Whether you have a tiny studio bathroom or a little more space, it's so easy to load up your countertops with too many cosmetics and bottles of soap. You might feel like it's useful to have everything in sight, but if your mornings are more stressful than serene right now, it's time to declutter and organize your bathroom countertops.
We have our own favorite methods for keeping cosmetics close by (but not too close), and we spoke to a couple of decluttering experts who also shared their insight on how to organize bathroom countertops for more style and function.
The countertop can really make or break your bathroom organization — you want something that is aesthetically pleasing to look at and leaves your daily products within arm's reach. At the same time, you don’t want to accidentally turn your bathroom into a fancy cosmetics museum. Even though that sounds like a good time.
How to style and organize bathroom countertops like a pro
From giving those "non-essential" essentials a real home with first-class organizing products to adding only the most minimal decorative accents, here’s what you need to know about decluttering and styling a bathroom countertop once and for all.
1. Start with a surface clear out
When it comes to organizing this spot, less is more. Especially if you share the bathroom space with roomies, siblings, or a partner.
First off, you want to declutter the surface as much as possible, to make it feel cleaner, this will also make it easier to maintain.
Ensure that everything that doesn't belong there (keys, money, phone, movie tickets, the dog's collar, you get the idea) is rehomed, and take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate where to put those items that you do need in your bathroom, just not on the countertops. Extra bars of soap, spare toothbrushes for friends, floss, and all the rest can get politely demoted. More on this next.
2. Rehome non-countertop essentials
For anything that falls into this category, it's time to get creative. Making space in the top drawer will help you rid your countertop of non-essential items and leave room for a more curated bathroom look overall. This will instantly make your bathroom countertop feel more open and airy.
"Clear out the top drawers and the medicine cabinet and leave those open for essential items," suggests Shawna Percival, founder of Styleberry Creative Interiors (opens in new tab). "Not that eyeshadow you use every other weekend, but the daily essentials. Rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t pack it to go on a trip, it likely isn’t essential!"
Once you’ve cleaned everything, try to keep your bathroom clutter-free. To maximize space, any accessories that you use on a day-to-day basis can be stored in trays under the sink, in your best bathroom vanity, or in drawers that will keep the room cleaner for longer.
If, however, you have a tiny bathroom and not even a cupboard, which is often the case in rentals, you're going to want to work vertically. Picking moveable tiered caddies that take up minimal floor space but that can carry volume. You'll also want to make THE best use of wall space.
3. Tidy up and decanter what you can
We love our cosmetics, but mascara and lipsticks rolling all up and around the bathroom sink isn't the one for early starts. If these are just as essential to you as your toothpaste, let them live there but be sure to give items a home. Cute caddies and trays will help keep your space looking styled while keeping everything accessible. If it's cotton balls and mouthwash that are ruining the vibe, decanter these products into recycled jars or invest in some cool, unbranded glass containers for an apothecary finish.
Mason jars are a super common way of storing makeup brushes and toothbrushes, too, but if you're struggling to keep yours upright, there are some workarounds. "A great tip here is to use white pearls, vase fillers, or even rice, in order to keep your brushes upright," says decluttering expert Kate Windleton. "Upcycled old flower pods could be a great addition to your organizing system, as they could be customized to your taste and aesthetic preferences."
Cosmetic carousels and lazy Susans are great options for counter space organizing and decorating as they keep all your essentials neat and tidy without being cramped or hard to reach. "Cosmetic carousel designs are endless or you could even try and DIY your own tiered tray from old plates and cocktail glasses," says Windleton.
Organizing your bathroom countertop will naturally help style the space, but that's not to say that you shouldn't pay attention to the finer details. The decorative pieces should be simple items, like a good reed diffuser or a small piece of art, says Windleton. In fact, think of your bathroom countertop as you would a hotel. Keep only the essentials with very sparse decor. "For your personal bathroom that most others don’t use, you can have a few more items on top if you’d like, but still try to keep it decluttered," she says.
What should I leave on my bathroom counter?
You can keep some lotions, perfumes, and a toothbrush holder on your countertop, but you should still try to keep most of your items in your cabinets and drawers, pulling them out only when needed.
Keep in mind that the bathroom countertop can also be a humid place most of the time, which makes it a nice spot for bacteria to party it up. Keeping your countertop sparse and airy makes it easy to clean up and disinfect the space on a regular basis.
That said, if you are keen on adding an extra dose of personality, a bathroom-friendly houseplant should do it or your favorite scented candle.
