Q: I hate my vanity. I live in an rental apartment in Japan, and like many Japanese apartments my bathroom has a separate area for the toilet, bath and sink. The sink is an eyesore. There are multiple issues with this area. It's the first area past the entryway, and the reflection in the mirror is my kitchen. There's no avoiding it.
Secondly, it's the only area besides the kitchen sink for guests to wash their hands. Thirdly, the walls are concrete. Fourth, the walls that aren't tiled are covered in what I can only describe as "wall linoleum." No painting. And perhaps most importantly, there is very little storage.
Everything I don't use is often stuffed into the cabinet under the sink. The container holding the iron and towels is a drawer from a plastic storage unit. The pockets are hung from nails in the molding (I use that word liberally) at the ceiling. Everything else is on constant display. Does anyone out there have some suggestions to optimize my space while improving the impression it makes?
Sent by Laurel
Editor - Laurel, looks like you might have space to squeeze one or two of these laundry caddy storage units (if they're too wide, perhaps you can have more narrow ones made or trim them to fit).
Any other recommendations for Laurel's small bathroom dilemma?
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You could attach a larger and deeper cabinet in place of or perhaps even over (if changes are an issue for your landlord) the one above your sink and use the top of it for even more storage. Another idea is to put a hotel towel rack or other type of shelf for towels and light items above the door. Restoration Hardware has nice ones. Urban Outfitters carries a valet that hooks over the top of a door. Maybe an IKEA type shoe rack on one wall for storage? The laundry caddy is probably way too deep for the space next to the sink. You could put some narrow shelving in there though. I'd recommend something along the lines of CD storage. The Container Store has lots of options. Good luck. I love the toothbrush compartment! Although I have a Sonicare so it wouldn't be of use to me. If you need that outlet, run an extension out before attaching a new cabinet over it.
I put a shelf over the door in my bathroom. It's great for storage.
Good idea with the hanging pockets. Can you get opaque ones, perhaps with zippers? That might cut down on some of the visual clutter. Maybe store the iron, ironing board and extra towels with your clothes or bed linens. If you are really crazy (like me) you could decant your contact solution, soap, and other products into clear bottles, since they have to be out all the time.
I don't know too much about home stores in Japan, except MUJI. Maybe you can find a larger, more colorful floor mat and a narrow shelving unit or two for beside the sink. Good luck!
Could you put a curtain up to totally hide the whole area from view? If that is possible, I would do that.
Hi Laurel~
I can empathize having lived in a variety of Jpn rentals over the years. I would opt for some tall skinny storage units on either side of the vanity unit which will not only provide you with much needed storage space but will make the whole area cleaner.
Then I would hang a curtain/ blind/ screen across this whole area.
Your best bets would be muji, ikea, bellemaison.jp
IKEA has tension shower rods for about 900 Yen (in silver or white) which should work to hold up a curtain of your choice to block off this area; you could opt for one of their material shower curtains here if you are worried about damp or condensation. Rods- Y1990 130-240cm http://www.ikea.com/jp/en/catalog/products/70166799 or 110-200cm 890Yen http://www.ikea.com/jp/en/catalog/products/71756310
Muji has wheeled plastic storage boxing ＰＰストッカーキャスター in a variety of sizes. There is a huge muji store in Ginza which is your best bet. If you are not in Tokyo, you`ll have to order online or check for your nearest store.
They also have 70-120cm tension poles in silver or white http://www.muji.net/store/cmdty/detail/4548076117070
http://www.muji.net/store/cmdty/section/S00819
Bellmaison has スリムキッチンラック surimu kichin rakku or スリムストッカー surimusutokka in a variety of untis in widths/ heights:
- solid white ;17 or 25.5cm width and varying heights. http://www.bellemaison.jp/ep/srvlt/EPFB00/EPFB0005/dProdDtlShow?BELN_SHOP_KBN=100&KAT_BTGO=788989_440_2010_A1&SHNCRTTKKRO_KBN=R0
- all frosted; 17 or 25.5cm width and varying heights. http://www.bellemaison.jp/ep/srvlt/EPFB00/EPFB0005/dProdDtlShow?BELN_SHOP_KBN=100&KAT_BTGO=771769_440_2010_A1&SHNCRTTKKRO_KBN=R0&RECOM_KYU_KBN=1
- the following unit has a frosted glass upper section and a solid lower section with varying widths; 15, 20 25 and 30 cm. http://www.bellemaison.jp/ep/srvlt/EPFB00/EPFB0005/dProdDtlShow?BELN_SHOP_KBN=100&SHNCRTTKKRO_KBN=SE&KAT_BTGO=801895_440_2010_A1
Oh, and the good old 100 Yen should have some tension rods if you want to experiment in the meantime.
Hope this helps.
Some ideas:
Two thin storage thingies on wheels like the one in the photo would be a good solution to more storage with an integrated feel. They could also be tall and stationary.
Reorganise: Could the "stuff you don't use very often" go somewhere else so that the stuff you do use regularly would fit in the cabinet? All make-up products (for instance) could be nicely arranged in a box for easy access and full overview.
Relocate: What do you actually do there that requires water? Toothbrushing and handwashing? A table mirror on a desk could be a vanity stand-in.
Impression: I think the key to making this work is to keep the area completely free of visual clutter. The blue box, the ironing board, the pockets etc need to go. In my opinion those pockets generally makes everything worse because they yell "desperate for more storage". Would contact paper work if you want to do something about the walls? I also like the idea of curtains on a tension rod to block off the area a little bit.
agree with curtaining the area off more and hiding the iron/ironing board somewhere, anywhere else (under the bed even)--sometimes we store things out of habit in the same place even when we move to a new place and it no longer fits.
even if it involves buying smaller sizes of itmes and keeping less used stuff out, the clutter has to go. Only towels and nice stuff should be stored out in the open.
I've lived in 4 apartments (plus a boarding type place) in Japan and you have the biggest sink area I've seen so count yourself lucky. The thing about Japanese apartments (unlike what tv dramas would lead you to believe) is that it's really about function over form. I wouldn't worry too much about what it looks like. Nobody in Japan would judge you. Plus, it's not even that common to have guests over to your place there--people prefer to go out with friends. Unless you plan on living in Japan for 10 years or more, I wouldn't buy any expensive storage. Hyaku-en shops are great for storage as well as stores like Life. LoFt has good deals sometimes.
Here's a picture of my tiny sink area (right off the kitchen) of my third apartment there. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2382654729_987b22c4d5_o.jpg My 4th place didn't have a separate sink area--it was in the shower room w/ the toilet!!
I had an area in my bedroom where I put on makeup so that helped w/ the lack of storage in the sink room.
My grandma's house in Japan has the same entry way view of the bathroom sink. My uncle put up some noren. He used short lace ones because they don't care that you can see the sink but another friend used longer cotton ones to hide her ugly washer/dryer and assortment of cleaning supplies.
I'd try Tokyu Hands and maybe Loft for more storage type stuff.
Sorry--in case anyone doesn't know, "noren" are those short curtain panels a lot of Japanese folks put in their interior doorways in lieu of a door. My aunties usually use white lace ones in spring/summer and change them out to linen or cotton ones during fall/winter.
Men have the worst aim. Things should not be placed around the toliet that can not be colorox.
Seriously, many cleaning fluids can be ditched, and just use white vinegar to clean with. About 4 litres of hot water and 1 coffee-mug of white vinegar, cleans anything. Floors, countertops, bathrooms, appliances, tile, windows. Doesn't smell too great, but that dissipates within a couple of hours. Or, celebrate having finished cleaning by burning your favourite-scented candle. (You can quit buying that wicked-expensive dishwasher Jetdry-type stuff and just fill the receptacle with white vinegar, works great.)
Oh, how very Japanese this is.
VioletVeil is right—no one in Japan is going to judge you (and you're lucky to have such a large sink with some built-in storage, even if it isn't great storage). Everyone else's sink area looks basically like that, or even more cluttered.
But since it bothers you, it should be dealt with. Kindled's suggestions are good ones. I highly recommend ¥100 stores. They're my favorite place to shop for organizational tools on a bargain. Just think outside the box, since sometimes things will be marketed for one purpose, but you can use it for another.
A noren or bamboo shades might keep the area from direct view when people walk in, which could help.
In any case, good luck!