Bathroom organization is constrained storage — small spaces with a lot of daily-use items that all need to be accessible.
01Under-sink cabinet
The under-sink cabinet in most bathrooms is organized once and never revisited. Add a second tier with a shelf riser or a tension-mounted shelf. Use bins to group categories: cleaning products together, extra toiletries together, hair tools together. Mount a small tension rod under the sink to hang spray bottles — it frees up shelf space and makes the bottles accessible.
02Vanity drawers
Group by use frequency: items used daily in the top drawer and easiest to access, items used weekly in the second, infrequently used items in the back of the bottom drawer. Drawer organizer inserts prevent the inevitable slide-to-the-back problem that makes everything in the back of a drawer invisible.
03Medicine cabinet and open shelving
Medicine cabinets work best when they hold only what's used regularly — daily medications, toothpaste, frequently used skincare. Move infrequently used items to under-sink storage. Open shelves above the toilet are accessible for items used less than daily: backup toiletries, hand towels, small baskets of supplies.
04Shower and tub
Shower caddies that hang over the showerhead restrict water pressure and collect mildew in the pan. Corner shelves adhered or tension-mounted to the shower walls are more stable and easier to clean. Group products by person if multiple people use the same shower. Reduce product count — a shower with 15 products is not organized regardless of how they're arranged.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.