Organize + Energize: An Organized Bathroom for the Holidays

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

 

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If you have guests in and out of your home during the holidays, you’ll want to pen this project onto your calendar. There are some nosy guests out there who want to see what you have in your bathroom drawers. Don’t even think about stuffing everything in the closet, because they will look in there too. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if they went to open the closet and items started falling out? Don’t let your disorganized bathroom be the talk of the neighborhood this holiday season.

By now, if you’ve been reading my articles, you know the process to tackle organizing projects. I’m going to prepare you for what you might find while emptying this space.  You may be surprised at what you find! Don’t forget to have a garbage bag on hand for this project. You’ll definitely need one!

What will you find? 

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Expired medication. Bathrooms may not be the best place to store meds. They need to be stored in a cool, dry area. It’s a preference whether you want to throw out expired meds. Everybody has their own rules. Categorize your meds by theme such as first aid, allergy, etc.

Worn out towels and linens. How many towels are ripped, stained or really worn out? It’s time to let them go. Turn them into dust rags if you must. If you have an overabundance, think about how many you really need.

Old makeup.  Dry, cracked, old makeup is what you are going to find.  Take this time to go through and give your makeup a good once over and toss anything that looks bad.

Creams, lotions, soaps. How long has that bottle that is ¾ empty been sitting squished in the back of your closet? Take inventory and decide what to keep or toss.

Nail polish. You may find that you have nail files in one space, remover in another and polish in another. Get them contained all in one spot so that when you decide to give yourself a manicure you can just grab and go.

Men’s grooming. Some men don’t need much to maintain themselves, but give them an organized spot in the drawer all of their own.  Keep all grooming supplies categorized and stored together to make mornings easy.

Hair products and accessories.  Old brushes, sticky hair elastics, and numerous hair accessories thrown in different areas of the bathroom. How many hair products do you actually use? How long does it take you to find what you need during your morning routine? 

Toiletries.  Decide if you want to keep bulk items like toilet paper, paper towels, wipes, etc., stored in one area of the home. You can fill in with a few and then go to your bulk area to grab and replenish. 

Random items. You’re going to find these random items and you’ll scratch your head and ask yourself, “How did that end up in the bathroom?”  Transfer them out of this space or create an organized system for them in the bathroom. 

If you have a small bathroom, you’ll find that your linen closet is an extension of your bathroom and items may get thrown in there. Be sure to put this area on your list too. By emptying both spaces, and seeing the empty shelves, it may give you a different perspective on the space and you’ll see this space in a whole new light.

Remember to keep the décor and countertops clean and simple. When you’re having guests over, create a small basket of emergency items and leave on the countertop so that your guests aren’t tempted to go through your cabinets. 

You’ve organized this space to look nice for your guests, but you’ve also shaved minutes off of your morning routine by having an organized bathroom! 

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Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on talkstreamradio.com.       

 

Related Slideshow: Organizing Products For Your Closet

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Flip flop organizer

How many flip flops do you own? Are they thrown all over the closet floor? How long does it take you to find a match to one of them? Bed Bath and Beyond has a $9.99 flip flop organizer that holds 6 pairs of flip flops and hangs nicely in your closet. This is a must-have if you have more than 5 pairs of flip flops. I’ve purchased these for my clients and they work great!

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Scarf organizer

You love your scarves, but it takes you forever to locate one and you have to throw 5 around to find the one you are searching for. Use a scarf organizer and you will be able to see all your scarves and find them at a moment’s notice. Bed Bath and Beyond has a few different types of scarf organizers, including this one for $9.99.

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Belt organizer

How are you storing your belts? Are they in a tangled mess? Purchase a belt organizer for a cheap solution—they can be as inexpensive as $6.99 from the Container Store.

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Tie organizer

Keep your ties organized and hanging on a tie rack, or keep then rolled in a drawer organizer. Whichever way you choose to organize them, treat them with care. To take care of both your belts and your ties in one fell swoop, check out this organizer from the Container Store.

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Drawer organizer

This is a must for your underwear, socks, bras, nylons, etc. Drawer organizers will help to maximize space in your closet. You won’t believe the amount of space you will have once you contain these items in drawer organizers!

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Jewelry organizer

Are you always trying to detangle your necklaces? Think about how you grab your jewelry and then purchase an organizing system according to how you function. Before you purchase your container, take inventory of what you own and purchase accordingly.

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Shoe rack

Did you know people who didn’t own shoe racks were 7 times more likely to show up late for an event? Are your shoes in piles on the floor? Get them off the floor and contain them in a shoe rack. There are many options out there, like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. Choose the shoe rack that is going to fit what you need to hold and fit in the space you are working with.

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Hangers

Are you hanging your clothes on the wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Those hangers will ruin your clothes. Get rid of them and store your clothes on the hanger of your choice, but be consistent and stick with one type of hanger.

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Handbags

How are you storing your handbags? Are they stored all over your closet? Are they in bins or crumpled up on the floor? It’s time to organize your bags. There are many options depending on the space you are working with. You can stand them up on a shelf, you can hang them, or if they are small, you can store them in a canvas bin. The choice is yours. Think about how you function and develop a system from there.

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Baseball cap organizer

How many baseball caps do you own? How are they organized in your closet now, and how long does it take you to find one? The Container Store (pictured here), Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores sell this baseball cap organizer. I have a few clients that have purchased them and they love them!

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Function over flash

There are many variations on these products. Choose the product that is right for you. There are some organizing products I would never use, but other people might choose to use them. Choose the one that is going to be the most efficient and productive product for you and your family. Don’t choose a product because it’s pretty, choose it based on functionality. Search online for different products before you rush out and purchase a product.  You may find that one store is more expensive than another. Don’t forget if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond to use their 20% off coupons. If you don’t want to purchase these items, get creative and re-purpose items around the home, or make your own!

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Kristin MacRae

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.

 
 

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