Sometimes the beauty is easy. Sometimes you don't have to try at all. Sometimes you can hear the wind blow in a handshake. Sometimes there's poetry written right on the bathroom wall.

— Ani DiFranco —

We may not have poetry written on our bathroom walls, but the bath has come a long way from outhouses, chamber pots, and washing bowls. It is a place where we refresh ourselves, and take care of our health. To honor those duties to ourselves, we want a bathroom which is appealing as well as organized. So as you Organize Your Bath, do it in a way that appeals to your senses. Choose colors that make you feel good. Add scented candles and oils that evoke feelings of the vacation that gave you bliss. Find towels and robes with textures that make you feel warmed and comforted. That way you are going beyond just Organizing and creating a Home with a capital H.

Now for Organizing Your Bath:

Countertop: If there are just one or two of you sharing the bathroom, the countertop can hold the items that you use everyday, such as cleansers, a Waterpik, or  a hair setter.  Tissue holders can house tissues and small containers can hold Q-tips, hair accessories, and cotton balls. If the bath is shared by several members of the family, each one can have a tote to hold their personal items, which can be carried to and from their bedrooms, or stored on a bathroom shelf if there is enough space.

Medicine Cabinet: One of the caveats with using your Medicine Cabinet is being aware that many medicines should not be stored there due to heat and humidity in the bathroom. For those medicines, find a cool, dark place, away from the reach of children. What the Medicine Cabinet can contain is bandages, toothpastes, cleansers, first-aid items, and medicines that can tolerate the bath environment.

Drawers: The bathroom is notorious for small items, so dividers and trays are almost a necessity for holding these items. One drawer can be assigned for makeup, another can hold shaving and bath items, one can have hair items, and another may hold nail products. Organizing your drawers for specific needs makes it easy to find certain items.

Under-sink Cabinet: It is always handy to have pull-out shelves or bins in cabinets, and the bath is no exception. It is handy to have some cleaning items and paper towels for doing those quick. Trash bags that fit your wastebaskets should be stored here. Have a small bin to hold extra toilet paper and tissues so guests can easily find them. Plastic shoeboxes can hold groups of items that are not used frequently.

Linen Closet: Each family member should have a space for her and his towels. You may want to have different colors for each person with everyone picking their favorite color. One shelf can be reserved for bath spa items such as soaps, oils, bath salts, and candles. If you didn’t have room under your sink for a toilet paper/tissue bin, find space in the linen closet, just make sure that a guest could easily find them. Have a plastic box with items that a stay-over guest might need such as toothbrushes (I put aside the free ones I get from the dentist), toothpaste, disposable razors, mouthwash, soaps, etc.

Other Handy Bathroom Items: A well-equipped bathroom may have wall hair dryers and mirrors, bathroom scales, and heated towel racks. You may also want designer toilet brushes, toilet paper holders, and plungers which can be left in the open since they fit in with the decor. Cover your floors with comfy rugs which hold up well with washing. If you have enough space, you can have a hamper to hold laun.

Bathroom Organizers: For additional shelving, you can purchase a free-standing shelf which fits over the toilet, or install a cabinet or shelf system in the same space. Corner shelving can be an economic way to create space as well as shower holders to hold shampoos and soaps. Open mesh holders that rest on the edge of the tub can hold shaving needs and spa items.

— Shelly —