I Put a Soap Dish in My Entryway, and It’s So Cute and Functional

I love discovering simple but effective storage solutions for my home, like using a magazine rack for shoe storage. They really add up to help make my small space more functional — especially on busy days when I need to grab my things and go. 

Whenever I leave the house, I check if I have all of my go-to items I bring with me when I go out — lip balm, sunglasses, change, perfume. It crossed my mind the other day that a cute soap dish might be the answer to making sure I have everything I need at my entryway. It’s a small yet effective storage tool I never expected would be such a game-changer.

Smaller items can be hard to remember — especially when they’re lost in the bottom of your bag. By keeping these items on a soap dish somewhere central like your living room, vanity, or nightstand, you can clearly see at a glance where everything is and whether you’ve remembered to take what you need. Of course, this hack will only work if you remember to return your items to the dish after going out, but it only takes a moment, and once you’re in the routine of it then it becomes second nature.

Using a soap dish as a catchall also works because it’s incredibly versatile. Granted your items fit onto the dish, you can use it to store whatever you like. I chose a decorative strawberry dish to try the hack out in my home because the shape of the berry was spacious enough for larger items like my sunglasses. I also added other items like a roll-on perfume, a necklace I often reach for, and a chapstick. If you’re hoping to re-create the look I went for, this ceramic strawberry dish is equally adorable. Glass, stainless steel, bamboo, stone, or silicone soap dishes work well, too.

The hack so far has been incredibly successful and easily slotted into my life without friction. Remembering to take your small items back out of your bag after a busy day may take some getting used to, but over time it becomes a natural part of your routine. It’s important to consider what items you want to put on your dish when purchasing a soap dish for the hack, because they tend to be on the smaller side. I haven’t had any issues with the one I snagged at a local shop, but if you’re looking to put a wallet, hand sanitizer, or bulky keys on it, you might get a larger version. Beware of trays with slots that allow the soap to drain, as they might make it difficult to hold what you want to store there. 

Overall, this hack was worth it. Whether you sit your dish in your entryway, on your coffee table, or wherever you keep your bags, it’s so easy to customize to work in the best way for any lifestyle. Plus, it’s a great way to put cute soap dishes to good use — even if you don’t use bar soap!