Planning a bathroom remodel can be exciting with beautiful and tranquil inspiration photos from Pinterest and magazines. But you will notice all of these inspiration photos have one thing in common – no clutter! The last things you want in your new bathroom are crowded countertops and overflowing cabinets. And that’s why it is essential to declutter first.
You have likely heard of the KonMari Method™ created by Marie Kondo and outlined in her bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Marie Kondo focuses explicitly on the bathroom because it is a particularly tough place to store things as it is humid and warm. As with the rest of the home, she suggests decluttering before figuring out how to store your items. And this is also a great first step before remodeling your bathroom, so you will know exactly what type of cabinetry will work for the things that you decide to keep.
Here are five ways to apply the KonMari MethodTM when remodeling your bathroom:
1. Dispose of Expired or Unused Products
Most of us tend to hold on to products in the bathroom more so than other areas of the house because we feel we will use them someday. But the truth is, most of us only use a few specific products each day. Marie Kondo points out that much of the time, these products actually expire before we have a chance to use them. While you may feel guilty throwing away a product that you only used a few drops of, it will feel better to dispose of something you’re not using and utilize that space for the things you love.
2. Make the Most of Your Footprint
Having a separate tub and shower may seem good in theory, but if you never use the bathtub, it is merely taking up space. One Brothers customer chose to turn their tub into a large walk-in shower and remove the existing small shower, replacing it with cabinetry. Now they have a space that uses every square inch wisely with a beautiful and large shower area and linen and toiletry storage right at hand.
3. Designate Storage
Sometimes, when we have plenty of storage space with cabinets and drawers, we tend to stuff them full of things we aren’t using. After you have discarded the things that do not spark joy, get drawer separators, and store the things you use daily neatly in the top drawers. With custom pull-out cabinetry you can store items such as towels, toilet paper, or cleaning supplies in lower drawers.
4. Keep the Counter Clear
A big thing we hear homeowners say when remodeling the bathroom is that they need more counter space. But Marie Kondo actually says that “there is no need to keep soaps and shampoos out when we are not using them.” She recommends keeping everything out of the bath or shower and putting it away in the cupboard. This can be really monotonous when you don’t have a storage solution right at hand. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel, look at the different cabinet options and pick something that will hold your daily personal care items. That way, they are close at hand but off the counter and out of the shower.
5. Create a Functional Space
The most important aspect of a bathroom remodel is that it must work for you and your life. We see beautiful inspiration in magazines and on Pinterest, bright white bathrooms with fresh flowers and claw-foot tubs. But none of those things will spark joy if they do not work for your lifestyle. Envision your morning and evening routines in the bathroom. Do you share a bathroom with your partner, then perhaps a wall or full water closet dividing the toilet and sink areas is a good idea. Or maybe you do your makeup at the sink each morning, then a built-in vanity area or extended counter with drawer would help you keep the space tidy.
If you’re ready to change your bathroom, contact the remodeling experts at Brothers today! Our professional designers can work with you to create a functional and beautiful design with specialized storage to keep your bathroom tidy.
