Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Organized and Tidy

Replacing my bathroom vanity/sink and wall cabinet significantly improved the size and type of storage in my bathroom. The new vanity has two full-size drawers that hold a surprising quantity of stuff. The extra space allowed me to move my makeup from the sewing/dressing room into the bathroom, where the light is better. I also cleared out and organized my linen closet and the chest of drawers I use as a hairstyling station.

I love closets and drawers because they hide stuff away, making rooms look tidy. And I love baskets and bins in the closets and drawers because they organize the stuff, making the closets and drawers look tidy.

I love tidy. :)

The new vanity is Hemnes from IKEA. It's plain, basic white... but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in clever design and roomy storage. I love it! The bottom drawer holds frequently used stuff - cleaning products, two stacks of washcloths, and a basket containing hair spray, contact lens solution, etc. There was still room left over, so I added a spare bag of cotton balls and spare shower scrubbies to fill the space. Full drawer means stuff doesn't slide around when I open and close the drawer. :)

The top drawer holds makeup, cotton in three forms, and denture Invisalign cleaner. Plastic baskets and bins keep it all organized.

Infrequently used items, extras (I hate running out of anything!), and paper products are kept in the linen closet.

I recently replaced my worn-out white towels and washcloths with purple and black ones. On a whim, I also bought orange and green, thinking they will be fun at Halloween time. Folded appropriately, this ridiculous quantity of towels fit on two shelves. Below them are sheets and pillowcases. On the bottom are blankets for the dogs and some of the old white towels, which have been demoted to dog bath duty.

In the chest of drawers in my dressing area, the shallow top drawer holds less frequently used makeup (organized in baskets, of course).

For the drawers that hold hair stuff, I have organizers that are a step up from plastic baskets. I normally wouldn't spring for fancy-schmancy fabric-lined organizers to live unseen in a drawer, but I came across these for just a few dollars at Big Lots (damask) and Jo-Ann (stripes).


They are precisely the right size to fill the drawers. :D One drawer holds my hair brushes, clips, barrettes, and ponytail holders. And my scrunchies. Yes, I admit it - I use scrunchies (because they don't damage my hair).

The other drawer holds hair flowers, headbands and curling irons.

How do you organize or store your bath and beauty stuff? Do you hide it away, or do you prefer to have it out where you can see it?

18 comments:

  1. I'm a little ashamed to admit that what I have is a mess. We're in the middle of getting everything renovated, cleaned and organized. I will be stealing...er, borrowing, your ideas. My husband will be so proud!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love those damask organisers. I love how organised everything it looks great.

      Delete
    2. P.s I hope your on the mend.

      Delete
    3. I was hesitant to write this post for fear of making people feel bad. But I was hoping the ideas would be useful, particularly the little baskets. They're cheap (2 or 3 for $1 at Dollar Tree) and can be used in all kinds of ways.

      Delete
    4. Actually, I'm reenating the bathroom but using a professionals as my DIY skills aren't up to par. This giving me ideas thanks.

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  2. I keep my computer cleaning products, crafting supplies, and handbags in storage cubes that I keep on the top shelf in my bedroom closet. My room is still kind of a blank slate. But it's slowly coming along.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Storage cubes are super handy! A blank slate can be good. You can create the organization fit the stuff. :)

      Delete
  3. I'm a messy puppy! Stuff scattered across rooms and in no discernible order - but I can find everything when I need it :) In fact the husband reckons my dressing room (actually the spare bedroom) looks like a student bedsit...

    That said I don't actually have that much beauty stuff thanks to allergies, I tend just to have a small core of trusted products.

    I do want some better way of storing my jewellery as there are pieces I'd like to wear more but tend to overlook.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jewelry is one of the things I like to store in plain sight so I better remember what I have. I keep most of my earrings and necklaces out on display.

      Delete
  4. Your organisation posts are one of the most inspiring things ever - I recently sorted out my bathroom cabinet, but hair and makeup is next - so an extra big thank you is in order!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Everything looks so neat and tidy, so pleasing! Glad everything went well with surgery. I am someone who hides everything away too, I hate clutter out on sides!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I find clutter very distracting; it's like visual noise that I can't tune out.

      Delete
  6. You my dear have many talents! I wish I was half as organized as you! I love tidy, but I don't like to clean up...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tend to put things away immediately, but then again, I'm weird enough that I enjoy tidying up. Except unloading the dishwasher. For some reason, I hate unloading the dishwasher... which is silly because it takes all of two minutes! :P

      Delete
  7. I am very impressed by your level of tidiness and organization!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I can't help it. ;) It's just how my mind works.

      Delete