I just realized that I’ve never shared with you the one container that I hold entirely responsible for my bordering on neurotic itty bitty teeny tiny organizing addiction. It was a gift given to me by one of my bestest girlfriends when I was around 20 years old (in other words not that long ago…wink, wink). It’s a simple wooden container, nothing fancy except for of course the beautiful paint job she did on the front and back of it to make it that little bit extra special 🙂
What this lovely little container did for me was introduce to me the concept of divide and conquer. No kidding, it was an epiphany for me when I realized how easy it was to find what I needed. Check it out:
Now isn’t that an amazing gift! The divide and conquer technique can also be accomplished very inexpensively with boxes or baskets as well. Any dollar store will have small baskets to fit your drawers and help you set some boundaries and limits.
As I was taking the above picture I thought hmmm what else can I take a picture of in my bathrooms. So here are some storage tips that you might find useful when getting your own bathrooms whipped into shape.
For whatever reason it seems like too much trouble for my kids to put their toothbrushes away in a drawer. I solved that by purchasing (at the dollar store) a small ice bucket for my counter top. It’s just big enough for all the toothbrushes and toothpastes.
Buckets of soap
My ensuite is very tiny with just a pedestal sink and nowhere to put anything. I purchased this floating glass shelf from Canadian Tire to provide me with a little extra storage space.
My daughter’s hair accessories. These divided containers can also be purchased at the dollar store and work great!
I don’t have cupboard space for bath toys so these containers by the bath tub do the trick nicely.
Potty training Skittles, gotta have those 🙂 Six days of many a mess and not leaving my house my son finally knows what he’s suppose to do, yay!
So my friends, have a wonderful day.
Now off you go to DIVIDE and CONQUER!
Gypsy says
Oh I love the makeup container. I knew I wanted to marry my hubby when for Christmas he made me a wooden organiser for my make up and lingerie drawer – with lots of little compartments, and then organised it all for me! Best gift ever 🙂 Love your blog and all the wonderful ideas.
Kim says
I love space savers. I’ve been looking for a thing for my pantry to hold and rotate veggie cans. Do you have any ideas?
Blessings,
Kim
Jennifer, Snapshot says
How funny–the container that started it all.
My children cannot put toothbrushes and toothpaste in the drawer (right there on the vanity) either. I think I have a little painted metal pail that I might put out for them, and see if they can reach that.
Actually I read in the book Organizing for the Creative Person that opening a drawer or cabinet can be a big obstacle in putting something away, and I know it’s true for me, so it suggests open containers.
Niki says
I love the ice bucket ideas. True, why is it kids cannot put their toothbrushes in the drawer? I am going to try skittles because MM’sare not working for me and my three (almo st 4 year old)
Katrina (Callapidder says
Very cool to see the container that started you down your path. 🙂
Love the ice bucket for the tooth-brushing stuff. And the floating glass shelf looks great and is a great solution.
Lacie says
I love the make up oraganizer!
Victoria says
My friends all laugh that you open a draw and there’s another box or divider with ear rings or make up seperated!
Victoria
Thea @ I'm a Drama M says
O.K. I’ve been enamored with the idea of the medal tub (that you used for your soaps) for quite a while now. But the problem is that my nickname is Cheapy McCheapster. Where did you get yours??
Tanna says
I love your wood makeup container!
It all started for me when my great-grandmother worked at a local paper factory. She would bring home the “leftovers” and I would sort them and make piles then take pictures of them! I hardly wrote on them. Just liked sorting them. Now if they would have had blogging when I was about 6! HA!
I also had a playroom in a closet. I had it looking like a mini house. It was soooo organized. 🙂
Susanne says
I love the ice pail idea! Can’t say I’ve ever wondered what to take a picture of in my bathroom! ;v) You are too funny!
nikkisnacs says
I love all of the containers! I’m a container girl! Congrats on the potty training, we are in the middle of it and finally making progress.
Heather says
I use a dollar store basket by the sink for toothebrushes and toothepaste, as well. 🙂
Chelsea says
That hair accessories bin is brilliant. I even have a container that is just perfect to sort into. My 4 year old DD loves to sort things, and loves to play with her hair things. This will solve a big mess that we’ve been having trouble with for years!
Fran says
I think you just inspired me to get up an divide and conquer. I have been saying to my dh that I need to organize our linen closet. I am going to really try to do that this weekend. Do you have any tips on how to organize OTC medicines?
Right now I have a huge basket on the top shelf of our linen closet and that is just not working for us.
Thanks for all the great ideas.
Fran
Jillian says
I just recently found your blog, and I love it. I am catching up on some old posts and I just love the one with the pile of chocolate chips, crandberries, rasins and whatnot. Just the other day I was ransacking my cupboards and fridge and what I found was disturbing. I had no less than 12 packages of cheese in my fridge and four bottles of vinegar in my cupboard. It really is a sickness I tell you and something had to be done. Hence the birth of the kitchen list. I went through and wrote down each and every item in the cupboards and fridge and how much of each item I had. Now I keep a running total of what I have so I will actually use it and quit buying duplicates. Simple yet effective.
Thanks for some good ideas.
Jillian
Dawn says
I love that you still have your first container. I have no idea what my first container was. I keep my daughter’s hair accessories in the same type of container that you do.
Tara says
I just found your site and will be checking in often! I just started a “quest” to get my house organized from top to bottom and I know I will be able to find great tips and ideas here!
Lisa says
These are great tips! I think I’m going to get the ice bucket for the tooth brushes! Wonderful idea. I had to snicker at the skittles…we used M&Ms at our house!
Elena says
Thanks for the hair accessory box idea. I needed that for my daughters hair accessories. Your blog has given me several great ideas that has relieved my frustation on organizing certain things.
Dawn says
I love the ice bucket for toothbrushes and paste…I find it sooo much easier to clean the bathroom counters if I’m only moving 1 or 2 things…not 50!
Charity says
Awesome, simply awesome. I keep seeing the hair accessory organizer so I’m gonna have to get one for my daughters birthday (Saturday) to get her stuff under control. Thanks!
Katie says
NO WAY! That container for your daughter’s hair accessories is perfect! I’m just getting into doing my daughter’s hair with more than a quick clip and the little parts and pieces can quickly become unmanagable. I have something similar to what you use that I can repurpose for her hair stuff. THANK YOU for that idea!!!
Stacey says
Man, I just bought a bunch of containers for the playroom, and oh, a LABEL MAKER!! I think I am in love!!! Seriously, can it be considered adultery to love something like this so much?!?!?! Yeah, I am labeling everything that holds still long enough for me to slap one on it!
T.H says
OMG, you are so organized compare to me. My room full of stuff and I am so lazy to clean them up or put nicely as Sean will again.. throw them here and there.
LisaC says
Ok, so what if putting the toothbrush, etc. into the pail is too much work for, say, the dad of the family???? The divide and conquer method works for great for me, but I have to keep dividing and re-conquering!
Bev@1-2-3GetOrganize says
Great ideas! I’m going to pass them along on my blog tomorrow.
jodi says
I used skittles too! LOL! But then I realized he would only potty in the toilet when he wanted to eat one. After eating several, he’d just pee in his pants because he didn’t want anymore. So I had to change the rules up a little bit. Each time he “go” in the loo a skittle got put in the bedtime jar. After his bath at night, he could have all the skittles he earned during the day. That’s what finally worked for us! 🙂
Heavenly Homemaker says
I love all the buckets for the bathroom! And while I think the storage container for all the cute little hair clippies and such is a wonderful idea…I don’t suppose I’ll ever need one of those!! But I HAVE wondered how mamas keep track of all of the accessories!
Joan says
Love the idea for the hair accessories ours live in one draw, would love to get a container like that but miss nearly 2 would open it and empty it all out onto the floor, might have to keep that idea for when shes a bit older.
I wanted to say thank you for this great site too i love looking at all the different ideas.
Rachel says
Oh – I just found your website through someone else’s and think I’ve died and gone to heaven! I am soaking up all the lovely tips you have about organising… I LOVE to organise… wish that it was my middle name actually. And in reading your web – I don’t feel ashamed or ‘geeky’ to get so excited about organising/sorting etc.
Thanks,
Will be poping by often to read.
Veggiemomof2 says
I’m wondering if I can use snack sized candy bars to persuade my pre-teen to shower daily? LOL
Melody says
I love all those containers. I am going to be working on potty training the first week of August. I may need to borrow the skittle idea.
J says
We have potty training skittles too! My DD calls them “potty beans!” Too cute!
Renee says
I would love any potty training tips you could spare. My two yr. old daughter is struggling.
My other kids did so well toilet training but she does not want to go potty. Skittles might be the trick or swedich fishies.
I love all you bins and containers they all house everything so nice! Great job organizing.
Renee@
http://www.under-the-weeping-willow.blogspot.com
Jasi says
Neat bin. Tell me, how do you like Pur make up? I’m a Bare Min girl but the loose powder is such a mess to tote around. Give me a shout.