A bathroom should be like your personal spa, space where you are renewed. Keeping the decor simple with neutral colors will add to that sense of relaxation.
Small bathrooms are all about practicality: ventilation, illumination and storage take center stage. Adding some luxury accessories such as decorative glass jars to store cotton balls and ear swabs or your perfumes in a tray will make that room feel extra special. You can also create your decor by having statement pieces in your functional items such as the mirror, lamps, sink faucets and other bathroom hardware.
A guest bathroom, on the other hand, is the perfect space to try a bold wallpaper or a more bold decor.
Where to Start
- Less is definitely more when we’re talking about bathroom design. We want the space to feel clean and uncluttered. Having enough storage with cabinet doors or drawers and leaving the countertop with only the essentials will do the trick.
- Ventilation is crucial, install a ceiling vent and dry your towels outside if you don’t have any windows.
- Illumination is very important in a bathroom. Install soft white led lights in the ceiling and illuminate the vanity with two wall-mounted sconces on both sides of the mirror at eye level.
- Changing the water and waste pipes is very challenging and expensive, so be sure to place them the right way from the start.
Things to Declutter in Your Bathroom
- Hair products: shampoos, conditioners, hair repair masks, etc.
- Hairbrushes and accessories: headbands, hair ties and clips.
- Beauty appliances: hair blow dryers and curlers.
- Cosmetics and skincare products: go through your cosmetics at least once a year and get rid of dried mascara, eye shadows and lipsticks that you don’t like, expired creams, face masks and makeup that you don’t plan on using. Also, makeup brushes should be regularly cleaned.
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 months.
- Extra contact lens cases and empty medicine bottles: these “just in case” items only cause clutter in our bathrooms.
- Donate all bath products: bath salts, bubbles and oils if you don’t have a bath, just a shower.
- Loofahs, sponges and pumice stones: should be changed at least once a year.
- Donate the free cream and perfume samples that you haven’t used in a year.
- The toilet bowl brush should be replaced every 6 months at least.
- Gift sets: we tend to give and receive gift sets with body wash, a lotion and body splash. They’re beautifully packaged, they make a great gift, but if you already like the items that you’re currently using and you’re not interested in trying another aroma, then give them to someone who will enjoy them.
- Nail polish: dispose of the ones that have dried up, and donate the colors that you don’t love.
- Kids’ bath toys: time to give away those that your kids have outgrown.
- Nail grooming items: nail polish remover, cuticle remover, nail clippers, nail files and hand creams.
- Hair removal and shaving products: brushes, razors, creams, gels and waxing products.
- Perfumes you no longer like or use.
- Cosmetic bags: keep the ones that you use when going away on a weekend vacation and donate the rest.
- Dental products: mouthwashes, floss, water pick, etc. should be stored together and changed periodically.
- Towels and washcloths: you should have beautiful towels that are thick and plush and that dry really well. They should also be in perfect shape because they are one of the first things that you use in the morning. You can have a set of extra towels, but get rid of those that are too worn out, or use them for cleaning the floors.
- Shower curtains: these are really inexpensive decor accessories that you can easily change and give a fresh new look to your bathroom. If you have a glass door, keep the cleaning products nearby so that you avoid the soap buildup.
- Medicines: store them someplace dry, inside a plastic box or a small basket and out of the reach of children. Check them quarterly and get rid of those that have expired. First aid supplies should be kept together also in a separate box.
- Cleaning products: keep those that you use on a regular basis to clean your shower and your bathroom, and get rid of the rest.
- Decor items: donate tchotchkes and items that are making your space feel cluttered. Instead, go for a clean, simple look.
How to Design and Organize Your Bathroom
- Plan your bathroom layout if you’re starting from scratch. Put all of your fixtures (toilet, sink and shower) in one wall so that you’ll have enough room for dressing and for storage.
- Under the sink is a great space for storing cleaning products and extra toilet paper. Depending on your bathroom size, you may be able to have one large countertop with drawers and cabinet doors below your sink.
- You can also buy acrylic pull-out drawers that will fit in that space and store extra beauty products in there.
- Items should be sorted according to their use and stored together, for example hair care products, makeup, cosmetics and dental products should go in their own separate space.
- Put acrylic dividers inside your cosmetic drawer to keep everything organized.
- Create recessed shelving in your bathroom, that way you can have a small mirror door flush with the wall and hidden shelving inside for medicines and grooming items.
- Recessed shelving is also great in your shower because it allows you to place your shampoos.
- Adding an over-the-toilet shelving is a great way to add storage space to a small bathroom. You can have small baskets for different grooming items. Those storage units come in every imaginable finish, ready to fit your decor.
- Hang a hand towel hanger near your sink.
- For convenience and saving on counter space, add wall mounted hair dryers and electric shavers.
- Medicines should be stored together and regularly checked to see if they have expired. They should be kept in a dry space out of the reach of children, so if you don’t have an upper cabinet in your bathroom and you have small children, it’s best if you keep them in a plastic container on a top shelf in your closet.
- Vinyl shoe pouches come in very handy if you’re lacking under counter storage. You can organize your brushes, hair accessories, etc. You can then hang the pouch in a hook.
- Keep your kids’ bath toys in a mesh bag with a drawstring. You can then hang them from the shower head.
- Keep your cleaning products nearby, a bathroom requires regular cleaning.
Maintenance Tips
- Have a weekly system of cleaning the whole bathroom, including the toilet, countertop and tiles.
- Keep a squeegee in the shower to avoid soap buildup.
- Give your sink a quick rinse and wipe every evening.
- Take out the trash often.
- Use liquid soap instead of bar soap and soap dishes.
- Don’t throw clothes on the floor, keep your hamper accessible.
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