Do you have ides? Pictures? What works?

We also have a linen closet which is behind the bathroom door where we stash other stuff. The vanity has a center stack of drawers which we can both reach from our sinks, and of course more storage under the sinks.

Now we have two separate vanities. We added outlets to them so dryers and electric shavers could stay plugged in but out of sight. Everything is stored inside the vanities except for decorative soap dispensers, folded hand towels, and a mirror on my side. We also have a matching built-in cabinet under the window for extra storage.

a)Decide on where and how you use the bathroom counter. Hair? Makeup? First Aid supplies? Bathroom supplies -- like towels or toilet paper?

b)Clear Clutter -- no amount of organization aids or skills will help until you literally take everything thing out of the drawers and cupboards. Sort it into workable piles -- like Face Makeup; Nails; Body; Hair; First Aid/Medicines. Be ruthless -- and throw out ANYTHING that does not work for you or is out of date.

c)Clean the cupboards and drawers.

d)Measure the cupboards and drawers. Lengths; Widths; Depth; Height. Its all important! Write it all down this is an area where exact measurements are crucial!! Use every inch wisely!! :)

e)Now head out to places like The Container Store. Take a tape measure and your own storage measurements.

e)Check out less expensive alternatives -- like discount stores.

f)If you put things into boxes or baskets -- don't forget to label them.

Just some thoughts -- hope these help out! :)

You see people wandering around those places muttering about what will or won't fit, and whether or not they might need three of these or one of those or wouldn't that work? Then after a pile of money is spent, the attempted solutions become part of the problem.

Smart you.

AnnieDeighnaugh: your vanity is beautiful. What a great space you have!!

Porkandham: that is what I was hoping to achieve without getting new vanities.

Teacats: love your tips. I have learned the hard way to sort first and then take an inventory of the containers that I need. I have containers sitting in my closets empty because I did not measure and they do not fit where I intended them to OR what I intended to put in them does not fit.

Lynne: you may be a bit OC but I still would love to see a picture of the inside of that cabinet. I do not like having the dryer, flat iron, water pic, charging toothbrush, electric shaver and makeup on my counter either. But, my current system is SO inconvenient that it is out more often that it is put away.

I am going to look for some pictures so I can show you what I was thinking about and get your advice. I wish I could have the beautiful well planned out vanities that you have but I can't re-do the bathrooms right now.

BRB (I hope!)

Toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrush, hairspray, make up are all in the medicine cabinet.

Hair dryer, pedicure stuff, etc are all in the drawers. I am AMAZED at how much space is in the drawers. And I went with 36" by 21" cabinets (3" shallower than a normal cabinet).

Drawers rule :)

;)

Sorry, I couldn't help it.... I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night.....

(Says she who had plenty of sleep last night and plenty of wine with dinner)

I have as little storage as anyone else and my bathroom counter has on it one liquid soap dispenser and that's all that's been there since we've lived in this home.
Hairdryers, brushes, toothbrushes- all the normal bathroom flotsam is stashed away when not in use. It's in a drawer, a cabinet, a closet- certainly not just left sitting out.
I use a brush and a hairdryer to dry my hair then I put it away.

And FWIW I've never stood in a bathroom to apply makeup- that is for sitting at a comfortable makeup table in way better lighting than my bathroom has to offer. It doesn't have to be fancy- my current makeup mirror is setup on a small table in a corner of my bedroom under a window- must have natural lighting, lol.
I have never understood why folks take up space in a bathroom doing stuff that could just as easily (and way more comfortably) be done somewhere else.

So yeah, habit.

My hairdryers and curling iron and flat iron are in a pretty basket that sits on the floor. I always keep two hairdryers (I will never be caught again with wet hair and a dryer that won't work). They just take up too much space in the drawers, I use them every day, so it is not a problem for me that they are "out-in-the-open" yet not taking up counter or drawer space.