It’s often our bathroom, the smallest spaces in our homes, that frequently become the most cluttered. There’s a lot of things we need to store in our bathrooms, so it’s no surprise that our toiletries, linens, and medicines end up overflowing onto our counters.
But there’s a better way: bathroom countertop storage. Organizers, jars, and trays can be the answer to your cluttered countertop. We spoke to two expert organizers, Lisa Lawmaster Hess and Garth McAlpin, to find out how to organize your countertops while keeping your bathroom looking great.
1. Add a Shelf

No room for storage on your teeny tiny vanity? And no room to build a bigger one either? Break out the shelving. A small shelf above your vanity is the ideal way to create extra storage in your bathroom. And if you want to keep it low-key, go for glass. Its transparency minimizes visual clutter, and your stuff may look like it’s floating.
2. Coordinate (Even More) Containers

You don’t have to stop at coordinating your hand soap and lotion bottles you can also go even further by placing face washes, skin treatments and other commonly used liquids in matching bottles. Talk about (the best kind of) matchy-matchy.
3. Break Out The Butcher Block

Another great bathroom tray alternative is a small slab of butcher block. Not only do these pretty and practical pieces provide some contrast against a white countertop, they’re also water-resistant.
4. Create Some Coordinating Storage

For storage that works for two, use coordinating containers on both sides of a double vanity. This allows each person to store what they wish, while still keeping things calm and collected, style-wise.
5. Try a Tiny Tray

Only have a few things to store on your bathroom vanity? Use small trays to hold items. The trays will make your items’ placement feel purposeful, and they’ll provide some great style.
6. Match the Hardware

For a beautifully bespoke look, match your bathroom storage to your hardware. A brass faucet is the perfect inspiration for trays and jars, while nickel drawer pulls can look great alongside some jars and lids.
7. Use Contrasting Colors

Implementing multiple trays or baskets in your bathroom countertop storage? Instead of having them match, try picking them in contrasting colors. They’ll provide visual interest and they’ll look great too.
8. Think Outside the Box

Trays are a popular choice for bathroom countertop storage. Looking to try something different? Use a serving board. These small, decorative cutting boards are the perfect unique addition to your bathroom.