In our house one of the easiest places to collect clutter seems to be the bathroom. Maybe it's the fact that there are flat surfaces everywhere. Maybe it's the plethora of products we use in the bathroom. Maybe it's the fact that those new grooming products just look so darn USEFUL and attractive when we buy them--pretty soon it seems like the drawers and countertops are pretty overwhelmed. But here's the good news: Because it's just about the smallest room in the house, it's also the easiest to get under control! Remember, small successes build confidence! This client needed serious help in her bathroom, she was clearly overwhelmed.

The process of getting your bathroom in shape quickly always starts with purging items or products that you don't need or use all the time. Our friends at CleanandScenstible.com have some great things to ask yourself when you need to organize your bathroom and start: Start with these questions:

1. DO I USE THIS? This is a pretty straightforward question: you either use this or you don't. Note that this question is NOT "do I think I will use this some day?"
2. IS THIS PRODUCT STILL GOOD? Remember most products have a shelf life or an expiration date. Unsure? If you don't remember when you bought it, it's a good thought that it's past its prime. Using outdated products can be Yucky and sometimes even harmful or toxic. Especially if it has an odd odor or color to it, best to toss it. Think fragrances and beauty products here.
3. DOES THIS HELP ME OR MAKE MY LIFE EASIER? It's definitely ok to splurge on a few things if they make you happy. But if it was an impulse buy and then you find that you really aren't using it or it doesn't make it easier to do something (think possibly a multitude of makeup brushes/sponges, extra razors or shaving utensils if you are a guy...that kind of stuff), it's ok to get rid of or pass on to someone else.
4. IS THERE A WAY THIS COULD TAKE UP LESS SPACE? Could you remove the packaging? Pare down the bottles/combine duplicate items? If it's a larger container, could you pour it into a smaller one and relocate the larger container to storage in a different place? Think of ways to downsize its footprint if you can.
5. HOW WORN OUT IS THIS ITEM/IS IT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS REPLACING? For instance, hairbrushes seem to take on a life of their own in my house--I used to laugh at my daughter who had long hair and remind her "you only have 1 head...". 2 or 3 that you use regularly is good. s8 or 9 is excessive. And it goes without saying if they are beat up or losing their usefulness it's time to invite them to leave. Makeup brushes are the same. Keep the ones you use, toss the ones you bought thinking you would use them but then didn't. Is your hair dryer on its last legs? You have my permission to replace it.
6. This goes without saying: TOSS OUTDATED MEDICINE

Once you've purged and sorted out what you can keep, this is the fun part! Small containers for the drawers keep items so organized and easy to find. Fun containers (baskets, pots, etc) on the counters give your bathroom a fresh new look. These don't have to be expensive. Target, the Dollar Store, even Home Depot is a great place to find these at a very reasonable price. And it's so much easier to maintain! You can see at a glance what you need to stock up on or toss, and it's much easier to clean around! It doesn't have to be perfect, just contained!

Small steps in getting organized make your life so much easier! Remember, it's not about the Stuff! We're here to help.