A cluttered, disorganized bathroom can be a source of daily frustration. With limited space and numerous toiletries and accessories to store, keeping your bathroom tidy can seem like an impossible task – especially if you’re on a tight budget. Thankfully, with some clever planning and DIY solutions, you can organize your bathroom in affordable ways. Follow these tips to create a functional, clutter-free oasis in your home.
Evaluate Your Storage Needs
The first step is taking stock of everything you need to store in your bathroom. Make a list of all your toiletries, medications, towels, accessories and other essentials. This will give you an idea of how much and what type of storage you need. Consider the following:
- How many people use the bathroom and need access to supplies? This will impact how much storage space you require.
- Do you have small children who need access to specific items? If so, low open shelving or baskets may work better than high cabinets.
- What items do you use daily vs. occasionally? Frequently used toiletries can be stored in prime real estate like under the sink or in a medicine cabinet, while rarely used items can go in higher cabinets or behind cabinet doors.
- Are there items you can purge? Be ruthless about getting rid of old products and medications you don’t use to free up space.
Once you know what you need to store, you can start evaluating the existing storage options in your bathroom. Determine what’s currently working well and what needs to change.
Organize Under the Sink
For many bathrooms, the space under the sink is prime real estate. Use it wisely by adding organizers to corral all your toiletries. Here are some inexpensive ways to optimize this area:
- Tiered organizers: Plastic or wire shelf risers instantly double your storage space. They can be stacked to create multiple tiers for everything from cleaning products to extra toilet paper.
- Over-the-door shoe organizers: Hang these fabric organizers over the cabinet door to create vertical storage slots for small bottles, hair care accessories and more.
- Custom dividers: Use removable adhesive strips to create custom size compartments for everything from makeup to first aid kits. Flexible options like rubbermaid or acrylic dividers make it easy to customize your layout.
- Lazy susans: Install a lazy susan in a cabinet corner to optimize space. The spinning design makes items accessible.
- Baskets: Affordable woven baskets are ideal for containing items like hair dryers, curling irons and bathroom cleaning supplies. Labelling them makes it easy to organize and find what you need.
By maximizing vertical storage with organizers, you can free up shelf space under the sink for larger items like cleaning buckets.
Make Use of Wall Space
Most bathroom walls offer unused space that can be leveraged for storage. Take advantage with these solutions:
- Wall-mounted cabinets: Even a small medicine cabinet provides concealed storage for medications, first aid supplies and personal care items. For more space, wall cabinets with doors are relatively affordable and can be installed at any height.
- Floating shelves: Install floating shelves above the toilet or next to the shower for decorative storage baskets. Use them for rolled towels, toilet paper, candles or small decorative items.
- Over the toilet organizers: These tall, narrow units are specifically designed to fit over most toilets. The vertical storage is perfect for extra towels or toilet paper.
- Wall-mounted multi-tier organizers: Adhesive or removable wall units with shelves and hooks offer affordable extra storage space. Use them to store toiletries, accessories or bath linens.
Don’t forget about the back of doors too. Add over-the-door hooks or hanging organizers for robes, towels and other frequently used items.
Repurpose Household Items
With some creativity, you can repurpose common household items to create custom bathroom storage and organizers. Avoid buying specialized containers – instead reuse what you already have:
- Plastic food storage containers are water-resistant and come in many sizes. They can corrall everything from cotton balls and q-tips to makeup and first aid supplies.
- Mugs, jars, cups and other drinkware make great toothbrush or makeup brush holders.
- Empty tissue boxes can hold rolled towels or toilet paper rolls.
- Baby wipe containers are ideal for storing cotton pads and balls.
- Old spice racks mounted to the wall create instant shelves for toiletries.
- Cutlery organizers or utensil caddies placed in drawers neatly separate grooming tools like tweezers and nail clippers.
Think about the size and dimensions of everyday items you already own. With ingenious repurposing, you can maximize your existing storage opportunities.
Utilize Drawers
Drawers are often an underutilized storage option. Maximize vertical space by designating drawers for specific items:
- Top drawers: The most accessible drawers are best for everyday items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, daily medications and deodorant.
- Middle drawers: Use for extras like backup soap, shampoo, disposable razors and feminine products.
- Bottom drawers: Less-used items like curling irons, hair dryers, and first aid kits can be stored here.
- Cutlery organizers: Slot these into drawers to neatly separate grooming tools, makeup brushes, and small toiletries.
For maximum space, look for organizers designed specifically to optimize drawer storage with compartments and dividers. Labelling the exterior of your drawers helps everyone put items back in their designated spot.
Creative Towel Storage
One of the biggest bathroom clutter culprits is awkward towel storage. Avoid a messy pile-up with one of these space-saving solutions:
- Install two to three towel bars at staggered heights to double hanging space. For a sleek look, choose bars in the same finish.
- Tension corner rods convert wasted corner space into vertical towel storage.
- Retractable drying lines mount to walls or ceilings. When not in use, they store out of sight.
- Over-the-door towel racks utilize the back of doors to hang damp towels. Choose a size that fits your door space.
- Freestanding towel ladders occupy minimal floor space while providing designated drying rods for wet towels.
- Fold towels vertically instead of horizontally and stack them neatly in cabinets, open shelves or baskets.
With a little creativity, you can ensure every family member has a designated spot for damp towels.
Take Advantage of “Dead Space”
That awkward space between wall studs or behind pipes is prime real estate for slender storage options like:
- Tension poles with adjustable width and height can be positioned between studs for shelves or storage caddies.
- Narrow rolling carts tucked into tight spaces provide a movable storage surface for toiletries and cleaning supplies.
- Slender shelving units, like adjustable wall-mounted étagères, can be sized to fit around pipes or wall protrusions.
- Slim hanging wall cabinets, removable wall hooks and floating shelves make use of vertical wall space between studs.
With a little planning, you can take advantage of the dead spaces often overlooked in bathrooms. Even a few extra inches can provide needed storage.
Keep It Organized
Now that you’ve created organized bathroom storage zones, a little maintenance will help keep the space clutter-free:
- Make a point to put items back into their designated storage spots after each use. Don’t let clutter accumulate on counters.
- Periodically purge expired products, empty bottles and other unnecessary items.
- For family members who forget to put items away (we’re all guilty!), attach reminders or labels indicating where things belong.
- If needed, limit each family member’s products to one designated bin or drawer to prevent sprawl.
- For items used less frequently or by guests, tuck them out of the way into lower cabinets or closets.
A few minutes of daily tidying up goes a long way toward maintaining your newfound bathroom organization!
Bathroom Organization on a Budget
With just a little creativity, it’s easy to organize your bathroom without blowing your budget. Here are some affordable tips:
- Use dollar store bins and baskets: Sturdy plastic bins and woven baskets from the dollar store are ideal for organizing under the sink or in cabinets. Avoid spending more on bathroom-specific containers.
- Try movable multi-tier carts: These wheeled carts with shelves offer flexible, movable storage perfect between studs or next to the vanity. Look for inexpensive folding options.
- Repurpose jars, bottles and food containers: Turn a pickle jar into a cotton swab holder or reuse baby food pouches for travel-size toiletries – no need to buy coordinating containers.
- Make your own organizers: Simple DIY solutions like fabric shower caddies, towel ladders or wall shelves from repurposed wood can add storage for almost nothing.
- Buy adjustable options: Tension poles, caddies and rods that can be configured to your unique space allow you to customize on a budget.
- Seek out discounts: Check dollar stores, discount retailers and online sellers for low-cost organizers. Look for sales or use coupons when purchasing pricier storage solutions.
With a little resourcefulness, you can create a Pinterest-worthy organized bathroom without overspending. Focus your budget on versatile storage solutions that maximize what you already have available.
FAQs About Organizing Your Bathroom on a Budget
What are some easy ways to organize a small bathroom?
Some easy organization ideas for small bathrooms include a tension corner pole for towels, over-the-door storage, floating wall shelves, removable adhesive hooks for accessories, and drawer dividers for toiletries. Look for narrow, vertical storage options that optimize tight spaces.
Where is the best place to put extra toilet paper?
Toilet paper packs can be tucked into a cabinet, on shelving in an over-the-toilet organizer, or in a simple wall-mounted stand. For a decorative look, use an ornamental wall-mounted vase or crock. Just make sure it’s within arm’s reach of the toilet.
How can I organize my bathroom on a budget?
Affordable ways to organize your bathroom include using dollar store bins and baskets for cabinets and under the sink, repurposing food containers for DIY organizers, buying inexpensive tension rods and poles for extra storage, and looking for secondhand or discounted organizers at yard sales, thrift stores and discount retailers.
What are some creative ways to store towels in a small bathroom?
Try corner tension rods, over-the-door towel racks, freestanding towel ladders, wall-mounted drying racks, rolling towel carts or simply folding towels vertically and stowing them in cabinets or baskets. Stagger multiple towel bars at different heights for more hanging room.
How do I organize a tiny bathroom with no storage?
Make the most of vertical wall space with floating shelves, wall-mounted corner cabinets or tall narrow shelving units. Install hooks on the walls or back of the door for hanging bathrobes, towels or pouches. Consider removable storage options like over-the-toilet shelving or movable carts.
Final Thoughts on Organizing Your Bathroom affordably
Creating an organized bathroom doesn’t require an expensive remodel or fancy custom built-ins. With some clever problem solving and low-cost DIY solutions, it’s simple to maximize your storage, even in the tightest spaces. Identify unused areas primed for new shelving units or hanging racks. Repurpose common household items for custom organizers. Take advantage of vertical space and movable storage. Focus on decluttering and maintaining tidiness. With just a little time and creativity, you can enjoy a clutter-free, stress-free bath – on any budget.
