An Easy Bathroom Storage Hack Keeps Your Favorite Items Together & Countertops Clear

Getting ready in the morning can be a whirlwind. Hair tools are pulled out, skincare is slathered on, makeup is used, and lotions are applied. This can leave a massive mess by the time you need to go, and most of us leave it behind. Some people try to get around this messiness by simply displaying their most-used items on the countertop, but that creates a cluttered vignette. Rather than having a clean and Instagram-worthy vanity, you have your entire morning routine on permanent display. Luckily, there is an easy way to free up bathroom countertop space, and all you need is a storage box. 

According to Cassandra Aarssen, the host of HGTV's "Hot Mess House" and owner of Clutterbug, the best way to corral the mess but still make it functional is to put your most-used items into a decorative box. These are the items you use each morning to get ready. That way, instead of having to shuffle through drawers or dig through cabinets for each individual item, it will be contained in this one area. And once you're done using it, you can pop it back to its resting zone. Here is a closer look at how to keep your bathroom organized with her hack.

The great thing about this hack is that it's easy to use. When something requires too many steps or needs you to break a bad habit, it likely won't work for very long. But with this hack, you can just toss everything into the box and bring it out when you need it. It doesn't require you to be particularly neat or organized. "One of my favorite organizing solutions ... especially if you're not really detailed, is a get-ready bin," Aarssen shared on Clutterbug's YouTube channel. "Think about everything you use every morning to get ready — if it's your brush or even add your multivitamins in there. Whatever it is that you use consistently, put in one bin so that way you just pull the whole thing out. You put it on the counter, you get ready out of the bin, and then you just tuck it away quickly when you're done." 

If the idea of having a medley of things stashed loosely in a bin feels like chaos to you, you can also add smaller storage bins inside to separate everything. You can even repurpose milk cartons to DIY those containers. As an added perk, you can also stash things you want to start using more frequently, like your vitamins or certain skincare. This will not only keep you neat, but also help you create better habits. 

If you prefer to keep your bathroom as uncluttered as possible, then the best place to tuck this away is the vanity cabinet. That way, it's behind closed doors, and you don't have to worry about the state of the container. However, if you have ADHD or need to see your items in order to remember to use them, Aarssen recommends putting the box on a floating shelf next to your mirror. If you don't have a shelf, she suggests installing one. That way, you have even less friction in accessing your items — it will literally be an arm's reach away. But since it will be in an aesthetically pleasing box, it won't detract from the design of your bathroom.

If you have a small bathroom and don't have any spare room for a large container, consider storing it in your bedroom instead. It might seem like an odd move, but by placing it near your nightstand, you can grab the box when you wake up and head to the bathroom to get ready for your day. If you decide to go that route, consider getting a caddy with a handle, like IKEA's UPPRÄMEN Storage Basket.