You’ve tossed everything you don’t use. You got rid of the expired sunscreen, the fake potted plant gathering dust, the stray cotton swabs at the bottom of the cabinet. But if decluttering were just about throwing stuff out, we wouldn’t find ourselves here time and time again. 

Today, we’re discussing more permanent strategies for bathroom decluttering. Whether you’re looking forward to bathroom remodeling or ringing in the new year with a big purge, keep reading. We’ve got storage, design, and other concepts that keep even the tiniest bathrooms tidier. 

Tidy tip: Tossing out the towel bar. 

A standard towel bar holds approximately two towels. Doubling up on bars is one strategy for shared spaces where towels end up on the floor. However, in other cases, a lineup of hooks or an over-bar shelf is more suitable for towels, robes, and other linens that pile up in the corner. 

The rack of hooks is better for sharing a bathroom with one or more individuals who aren’t so tidy. The over-bar shelf offers direct access to a few more clean towels–an underrated convenience when you’ve just stepped out of the shower.

Advanced solution: A linen closet. 

For when the hall closet just isn’t cutting it. Even smaller bathrooms can host a standing linen tower of its very own. A custom cabinet-closet can store linens, paper products, and other backstock without encroaching on vanity storage. 

Bonus points if you have it crafted to coordinate with your bathroom vanity.

Remodel idea: Work open shelving into the overall design. 

People install open or floating shelves for a little extra space, and tire of them after a year or three. Some feel they end up looking messy, but the real issue is that we don’t ensure they truly belong to the room. 

Coordinate built-in shelving to cabinetry, combining the easy access of open shelving with the permanence of a medicine cabinet. Give it a bigger job, and watch as it remains useful and aesthetically desirable. 

Advanced solution: Take niches wall to wall. 

Recessed shower niches are a safer, high-style way to store products and declutter bathroom floors and tubs. Despite what you may see poring over thousands of shower inspiration images, there is no rule stating that they need to be a tidy little tiled box. 

If soaps, shampoos, and oils are dominating your space, think outside of that box. Stretch built-ins along the length of the wall instead.

Customize this: Every square inch of vanity space.

Semi-custom and custom organization solutions can help. Drawers with folding trays and tiers, pull-outs in previously unoccupied places, handy little compartments, and more keep clutter at bay. 

Advanced solution: Higher counter, vessel sink.  

Low-set sinks are cutting into your storage space. Get a vanity slightly greater in height, and choose a vessel sink that won’t take up as much under-counter space. This can double bathroom vanity storage without taking up an extra inch of precious floor space. 

The Designery is the professional solution for everyday problems.

Every constantly cluttered bathroom has the same problem: it’s not built to support your routines and lifestyle. Don’t keep making sacrifices when help is available. 

The Designery is your local remodeling specialist. We offer professional design expertise, thorough planning, and a showroom full of materials and products you won’t find anywhere else in town. We also craft custom storage, cabinetry, hardware, and more for a seamless fit.

“The designer really listened to my storage needs and aesthetic preferences, then created a custom solution that maximized every inch of space and incorporated all my feedback.”

–Clint, Designery client

Clean up your bathroom once and for all with us. Your initial consultation is free. 

 

Bathroom decluttering FAQ

How do you declutter your bathroom?

The best way to begin decluttering a bathroom is to remove everything that isn’t a permanent fixture, from towels and toiletries to wall hangings and décor. Sort it into what is staying and going. 

From there, devise a new organizational scheme for what’s going back in. This could include drawer customization, new cabinetry, towel racks, and other storage solutions.

 

What should you not do when decluttering?

The two biggest mistakes people make when decluttering their bathrooms are:

    1. Buying storage accessories before they’ve purged items.

    2. Making “maybe” piles. Unlike our wardrobes, it’s much more obvious what isn’t worth keeping in the bathroom. 

 

What are the four C’s of decluttering?

The four C’s of bathroom decluttering likely refers to Kelly’s Core 4 principle: Clear out, Categorize, Cut out, and Contain. This is where you remove everything and sort it into piles by what it is or where it usually goes. Then, pare down the collection and find new storage methods or accessories for each group.

 

What’s the most overlooked feature in bathroom remodels?

Ventilation, lighting, and storage. If remodeling an older bathroom, the ventilation most likely needs to be upgraded, not just replaced. Layered lighting is something designers push for, but the average homeowner doesn’t think of. 

A never-ending lack of storage can actually be a sign that it’s time for a bathroom remodel.