16 tips for decluttering a bathroom – how to create a mess-free self-care sanctuary and keep it that way

When thinking of decluttering your home, the bathroom might not be the first area that comes to mind as it is often a relatively small room with not that much storage. But that’s not to say that decluttering the bathroom should be skipped on – on the contrary, just like any other room, the bathroom, too, needs a deep clean and a decluttering every once in a while.

You’d be surprised how much you can get rid of or store more efficiently once you get organising those bathroom shelves and cabinets, whether it’s throwing out expired toiletries or investing in more effective bathroom storage ideas as recommended by professional organisers.

Tips for decluttering a bathroom

The bathroom is a place for self-care and pampering – so the space should reflect that with tidy, uncluttered surfaces and a soothing, relaxing atmosphere that will make you want to spend time there. And regularly decluttering the area will certainly help with that.

1. Work in sections

Just like when decluttering a bedroom or any other area of your home, it’s best to break the task down into smaller chunks so that the chore is filled with little wins along the way. And that way you (hopefully) won’t get overwhelmed.

‘The trick to beating overwhelm is to break whatever it is that you’re struggling with down into smaller chunks,’ says Siân Pelleschi, founder of Sorted! and APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers) president. ‘So for instance, rather than look at the bathroom as a whole, break it into smaller areas: the sink, the bath/shower, the store/airing cupboard, the toilet. Then only focus on one of those areas at a time.’

She adds, ‘If you’re feeling really overwhelmed by it all, focus on the quick wins, the spaces that don’t take long but give you a sense of achievement and make you feel like you’ve accomplished something.’

Siân Pelleschi

Siân Pelleschi is the owner of Sorted!, a Cheshire-based home and office decluttering and organising service, and the current President of APDO - the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers. With Sorted!, she aims to take away the stress and hassle that everyday life can sometimes bring, both in your home and working environment.

2. Put in-use items to one side and remove towels

Before you get stuck into decluttering the bathroom, it’s best to clear the area of the regularly in-use items and set them aside, as well as remove any of your best bath towels to prevent them getting dirty.

‘An easy first step is to clear items which are still in use out of the way, such as shampoo bottles and shower gel,’ says Mark Simpson, director at Extra Room Self Storage. ‘Keep items to one side which you will put back when you are finished. Place towels out of the room whilst you declutter so they don’t become covered in any unsettled dust, this way they can stay fresh for putting back when you are done.’

3. Maximise storage

One of the best bathroom cleaning hacks is having plenty of storage to contain your toiletries, towels, cleaning products, spare toilet rolls and more. And there are several clever ways to employ extra storage in your bathroom.

‘Storage is the secret to any clean looking bathroom. Even if you are struggling for space, there are very efficient solutions you can find to help keep clutter out of the way. Mirror cabinets are handy ways to get two uses from one item, you have a mirror which will make your room appear bigger and it has the benefit of having ample storage for small items to keep out of the way,’ Mark advises.

He continues, ‘Have a set place for items like cosmetics, toilet rolls and shower/bath gels, having slim fitting cabinets in your bathroom can store a surprising amount in a small and compact space. This keeps from taking up too much room in your bathroom, whilst still keeping loose items stored out of the way.’

4. Opt for alternative towel storage

While it’s best to store everything close to where you use it, in some bathrooms, there’s often not enough space for towel storage. So a great small bathroom idea is to either store towels in another room or hang them on hooks on the back of your bathroom door.

‘If you are stuck for space for cabinets to store towels, install a hook on the back of your bathroom door to hang a towel here for efficient space-saving. If you have very limited space in your bathroom, you could store towels in a set cupboard in one of your bedrooms to save space where it is needed,’ Mark suggests.

5. Add shower shelves

Do you remember those regularly in-use items you set aside at the start of the bathroom declutter? A lot of those items tend to come from the shower, things like your shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. And to avoid them looking like they clutter your space, it’s best to add some sleek shower storage ideas like shelves if you don’t already have some in place. These are also a great storage solution for renters as you can get shower shelves that require no drilling and can be removed once you move out.

‘Amazon and similar retailers sell easy to install shower shelves, letting you keep shower items easy to store and close to access,’ Mark recommends.

6. Empty all the bathroom cabinets

We're all guilty of having a bathroom drawer packed with years-old stuff, so the first step is to see exactly what you're currently storing in your bathroom. Empty every cabinet, drawer and other clever storage solution and sort it and sort into piles of keep, donate and bin.

'A clutter-free bathroom allows for head space and a tranquil vibe – both conducive to rest and rejuvenation,' says Natalie Bird, brand marketing manager at Roca. 'Maximise your bathroom storage by having a good declutter, empty bathroom cabinets, drawers and shelving and spend a little time sorting out the contents.'

7. Get rid of old and out of date toiletries

When deciding what to keep and get rid of, the easiest items to get rid of in a bathroom are out-of-date toiletries. Most toiletries will have either a use-by date or a number on the side of the bottle indicating the timeframe it should be used within after opening.

'Get rid of anything old, outdated and unused – either by giving to family, friends or charity shops or by chucking items away,' says Natalie Bird at Roca. 'You should be left with the essentials as well as your favourite lotions, potions and showering or bathing must-haves.'

8. Divide items into categories

One thing that professional organisers around the world agree on is the importance of categorising your items before putting them away. This allows you to see if you have too many of the same item and plan the storage more effectively.

Look at the items you have left in your keep pile and, if you haven't already, divide them into categories depending on how you use your bathroom. If it is a family bathroom where everyone needs their own space, do this by person. Or if everyone shares the products divide it down by product type, eg. everyday items, bath products, skincare, hair care.

Once you can see how many products you have in each category, you can decide how much storage space to allocate to each, and whether you need to cut down on the number of some items even further.

9. Hide cleaning products out of sight

A vanity unit is a good place to keep bathroom cleaning supplies hidden out of sight for a sleek bathroom look, but if you're fighting for storage space, consider if there is another cupboard at home that you can move them to.

10. Invest in a bathroom vanity unit

After the actual act of decluttering a bathroom, the next step is to invest in a storage solution that will allow you to maintain it. Making an investment in a bathroom vanity unit is a good way to increase your storage potential.

'Bathroom storage can often be overlooked as the bath or shower usually takes centre stage,' says Phil Etherden, managing director at The Albion Bath Co. 'Storage is incredibly important and is worth serious consideration. A beautiful vanity unit can make your basin a focal point, as well as providing the much-needed storage for cleaning materials and lotions and potions.'

Alternatively, if you're working with small bathroom ideas a slimline trolley storage on casters or a mirror cabinet is an easy way to keep daily essentials handy.

11. Make use of an alcove

Make the existing space work for you. A key part of decluttering a bathroom is identifying areas of your bathroom that could be working harder to store some of your belongings.

A small alcove may seem like an awkward space but with a bit of creativity, you can turn the space into a handy shelving area. Measure the space and cut some shelving to fit, for bespoke storage space for holding towels or it could become a space for a few decorative items.

If you've got a couple of old crates kicking about in the shed, dust them off and secure them to the wall for some vintage-style shelving, perfect for holding loo rolls, towels and other essentials.

12. Put items away based on frequency of use

Once you have the bare bones of your storage in place, it is time to create a storage system that is easy to maintain. Similar to how to organise kitchen cabinets, this should be based on how often you use certain items.

Frequently used items should be stored in locations with easy touch access, such as near the sink or shower. While lesser-used items can be stored on higher (or lower) shelves, just remember to keep products grouped together.

The only exception to this is products you have multiples off, for example, extra toothpaste tubes can be kept in a general 'supplies' section ready to be swapped in when something runs out.

However, if you find your items don't fit comfortably within the space you have, it might be a sign to further cut down on.

13. Invest in storage baskets and boxes

If you have open shelving or are working with large shelves in a vanity unit, baskets and boxes will also help keep things such as towels or skincare products orderly and contained. However, make sure you check the measurements before buying anything as they'll need to be small enough to fit on a shelf but big enough to store things in.

'Small boxes are brilliant for containing products for a sleek minimalist look,' says Ideal Home's Deputy Digital Editor, Rebecca Knight. 'I picked up a set of small grey baskets from Wilko to store products in my own bathroom on a high open shelf. Not only do they look good, but I find they're easier to lift down to look through what I have.'

Laura Haddy, founder of Clear the Chaos and APDO member, adds, 'Clear acrylic organisers are perfect for makeup and small toiletries. They allow you to see items at a glance and keep everything in place - and are quick to keep clean.'

And if you have a family or live with several other people, organising your toiletries into containers or baskets labelled each labelled with one of your co-habitants' name is the perfect way to stay organised. 'Sorting in either family members or by products into your containers works brilliantly in a bathroom. Pick the system that works best for your household. Then dependant on who or what you need you grab that container, use what you need then simply pop it back into its storage space once you’ve used it,' says Sally Walford, founder of Declutter Me and APDO member.

14. Add in decorative storage for everyday items

Items you use every day are often the culprit for creating the impression of a cluttered bathroom. The best way to avoid this is to consider investing in strategically placed decorative bowls or boxes for hiding way items such as dental floss, nail files and toothbrushes.

'Store toothbrushes in a pot rather than keeping them on the side of the basin,' says Karl Huckerby, cleaning expert at Spare and Square. 'This not only ensures your toothbrushes are kept away from potential germs, but helps your bathroom look tidier.'

15. Use a pegboard for easy access storage

No matter how much space you have, it's always possible to add extra storage. Utilising the walls with a pegboard and hooks will give you a handy place to hang things like towels, flannels or sponges that need to be quick to grab.

16. Keep the spare loo roll out of sight

Nothing will ruin the effect of a beautiful bathroom quite like a stack of spare loo rolls stacked in the corner. Find space to store a couple of rolls in the vanity, an old crate you might have, or invest in a discreet loo roll holder.

FAQs

How long should it take to declutter a bathroom?

How long it will take you to declutter your bathroom largely depends on the size of your space and amount of clutter. But it certainly shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

‘I get asked this all the time and, unfortunately, there’s no set answer,’ says Siân Pelleschi, founder of Sorted! and APDO president. ‘It depends on how big the bathroom is and how much stuff there is to go through. If you’re doing a big room with lots, expect it to be a number of hours, if it’s only small, I’d be surprised if it took you two hours.’

Mark Simpson, director at Extra Room Self Storage, adds, ‘Bathrooms should be a quicker exercise than some other rooms as, if you are regularly cleaning and disposing of waste, you should tend to accumulate less that would need decluttering. A few hours at best is all you should need.’

Where do I start decluttering when I feel overwhelmed? 

Taking things slowly is a good idea if it all feels overwhelming. 'Always start small! Start with one drawer or even the shelf in the shower,' says Jacqueline McLeod, APDO's communications director and founder of Bancrofts Organisation Services.

'You don't have to tackle it all in one day. It's easy to say "I'll aim to sort the whole room in a day", but it can be easier to break it down into smaller tasks based on category or zone. This really helps to consider the space and gives you the opportunity to enhance it and really create a room that aids your wellbeing.'

What should you not throw out when decluttering? 

It can be tempting to want to chuck everything out and start afresh, but while this might be a quick solution, it can be a real waste. 'If you have items that are in perfectly good condition, but you no longer want or need them, consider donating them to a friend instead,' says Terry Fisher of national home-buying company WeBuyAnyHome.

How do I organise my bathroom with a lot of stuff? 

Firstly, check to make sure you don't have duplicates of products. It's easy to lose an old half-used bottle of something at the back of a cupboard. Also, if you're sharing your bathroom with several family members, dividing storage up can be key to staying organised.

'A shower caddy or shower shelving unit is great if you have a large family with a lot of bathing products,' says Ryan McDonough at MyJobQuote.

'Each family member can have a dedicated shelf for storing their items. That way, everyone knows what is what and everything can be kept neat.'

After this, your bathroom should be the relaxing sanctuary that we all so desperately crave in our day-to-day lives. And remain that way, hopefully.