Get Organized with Countertop Containers

You can get as sophisticated as you like with your bathroom decor, but the items that clutter the counter will stubbornly remain ordinary and even unsightly, from cotton balls to disposable razors to oatmeal soaking solution.
Luckily, designers and retailers are setting new trends with bathroom counter containers that disguise the necessities while complementing trendy spa decor, luxury master baths and pretty powder rooms.

GLASS IS THE CLEAR CHOICE
"Spa tubs with ledges are so popular, you really need a container with a sculptured look to complement the luxury design," says Cynthia Watson, owner of Accents of Salado, a Mediterranean decor supplier in Salado, Tex. "You can't just plunk down some plastic containers to hold your oils and sea salts."

There are many better-looking alternatives to Gladware, but anything glass is really hot, including the heavy, ribbed glass jars and cruets accented with brown metal sold by Watson.

"They set just the right tone on a counter in a classic or contemporary bath — so long as you're not decorating for toddlers," she says. "My two-year-old granddaughter would break a glass apothecary jar in a minute. But in a sophisticated master bath or a guest bath, they're ideal for storage and such a nice accent with so many different types of ceramic and metal fixtures."

Bill Bacnotan, an associate manager at Restoration Hardware in Maryland, says that cotton swabs, bath oil beads or even pumice stones look great in smaller, clear glass containers. His favorite from Restoration Hardware is the German lead crystal Chatham accessories that range from 5 to 6 inches tall and have a polished chrome or antique bronze finish.