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Got a cluttered bathroom? Unleash the magic of the KonMari Method of Tidying.
Tired of dirty clothes strewn on the bathroom floor? Bothered by counters turned eyesores, overflowing with bathroom products you seldom use? Searching for ways to maintain order in your shared bathroom? Wishing for some much-needed magic to turn your bathroom into a clutter-free haven of serenity? Look no further! Instead, put on your magic cape and get ready to learn bathroom-transforming secret spells based on the famed KonMari method of tidying and our design recommendations. Here is how to organise your bathroom.
Let’s begin by demystifying the tidying magician that is Marie Kondo. The Japanese organising expert first shot to international fame with the publication of her book The-Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The book, which went onto become a #1 New York Times bestseller, selling over millions of copies, provides a comprehensive guide to Marie Kondo’s trademarked KonMari system. The method, on the face of it, is simple enough with its six basic rules – commit yourself to tidying up, imagine your ideal lifestyle, finish discarding first, tidy by category and not by location, follow the right order of tidying, and ask yourself if it sparks joy. The philosophy of it runs deeper, as it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking. More recently, Kondo’s Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has catapulted her success to new heights. So much so that her name is now a verb – so don’t be surprised if you hear of someone who is Marie Kondo-ing their homes or have recently Kondo’s their houses.
Revamp Your Bathroom: Marie’s Rule for Organising and Decluttering
Our first order of business bathroom organiser ideas comes from Marie’s rule of ‘start by discarding, all at once’. Since Marie favours sorting all items in a particular category in one shot, look to organising all bathroom related products at one go. Gather all related items in one place and systematically decide which ones to keep. All those that are past their expiration dates, those that have outlived their purpose, that half-finished bottle of conditioner you will never use, those small bottles of hotel toiletries you are storing since forever, out with all of them. The products you decide to keep should be the ones that touch the heart or spark joy.
Sassy Storage Speaks Volumes
Once you have decluttered (and only after you have decluttered completely) Kondo advocates turning your attention to storage. She has one primary rule when it comes to storage – keep it simple. Kondo’s premise is that most people realise they need to own fewer items, but due to the complexity of their storage systems, they fail to realise exactly how much they own that can be de-cluttered. “The secret to maintaining an uncluttered room is to pursue ultimate simplicity in storage so that you can tell at a glance how much you have,” maintains Kondo.
Specifically for bathroom products, Kondo writes, “there is no need to keep soaps and shampoos out when we’re not using them.” Instead, we should wipe them down after a bath and store them away. This not only protects the products from needless heat and moisture, it also makes the shower or bath area easier to clean. A simple way to store bathroom essentials is to use a bathroom organiser shelves. More so in small bathrooms as they do not rob space. Kondo uses built-in shelves in the bathroom as storage. You could also explore floating shelves. Look above your toilet. See a wall with a lot of unused space begging to be used? Install floating shelves. They are both practical and pleasing to the eye. The area under the sink also offers a solution for storage. Build custom cabinets that make optimal use of the space. Utilize the negative space inside for over-the-door organisers to hold brushes, razors and other essentials; and removable hooks to hang lightweight cleaning cloths and other small items. Don’t forget to pare the items to be stored down to the absolute essential before making any design decisions regarding storage systems.
Also, check out Bathroom Storage Ideas
Right Place For The Right Stuff
‘Designate a place for each thing’ is a critical Kondo maxim, as it helps tidying be effortless and to become second nature. Kondo reasons, “the existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your space will become cluttered again.” We advise beginning with dirty clothes and used towels. They don’t belong on the floor or scattered in the bedroom or worse still, left carelessly on the bed. Designate a laundry basket where such items can be gathered immediately after use. Laundry baskets come in a range of designs, so pick one which is practical and meets your design sensibilities. Those who are sticklers for separating colours from whites can put in twin baskets to sort their laundry. As for Kondo, she too has a laundry basket that she keeps stored in her cupboard. Simple bathroom organiser ideas go a long way!
Also, check out Bathroom Cabinet Designs
Secrets Of Sorting And Segregating
To further make sure that each thing has a place to call home, compartmentalise your essentials into holders. If your bathroom cabinets feature drawers, invest in acrylic dividers to segregate storage space. Or buy bins, caddies or baskets for your shelves, to separate your products. Dividers are a great way to have each member of your family take charge of their own personal care items and play a critical role in keeping things organised. Want each family member to have a designated spot to hang their towels and clothes? For a practical yet glamorous option, consider hooks and rails especially those finished in sparkling metal. These provide easily accessible storage and double-up as a design statement. Bold gold, polished silver and burnished nickel are only a few of the finishes you can choose from. Since hooks allow for easier hanging and take up minimal space, opt for multiple ones on a single rail. These little tricks can transform your bathroom! From bathroom organiser stands to mirror organisers and shelves – all these tidying up items help in more ways than one.
Out With The Old, In With The New
Our last tip draws from Marie’s advice, “eliminating excess visual information that doesn’t inspire joy, you can make your space much more peaceful and comfortable.” Decant liquids like shampoo and conditioners into plain containers and remove all original packaging, where possible, while storing detergents and other household cleaning items.
To end, we would iterate that do not use nifty storage systems to bury possessions that spark no joy. Instead, keep your bathroom design simple, and clutter-free. The simplicity and the ingenuity of the KonMari system ensures that you need to organise only once for effects to be sustainable and life-long. Even Amitabh Bachchan tweeted that he was inspired to try it after Jaya Bachchan presented him a copy! With such a testimonial you can hardly go wrong.
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