Joanna Gaines' Affordable Hack Turns Bathroom Storage Into Elegant Decor

Let's be honest: Bathrooms are very prone to clutter. Whether the entire family uses the same bathroom to get ready in the morning or it's tight on space (or both), cluttered bathrooms are a real problem for pretty much everybody. And if you're dealing with clutter, trying to figure out the right decor feels next to impossible. But interior design queen and host of HGTV's Fixer Upper, Joanna Gaines, has a tip to keep your bathroom clutter-free: Turn your bathroom storage into affordable, yet elegant decor.

"The fun thing about being creative with the way you contain things is that things that typically wouldn't be cute, like cotton balls and Q-Tips — you can make [them] cute by getting cute little glass jars and putting them in a basket," Gaines tells Homes and Gardens. It's a simple yet effective hack. Why? Because by organizing your daily essentials — toothpicks, floss, Q-tips, cotton balls, even makeup brushes — into cute containers, you cut down on clutter while adding a touch of style. 

While you could add some Q-tips to an extra kitchen jar and call it a day, we recommend taking it a level further to get the full benefit of this hack. Don't worry — you can elevate the hack while keeping it affordable. Want to keep it simple? Reuse leftover food jars from your kitchen. Make sure to remove the stickers from the glass jars and clean them thoroughly first. For a cohesive look, grab a can of spray paint and paint the lids a color that matches or complements your bathroom's color palette. For a more eclectic look, check out your local thrift store for containers. You can find all sorts of fun organizers to fit your bathroom's decor there, from antique crystal decanters or vases to colored glass jars.

Next up: Styling. If you have room on the countertop, place your containers on a cute tray so your daily go-tos are easily accessible. If you're short on space, organize them on a floating shelf by the bathroom mirror or in a nearby cabinet. A general rule is to place smaller containers in front and larger ones in the back, but don't be afraid to play around with placement to find the right look.

This tip from Joanna Gaines isn't just for storing small essentials. It can also work for bulkier bathroom items, like towels, toilet paper, or extra shampoo. Instead of putting them in jars, find a stylish basket, organize the items inside — make sure to properly fold your bath towel into spa rolls — and tuck them onto an open shelf for elegant and functional decor.