5 Strategies to Declutter Your Bathroom Countertop

Gather toiletries on a pretty tray. The great thing about a tray is that it creates boundaries, i.e., bottles and jars don’t migrate over the entire countertop. You can buy trays made just for bath storage, but any model that fits on your counter and has room for your flotsam will work fine. Choose a material that’s moisture proof and easy to clean, and that complements your fixtures and finishes.

Store loose items in canisters. Storing necessities such as cotton balls and cotton swabs in pretty canisters keeps them neat as well as clean and sanitary. Get creative with the containers: apothecary jars, mason jars, vintage tea tins or any other receptacle will work. Don’t want them on display? Choose stacking canisters and stash them in a vanity cabinet.

Make use of drawer trays. Headbands, toe spacers and bobby pins — miscellaneous items such as these tend to get tossed on countertops and left to gather dust. Sort them in divided organizer drawer trays, the same kind used to keep kitchen junk drawers and home office supplies under control. Clear, plastic bins tucked inside a cabinet will work too.

Install wall-mounted holders. Choose soap dispensers and toothbrush holders that attach to the wall rather than sitting on the countertop, which frees up space around the sink. To streamline things even further, buy an all-in-one style that’s designed to accommodate tumblers, toothbrushes and more.

Add a shelf. Even in a tiny bathroom, a slim wall shelf makes a huge difference. Add a basket if you don’t want toiletries and other odds and ends out in the open. If you have a stretch of unfilled wall space, such as next to a tub, anchor a full bookshelf to the wall to provide more than enough storage for bathroom needs and even a few decorative items.