‘Get Organized Today’: Stop bathroom bedlam!

In the final part of the three-day “Get Organized Today” series, Elizabeth Mayhew, deputy editor of Real Simple, suggests some storage options to help make sense of your bathroom mess.

Day 3: How to organize your bathroom
The first thing to do when organizing your bathroom is to go through everything and assess what you actually use. Donate the things you don’t use — someone else will get much better use of them, and they’re just creating clutter in your bathroom.

Most of us don’t have huge bathrooms, but it doesn’t mean you can’t work with what you have. Take advantage of every bit of space — don’t just spread out, spread up. If you take some time to organize your bathroom now, you’ll be amazed at how much quicker you’ll get out of the house in the morning.

Medicine storage cabinets: Perfect for storing all your products behind closed doors. The point is to get products off the counter and contain them in an attractive, functional storage solution. Robern, $200 each

Over-the-door shoe organizer: Shoe organizers are good for organizing things besides shoes. This over-the-door shoe holder is great for holding everything from shampoo and conditioner to extra brushes, hairdryers and curlers. The Container Store, $14.99

Special series In a special three-part series, Elizabeth Mayhew, deputy editor of Real Simple,  offers tips for tidying up your home for the fall. Give your garage a tune-up Tips to de-clutter your closet How to tidy up your bathroom

Wall hooks: Towel racks seem like a good idea, and most bathrooms come with them, but they actually take up more space than they should. If you use individual towel hooks, not only do you not have to worry about folding your towels, but it frees up more space on the wall for other storage solutions. Any home or hardware store

Cart with casters: Not everyone has under-sink storage, but you can use inexpensive furniture to keep things organized and accessible. You can easily slide this wheelie cart from room-to-room. Bed, Bath and Beyond, $39.99

Lucite makeup organizers: Organize makeup you use regularly in these clear Lucite containers. The dividers make it easy to see what you need when you need it. The Container Store, $10-$40

For more Real Simple ideas and solutions, check out the October issue (on newsstands now) or visit http://www.realsimple.com/. 

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