Okay, friends! It’s Week #7 of our challenge to Love Our Homes More, and we are finishing things up with the room that everyone loves to clean! Just kidding! It’s the Bathroom!
But seriously, the bathroom is one of those rooms that when it’s under control can feel tranquil and clean. But when it’s not, it can feel icky and tiny. We want our bathrooms to feel as much like a spa as possible, so let’s get to work.
The Guiding Principles
Let’s think about what makes a spa feel special? And how can we achieve those qualities in our own bathrooms?
- There’s limited stuff around — clutter is at a minimum
- The items that are there, are pretty, coordinated, and clean.
Using these concepts as our guiding principles, we will tackle this final room of our series.
Assess The Space
Bathrooms are busy places. They usually have to hold a wide variety of things, often for numerous people. Depending on your storage situation, the bathroom may house soaps, shampoos, towels, washcloths, first aid items, makeup, lotions, prescriptions, and cleaning supplies. Bathrooms are hardworking spaces, but they need to work smart, too.
- Going back to our spa analogy, the first step is to clear out the clutter. Start by discarding any prescriptions, lotions, cosmetics, etc. that are past their expiration date.
- Pare down cleaning supplies to just a few, and store the rest outside of the bathroom if possible.
- The same goes for toilet paper, extra soaps and shampoos, and other items that could potentially be stored elsewhere. Because the bathroom is usually limited on space, and even those that are larger don’t necessarily have a lot of storage spaces, it’s best to declutter as much as possible to lean into that spa vibe.
Select Storage Solutions
If you are lucky enough to have under sink storage, maximizing this space is essential. If your bathroom has a pedestal sink, your best options will be to hang storage on the walls in the form of shelves, hooks and if possible, a medicine cabinet.
Maximize your storage
- Create under sink storage with pull out wire trays, lazy susans and make use of the backs of cabinet doors with an extra towel rod or hanging shelf.
- Use drawer dividers to keep cosmetics and other toiletries organized.
- A hanging caddy over the shower door or over the shower head can keep shampoo and soaps off of the shower floor.
- Use wicker baskets next to the tub to store towels and washcloths if you don’t have a linen closet.
- Make the most of wall space to hang towel hooks and bars. Even the back of the bathroom door can be useful. Over the door shelving or a shoe organizer can double as a place to store small accessories to keep counters clear of clutter.
Keep Things Pretty and Coordinated
It’s hard to keep the bathroom picture-perfect when shampoo bottles, towels, and toothpaste tubes are hanging around. Investing in a few key pieces will help coordinate the space, and quality items will last longer and thus be more eco-friendly.
- Pouring soaps, body washes, shampoos and conditioners into matching dispensers will help to coordinate the look and feel of the room. In addition, buying in bulk is better for the environment — and your wallet.
- Invest in towels that will look pretty hanging in your space and endure. Check out these organic and eco-chic options.
- Keeping a green plant in the bathroom can help to freshen the air. Plus, the moisture from the bathroom will help the plant to thrive!
- Never underestimate the power of a few finishing touches that make the room feel special. A bath tray over the tub, pretty canisters to hold toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes (rather than plastic), soy candles, a teak bath mat — all can be luxurious splurges to make your bathroom feel like the sanctuary you imagine it could be.
Keeping it Clean
A few tips for keeping the bathroom clean:
- Wipe down countertops every day
- Squeegee shower walls (and doors if applicable) after every shower
- If you have a shower curtain, close the shower liner inside the tub after each shower, and run a fan or open a window to allow moisture to escape from the room
- Clean sinks, tubs, toilets and floors once a week.
- It’s easier to wash the floors if hair and other debris is vacuumed up first
- Clean tiles and grout with a paste of baking soda paste and vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes and then scrub with a soft brush or rag and wipe down.
This wraps up our series to Love Your Home More! We hope that you found some useful tips for creating a sanctuary that makes you feel welcomed, supported, and creative! We’d love to hear about the changes that you were inspired to make in your home! Leave a comment below!
And if you’ve missed any of the previous weeks in our series, be sure to check them out here:
