organize Bath Toys in Waterproof Bins

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If you have young children, they likely have some bath toys that need storing when not in use.

Niches in the wall are a great spot to store such toys in a small plastic bin. But if you don’t have a niche, you also can hang a small bin from strong suction cups in or near the bath.

Plus, you can hang an extra shower curtain tension rod along the back wall of the tub and add hooks to that from which you can hang toy bins.

Keep Stylish Items on a Tray

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Want to add some personality to your bathroom?

Decorate a bathroom countertop with a stylish tray that holds some of your most-loved and visually appealing items.

These should be items that you like looking at and that you also reach for often.

Some products to consider include perfume, makeup brushes, jewelry, and hand lotion.

Create a Shower Caddy With Suction Cups

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This bathroom organizing idea is easy and inexpensive.

Fix strong suction cups or adhesive hooks to the shower surround. Once they’re secured, hang lightweight baskets in which to store bath products.

Make sure you test the strength of the hooks before you load up the baskets with lots of extra weight. 

Hook packaging often will list a weight limit.

Use Pretty Baskets for Exposed Storage

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Clear storage bins are ideal for storage under your kitchen sink and in bathroom closets, but if you want some storage containers outside the cupboards, consider upgrading to a stylish choice like woven baskets.

Not only is the color and texture more aesthetically appealing, but this option also hides vibrant, multi-colored bottles and baskets, making your bathroom look neat and tidy.

Divide Your Drawers

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It can be tempting to stuff your deep cabinet drawers with bathroom supplies, but this is far from practical.

Resist the urge to layer your oversized drawers with hair styling tools and medicine bottles.

Instead, use plastic storage bins or drawer dividers to categorize your items and create a home for each item.

Allow for some excess space, so it’s easier to locate items when you need them.

Use Matching Storage Containers

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A simple trick to keep your bathroom storage looking neat and tidy is to make sure your storage containers match.

The containers doesn’t have to match exactly, but stick with the same style (like wire baskets) and colors (like neutrals in black, white, and brown) for a uniform look.

If you’re not confident in your decorating or organizing skills, you can also choose identical storage baskets and jars.

Avoid Storing Items on Your Countertop

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If you’re going to store items on your bathroom or vanity counter, make sure you are selective with the items you display.

Ideally, limit these items to aesthetically pleasing products with minimal color to create a clean look.

The bathroom tray trick will also help you limit the number of items you keep on the counter and provide a practical, yet pretty, place to put them when not in use.

Consider a Ladder Shelf

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If your bathroom lacks counter and storage space, consider adding an attractive storage solution like a ladder shelf.

You can create an eye-catching display using practical items like Q-tips and makeup wipes by swapping their original packaging for stylish containers as well.

Store Folded Towels Vertically

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If you’ve toppled over a stack of towels one too many times, consider a different storage solution.

Keeping spare towels vertically stacked in a drawer will not only prevent them from getting knocked over, but it will be much simpler to grab the towel you want without disrupting the others.

Eliminate Clutter

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Choosing the right storage solution is an important step in creating an organized bathroom.

However, it’s also just as important to get rid of clutter. Take some time to sort through your bathroom products and other belongings and get rid of anything you don’t use.

Resist the urge to fill shelf and drawer space to avoid overcrowding.