Blog - Graceful Order

Organizing Under the Bathroom Sink

July 1, 2014 · by Maria · 12 Comments

A couple of days ago, I shared how I maximize the vanity/sink area that I have in my corner of the bathroom. If you missed it, you can read about it HERE.

Today, we are organizing under the bathroom sink. This area can become a black hole, if you let it. It’s awkward (with the plumbing) and its deep and baskets don’t always fit nicely. Since I have so many products under my sink, I chose to organize them with turntables. I used four, two large and two small. I placed them in a way where they fit and still turn.

Each turntable has a purpose. One is for foot spa stuff, the other for bath gels, the other for hair products and one for bath salts and oils. You can purchase the small turntables in my Amazon store HERE and the large turntables HERE. But you can also find these in most home stores. They are an inexpensive way to add a lot of functionality and organization around the house. If I used a basket, I wouldn’t be able to access the products in the very back. Now, I just turn the table until I see what I want.

On the cabinet wall, I have an organizer that I use to store these thingumajigs. Ahem. I also keep my Clarisonic Cleanser in there. You can find that metal organizer HERE but again, these organizers are in most home stores (I have even spotted them at Marshalls).

On the other side, I have another organizer but I can’t link that one since its kind of old. I don’t even remember where I bought it. I keep a little makeup bag on the top shelf and miscellaneous items in the bottom shelf.

Do you have a system for organizing under the bathroom sink? Isn’t that plumbing annoying to work around?

Happy Organizing my friends! I have a bathroom makeover coming up next so stay tuned!

Maria

Organizing Small Bathroom Sinks

June 28, 2014 · by Maria · 49 Comments

Last week we organized the shower area, and this week we tackle the bathroom sink or vanity area. More specifically, organizing small bathroom sinks, such as the one in my master bathroom. My husband has the same size sink on the opposite side of the bathroom and it works for him because all he stores is a toothbrush, a bottle of mouthwash and a razor…men…

However, my sink area has been challenging. Where was I supposed to store all my makeup, cleansers and moisturizer?? A girl can simplify but she can’t part with all her products!

I would have loved a small cabinet, but the area was too narrow and I would’ve bumped it every time I leaned over to rinse my face. A bloody nose would not mirror one of those graceful moments in facial care commercials. By the way, who actually makes all those faces while applying product on their face? I am sure that I make faces, but not pleasant ones.

But I digress. So I added small shelves along the side and it gave me a ton of storage!

A closer look at the shelves.

Update to post: Many of you have asked me where I purchased these shelves. I think that I found them at Target years ago, but I no longer see them at the store. I have just added a similar set to my Amazon store and you can find them HERE Otherwise, you may want to check Homegoods or Marshalls.

The shelves are small but hold a ton. I also like the open shelving (in this case) because these are items that I use daily. Here are all my makeup brushes.

The third shelf holds items that I don’t use everyday but I do use often, and a little plant to prettify the wall.

Bathroom sinks can get cluttered in no time if there is no system in place. When you don’t have a lot of counter space, sometimes the best solution is vertical storage. Use your walls when the counters won’t do.

Do you have a narrow sink like me, or a large area to spread out your makeup and products?

Later this week, we will organize under the sink and I will share my master bathroom update, so stay tuned!

Maria

Organizing the Shower Area

June 24, 2014 · by Maria · 4 Comments

Even the shower area needs a little bit of attention and organization.

I used to have one of those metal shower racks in the corner FULL of products. Then next to it, I would place the ones that were too large to fit. With the shower rack I realized that if given the chance, I would turn the bathroom into a Hoarders episode. Yes, me, the one with the organizing blog.

Of course, I had my excuses. I couldn’t just stick to one shampoo because my hair needed variety and couldn’t commit. Then I had 2 shower gels, because apparently my skin also liked options. Then I had 2 shaving creams because my husband likes gel-based and I like cream-based….and on and on…

Eventually, the shower caddy started to oxidize and it was the perfect opportunity to throw it out and come up with a different plan.

I found this acrylic makeup organizer that I was no longer using for makeup, and it was P.E.R.F.E.C.T. Because it was small, and small meant that I had to streamline.

I only purchase pump-style shampoo and conditioner bottles so that I don’t have to remove them from their spot.

The front of the organizer was considerably more narrow than the back but it was perfect for body wash and face wash.

I like to give the shower a quick clean while I am in there (you don’t want to use toxic stuff ever, much less in an enclosed space) so on the side, I placed a cleaner. I also keep a pumice stone for my feet in the shower. I store it upright so it doesn’t get all yucky. I also keep a bar of soap for my husband.

Which brings me to a funny story. Funny for you. Scary for me.

A while back I noticed that my shower pouf was looking kinda rough and my husband’s was perfect, almost unused. So I called my husband in the bathroom and I asked him, “which shower pouf do you use?”. He pointed at….MINE! Panic! I love that man. I have kids with him, I share everything, but my shower pouf??? Nooooooo!

He knows me and all my crazy boundaries, so after a minute (30 minutes in my mind) he laughed and said “I’m just kidding! I have been using the bar soap for a while and I don’t touch those things!”

~~We are still not talking.~~ So I laughed and hugged him. Here is a picture of the suspicious pouf.

Back to the rest of the shower area. On the wall, I have my razor that has been there for over 5 years! I have changed the razor but the housing is the same. I also have a Command Hook to hold a grout brush because you all know that when you are taking a shower, you notice all the yuckies.

So take a second look at your shower area and get rid of excess products. It is so much easier to clean with less “stuff” occupying space.

What else do you keep in the shower? Do you share cups but never bath poufs? Am I a bad wife for almost fainting? Don’t answer.

Maria

Gift Wrap Station

June 19, 2014 · by Maria · 2 Comments

Remember how last week I said that I had a big announcement?

Well, I can finally share with you something that I am very excited about. Recently, I was asked to be a contributor at one of my favorite blogs, A Bowl Full of Lemons. I am so grateful and excited, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with you.

Today is my first contributor post, and I share the details of my Gift Wrap Station. Here is a sneak peek…

So hop on over to A Bowl Full of Lemons to get the details and see all the pictures. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions!

Feeling Grateful,

Maria

Taming the Clutter – Baking Supplies

June 14, 2014 · by Maria · Leave a Comment

I am starting a new series, called “Taming the Clutter”. I am challenging myself to de-clutter even the previously de-cluttered spaces. Any system that is no longer working for me around the house, is getting a facelift.

This week, I wanted to tackle the baking center. I previously posted about my baking station HERE and for the most part, it still works for me. Except, this little turntable with all the condiments.

It looks so cute and perfect, until you use it, or pull something from the back of the cabinet. Then all the little bottles topple over.

I decided that these containers, though cute as a button, had to go! I needed a small set of containers that were stackable which would prevent the bottle avalanche.

I didn’t have to buy any containers because I had these Tupperware containers in the back of a cabinet, just sitting there being perfect and lonely. They are about 12 years old so I don’t know that they are still available. Any small stackable container will do.

I took out all my smaller baking items and discarded the expired items.

Then I took out this bad boy. My organizing companion that never expires. My label maker.

I made a label for the bottom of the container with the new expiration date. I used my labeler since it was out, but any sticker that you can write the expiration date on, will suffice.

Now fill ‘er up.

No more dealing with bottles tumbling down every time I reached for something from the back of the cabinet. I left some of the items in the turntable since it is now easily accessible.

To celebrate this new baking station, lets bake a cake.

Pile on the frosting. We’re celebrating here!

This is the first of the “taming the clutter” series, and I will share another easy project next week to simplify your day.

Do you have a baking station in your kitchen?

See you in few days with another project, and an exciting announcement!

Maria