How to Organize Your Bathroom Countertop

A bathroom countertop can go from organized to crowded remarkably quickly. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, skincare, makeup, hair products and whatever else gets dropped near the sink can take over fast.

The answer isn't to keep everything visible just because you use it every day. In fact, I prefer keeping only a few everyday items on the countertop and using the top drawer for most of the rest.

That keeps the bathroom looking cleaner while still making your daily routine easy.

Start With the Countertop

Take everything off the countertop and decide what truly deserves to stay there.

For most bathrooms, I would keep only a few items visible, such as:

A small group of everyday skincare or grooming products

A favorite perfume or daily lotion

A box of tissues in an attractive holder

Hand soap

A small acrylic or decorative organizer tray for the items you reach for constantly

That's enough to make the counter functional without turning it into product storage.

If you have two sinks and more countertop space, use the same process for each portion of the counter. More countertop doesn't have to mean more clutter.

And leave some open space. You should be able to temporarily put down a makeup bag, shaving kit or hair tool without rearranging everything already there.

Use the Top Drawer for Everyday Items

Your toothbrush and toothpaste don't need to live on the countertop.

The top drawer is often the best place for everyday products you want close at hand but don't need displayed.

That might include:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Floss
• Deodorant
• Razors
• Daily makeup
• Contact-lens supplies
• Hair accessories
• Small grooming products
• Everyday skincare

The advantage is simple: Open one drawer, complete most of your routine, close the drawer and the bathroom instantly looks organized again.

Organize the Top Drawer With Useful Compartments

The top drawer works best when everyday items are easy to see and grab. For a bathroom drawer, I generally prefer larger, useful compartments over lots of tiny cosmetic-size sections.

Good Flexible Choice: 6-Pack Large Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Trays

A set of clear acrylic or plastic drawer-organizer trays in several sizes lets you create compartments based on what you actually keep in the drawer.

I particularly like the versatility of a multi-size set. If you don't need every tray in the bathroom, the extras can easily be used in the kitchen, pantry, craft room or home office.

That's a much better use of your organizing dollars than buying pieces so specialized that the extras end up becoming something else you need to organize.

Mr. Organized Recommends: Sturdy Large-Compartment Drawer Organizer

For the primary everyday bathroom drawer, I especially like a sturdy organizer with larger compartments.

Larger sections give you room for things like your hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste without forcing them into compartments that are too small. Smaller sections can then handle makeup, grooming products and accessories.

The organizer should fit your products — you shouldn't have to reorganize your products to fit the organizer.