Transforming Your Bathroom from Chaos to Calm
If you’re a parent with multiple little ones, you know firsthand how quickly things can spiral out of control in a shared bathroom space. From toothbrushes and bath toys to towels and toiletries, it can feel like a never-ending battle to maintain order. But fear not, my friend! Today, I’m here to share some ingenious tips and tricks on how to organize and add storage to a shared kids’ bathroom, helping you reclaim your sanity and bring a sense of harmony to your morning routines.
Having sufficient storage in a bathroom is crucial for maintaining a clean, organized, and functional space. After all, the bathroom is where we start and end our days, and clutter can quickly accumulate, leading to frustration and wasted time searching for essential items.
If your bathroom is small or your vanity lacks storage, it can make organization especially challenging. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. To help relieve the storage pressure, I always recommend families look for ways to add storage or maximize the space they already have.
In our shared kids’ bathroom, I decided to tackle the storage problem by doing both – adding a shelf for additional storage space and using organizing products that maximize the storage space in an efficient way. Let me walk you through the process step-by-step.
Creating Additional Bathroom Storage
When starting the reorganization of our shared kids’ bathroom, the first thing I needed to address was the lack of storage. Or maybe I should call it “non-useful” storage. The wide-open cabinet with zero drawers and zero shelves needed some attention.
While I figured adding drawers wasn’t an option, I could add a shelf. This would give us double the storage space we had previously and would make better use of the cavernous space under the sink. I sketched out a plan, made a few measurements, and then headed out to Home Depot to purchase a 2 ft x 4 ft melamine board.
I knew I needed a bit cut off each side, and since I don’t have a table saw, I asked a kind associate to make the cuts for me. Not only did this save me a ton of time, but it also made it easier to get the board home. I also purchased some iron-on edge for the exposed sides and some 1/4″ shelf pegs to help support the shelf.
Once I got home, I tested the board to make note of how long my support posts should be. The extra pieces cut from my melamine board were approximately 2″ wide and 4″ wide, which worked out perfectly for center supports. Here’s how I supported the board inside the cabinets:
- 4 shelf pegs in existing holes on the outer 4 corners
- 1 2″ support board in the front center, hidden by the center board in the vanity
- 2 4″ wide support boards in the back, one on either side of the pipes, to support the inside corner of each shelf
While I planned to nail the support boards to the wall, I realized that I couldn’t actually place the shelf in the cabinet without moving the support boards. It’s just too tight around the water hook-ups. Instead, I left the support boards loose with the weight of the boards holding them in place. The positive of this is it makes it really easy to remove the shelf if I ever need to have a plumber work on our pipes.
As you can see, I cut notches on both boards so they can fit around the pipes. The two boards meet in the middle, but I found the crack really wasn’t noticeable once I filled the cabinet with storage containers. To minimize the look of the cut particleboard, I added iron-on melamine edging to the front of each shelf.
Organizing Your Bathroom Storage
After building the shelf, I turned my eye towards adding functional organization for all the hair, bath, and tooth care products that needed to be stored in the vanity. The goal for an organized bathroom is to have a specific designated home for everything.
But how do you actually do that? I follow a simple method:
- Take everything out, sort by category, and then make a list of every category.
- Once I have a list of categories, I start researching storage container options and sketch out a layout.
- I make sure I have a container for every category. Before I fill my organizing containers, I always dry fit the containers to double-check that they will work in the space. This helps me find the perfect arrangement and get a sense for how the finished cabinet will look.
- Once I’m happy with how it all looks, I start filling the bins.
On the right side of the cabinet, I used the newly created shelf to store extra towels and washcloths. Below the shelf, I used 3 deep divided bins on wheels to organize bath toys, hair products, and bath and body products. These bins span the entire drawer depth and pull out with just one finger, making it easy to access the contents.
The dividers are adjustable, so you can create large or small containers depending on what you are organizing. Perhaps my favorite part is that our bath toys are now organized by type instead of tossed into one giant mixed bin. Is it a bit much to organize bath toys? Maybe, but it makes my life easier when I can find the letter “N” quickly while my daughter is yelling from the tub.
On the left-hand side, I used clear storage drawers to organize items according to function – dental care, hair care, first aid, and travel. The larger drawer holds hair care products that we use every day. The drawer makes it easy to access, and I’ve even seen my daughter put things back all on her own (gasp!).
Each child has their own drawer for their own toothbrush, toothpaste, and flossers. After the winter we had, I am all about doing anything possible to reduce the spread of colds in our own home, so non-shared dental products seem to help.
And the travel drawer holds travel kits for each child plus a haircare kit. These are ready to go, so all we have to do is grab our travel kits, and everything we need is packed.
A quick and easy way to organize hair clips, bows, and hair bands is with a divided lazy susan. This makes it SO easy for my daughter to find what she wants to wear in her hair each day, and means less struggle for mom – which is a total win in my book.
Bathroom Storage Essentials:
- 2 ft x 4 ft melamine shelf
- Melamine edging
- 1/4″ shelf support pegs
- 3 deep divided wheeled bins
- 2 clear stackable large shoe drawers for first aid and travel
- 1 clear stackable shirt and accessory drawer used for hair products
- 2 clear stackable small shoe box drawers used for dental care products
- 1 metal basket set of 4 clear zippered travel containers
- Black and white rug
- Dip dyed wood stool
- Tissue box cover
Having enough storage helps to keep everything in its rightful place, but it also maximizes the available space, making the most of even the smallest bathrooms. From neatly arranging toiletries, towels, and cleaning supplies to providing designated spots for hair tools, bath toys, and personal care items, a well-designed storage system promotes efficiency, reduces stress, and creates a visually pleasing environment.
By investing in practical storage solutions, you can transform your bathroom into a sanctuary of order and tranquility. So why not take the plunge and get organized? Your morning routine will thank you!
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