7 Reasons Your Bathroom Never Stays Organized

Plus, what you can do to keep it tidy.

Getty Images

Getting your bathroom neat and tidy is one thing, but keeping it that way is another. It’s always the same story: You do a big declutter and rearrange everything, but a few weeks later, it’s a mess again. So, what happened? Once you know what you’re doing wrong, it’s easier to find the right solution and keep your bathroom organized. Here’s why your bathroom never stays organized and what you can do about it, according to the pros.

Maria Anderson, cleaning and organizing expert at Henfield Storage

Monique Bonner, the owner and creator of Addison West

We’re not here to criticize your ten-step skincare routine. The problem is, though, that most bathrooms don’t have enough space to store endless skincare products, expired prescriptions, half-empty bottles, and a bunch of hair tools.

So, start your bathroom organization project out by getting rid of empty and nearly empty bottles, giving away products that irritated your skin or didn’t live up to your expectations, and tossing makeup that you never use. Then, be sure to schedule at least one decluttering session every quarter.

According to Maria Anderson, cleaning and organizing expert at Henfield Storage, a system is essential for keeping your bathroom tidy. “Without a system for organizing items, it's easy for things to become disorganized and scattered," she says. "Not following a consistent system leads to confusion and clutter.”

Group like products together, such as skincare with skincare and hair products with hair products. Then establish a specific spot for everything.

You can’t just shove everything on a shelf or buy a random drawer divider and just expect your bathroom to stay neat. “Using the wrong type of storage containers or not utilizing vertical space can exacerbate the problem," Anderson says.

Utilizing vertical space is essential, she adds. “You can add more shelves to maximize storage space and hang organizers on the back of the door or above the toilet," Anderson says. "You can also use corner space with corner shelves.”

Something has to go in the back of the cabinet under your sink, but it should probably be extra bars of soap or that giant bottle of hydrogen peroxide you only use occasionally—not the body lotion you apply after every shower. “If items are stored in hard-to-reach places, they’re often neglected or forgotten," says Anderson. "Using storage solutions that aren’t easily accessible contributes to disorganization."

Think carefully about where you put things, how often you use them, and arrange them accordingly.

The shower wall is a great place to add some extra storage, especially if your bathroom is small or doesn’t have a large enough vanity. “Attach a shower caddy to the shower wall to store shampoo, conditioner, toiletries, and soap," Anderson says. "A shower caddy makes sure everything you need is easily accessible."

Remember the old-school medicine cabinet? They’ve fallen out of favor, which may be why your bathroom has fallen out of order, according to Monique Bonner, the owner and creator of Addison West. “For a few years now, the old standby medicine cabinet above the sink has become persona non grata, and the focus has been on larger vanities with multiple drawers,” she explains.

The problem is that drawers aren't always the best organizing solution. But Bonner notes that things are changing. “After realizing that a drawer-focused vanity just isn’t practical for all kinds of bottles, potions, and lotions, requests for medicine cabinets are on the rise," she explains. "And the best part? There’s so much great inspiration out there for affordable, custom, inset medicine cabinets—ones that can hide behind vintage or bespoke mirrors. So, there’s no need to trade style for convenience. Custom medicine cabinets offer secret, convenient, and beautiful storage.”

If installing a medicine cabinet isn’t feasible in your bathroom, consider other ways to store your products, like shelves.

If you can’t see everything you have, how can you keep it organized? It’s something you rarely think about, but Anderson explains that inadequate lighting also makes it difficult to locate items and maintain a tidy space. “Dark corners can hide clutter and make it harder to keep the bathroom organized.”

Consider adding additional lighting, such as sconces or a fixture with multiple bulbs, like a chandelier. If that’s impossible, consider swapping your current bulbs for ones with higher wattage.