Look! Organized Open Shelves in the Bathroom

One of our favorite tricks for organizing a space is simply dumping like things into their own box or container. In the bathroom even when we've gone through and gotten rid of everything that's cluttering it up, we're still left with enough stuff that if we don't contain it somehow it'll overtake the counters and start making us crazy.

We love this example of how like colored containers on open shelving in the bathroom can make order out of chaos. Thankfully we don't have that much stuff but this goes to show that sometimes open shelving can be neater and easier to access than a whole wall of cabinets. Try containers from from Ikea or the container store for affordable versions. Or make your own by using a version of these custom magazine files.

Image from living etc..

Comments (11)

Are those containers... labeled? I dunno how you'd find anything, but I like that they match.

I wish they had put doors or a curtain in front of the under-sink shelving. Those containers are not as pretty.

posted by shockthebourgeois on March 24th 2009 at 3:18pm
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I agree that if the containers are not labeled, it would be difficult to find anything.

posted by suzy8track on March 24th 2009 at 3:22pm
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i like organization and i like open shelving, but this is overload for me.
too much white, too much matchy-matchy, and the under-sink area just looks cluttered.

posted by abigailbelle on March 24th 2009 at 3:37pm
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I think they need to purge. No one should have that much stuff in a bathroom. And where are their linens?

Looks nice, though. I don't mind the matchiness or whiteness. And I agree, the open shelves look nicer than under the cabinet.

posted by taritac on March 24th 2009 at 3:43pm
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too much, too bland, too white

posted by Indy Jeffrey on March 24th 2009 at 5:19pm
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They have a TON of cr...ur... stuff. I agree... let it go :) The not labeled part doesn't bug me. Shouldn't you know where you put everything any way?

We have some open shelves in our bathroom. One update that we are doing is putting in a pedestal sink and getting rid of our gross sink and cabinet. Our bathroom is VERY small and already has shelves like that with nothing on them. I am going to put storage containers on my to buy list!!

posted by thelittlestmonster on March 24th 2009 at 5:20pm
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I have white baskets with my sundries in them..but I only have three- one for blow dryer, flat iron, brushes, comb..then one for lotions and skin care products..then one of other misc. items. Plus one clear small container for first aid.

How much stuff does one need, unless this is for a family of six all sharing one bathroom, crazy.

Maybe the have a manual (white no less) hanging somewhere that tells them where the tampons are.

posted by LoriSF on March 24th 2009 at 6:06pm
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I thought the point of open shelves was that you were forced to purge your excess stuff and organize the rest. How is having a billion little containers better than just installing a curtain or closet door and not having to buy extra boxes and baskets?

posted by slowdown on March 24th 2009 at 8:24pm
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taritac -- agreed - they need to rid themselves of about half of the things they have in that bathroom

posted by ChrisGal on March 24th 2009 at 9:05pm
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"Attention store associates: We need a cleanup in the family restroom, please... Ikea's containers department just threw up."

posted by pammyfay on March 24th 2009 at 11:40pm
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idk why they don't use those shelves to put art or put some towels. there is way to many little baskets.

posted by witchbaby on March 25th 2009 at 6:24pm
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