If you’re longing to achieve a tranquil, spa-like feel in your bathroom, you’re not alone. In 2021, designers are emphasising the bathroom, accentuating the space with eye-catching trends such as bold colours, earthy tones, and tropical vibes. While the year’s vogue themes can boost your bathroom’s aesthetic, merely organising the space will create a zen-like ambience you’ll relish after a long day. What’s more, you can work within a modest budget and declutter in your own time.

This article offers several smart design options to help you lay an organised foundation upon which you can build your dream spa-like sanctuary.

Keep countertops clean

While it might seem obvious, keeping your countertops clean and toiletry-free instantly creates a sleek look. But if you insist on keeping items on the countertops, try grouping them in attractive containers or matching bottles – more on that later!

Choose one or two décor statements

Most spa-style bathrooms adopt a less-is-more approach free of decorative items. This is also a good design hack for those with small bathrooms. It doesn’t mean you have to go without, though. Adding a fresh green plant or two, such as aloe vera or bamboo, can regulate moisture in the air while hitting the tropical trend.

Keep what’s seen clean

Don’t worry if your cupboard space is limited – try to focus on keeping any items on display tidy. Roll or fold towels and consider containers for loose essentials like soap (i.e., a soap dispenser).

Choose elegant containers

If your bathroom is small or you find it practical to keep your toiletries on display, consider transferring the liquids to small, elegant containers to save space – think glass or stainless steel for a clean, polished look.

Invest in essential bathroom accessories

Being mindful of coordination, buy the bathroom essentials, such as a soap dispenser, a small bin, a toothbrush cup, and a soap dish.

Choose dual-purpose accessories

If you love to accessorise, opt for dual-purpose items. For example, a wooden stool can house your towels while emanating an effortless, rustic feel.

Hook and towel racks

Keep towels off the floor and avoid crowding the space by installing hooks and towel racks – you may be surprised by a simple towel rack’s space-saving potential!

Move your medicine

Many of us keep our medicine cabinets in the bathroom, but moisture and heat from the shower create a subpar storage environment for medication. Therefore, you may consider moving your cabinet to the kitchen. Not only is it better for your medical supplies, but you'll also free up extra space to store your favourite toiletries and other essentials.

Draw upon drawer organisers

Eliminate frantic drawer rummaging for that one item you can never seem to find by purchasing drawer organisers. This way, everything will have its place in your bathroom, restoring a sense of calm and serenity.

Conceal clutter with storage boxes

Storage boxes are a worthwhile investment for any bathroom, especially as there are so many stylish options these days. Plastic storage boxes are common, but if you're looking to get on the earthy-tropical trend, opt for wooden or woven baskets.

Go opaque

While wire and open-weave storage baskets are visually appealing, you may not want certain products on display. If such cases, use liners in your grid baskets or choose opaque storage baskets to conceal any sensitive items.

Save space with stackable trays

Stackable trays and shelves aid organisation while maximising vertical space. Instead of filling your bathroom cupboards, choose items like acrylic trays to create extra storage levels.

Having covered storage and tidying tips, the next section explains how you can start organising your bathroom immediately.

Empty the cupboards

Bathrooms accumulate lots of clutter, from toiletries and towels to cleaning products and rubber ducks! The best way to declutter your cupboards is by moving all non-essentials items to another room. This will allow you to assess what should live in the bathroom and which items you need to find another home.

Clean all surfaces

With everything out of the way, you can clean your bathroom from top to bottom, accessing those tricky, hard to reach areas like inside cupboards and behind the toilet and sink. Giving the floor and walls a thorough scrub will expand the space, too, as you’ll remove the dust and grime - two pesky culprits that can overcrowd the cleanest bathrooms when left unchecked. Fitting bathroom wall panels is a great way to expedite the cleaning process as they’re quick and easy to clean and eliminate laborious grout maintenance.

Make the most of pre-existing storage

Grouping your essentials in your cupboards' built-in storage boxes is handy, but you can also use your cupboards' tension rods to suspend spray bottles, for instance, to free up some extra space.