12 Medicine Cabinet Organization Ideas to Streamline Your Daily Routine

Use Magnets

Add storage to an overlooked surface by mounting a magnetic memo board to the bathroom storage cabinet door. Slim magnetic containers hold personal-care items but still allow the door to shut completely. Utilize magnetic hooks to store small tools, or attach magnets directly to the bottom of items like lip balms, so they'll stick directly to the door's surface.

Label Shelves in a Shared Bathroom

When multiple hands are in and out of the medicine cabinet, labels are the key to keeping things organized. This is especially important if you have a babysitter watching little ones and need to find a bandage swiftly. If your toiletries and cosmetics are already sorted by category, labeling should be a breeze. 

Once hair and skincare products, dental supplies, and other items are placed in their respective spots on the shelves, add a small strip of label tape, clearly identifying the categories. If everything is contained inside organizers, feel free to stick the label directly to the front of them. Or if the items are loose and the shelf allows for it, adhere the label strip where it faces you. This type of label generally peels off with ease, so even if you decide to rearrange the cabinet in the future, it won’t be hard to switch up the tags as well.

Add a Dry-Erase Board

While it’s necessary to keep toiletries tidy within a medicine cabinet, it’s equally important to stay on top of your routines, especially if you’re trying to build better habits for yourself or your family. Adhere a dry-erase board to the inside of the cabinet door (checking to make sure it will close correctly) and keep a dry-erase marker within reach.

Note when you’ll need to order new products, such as contacts or toothbrush heads. Remind yourself to take medicine or supplements, especially when they’re new to you. Or write a (gentle) reminder to the kids to brush their teeth or wash their hands for a certain length of time. If you’re trying out a new skincare routine, consider hanging a dry-erase calendar on the inside of the medicine cabinet to keep track of your schedule.

Make a To-Go Caddy

While you might choose to store nail polish or eyeshadow palettes in the medicine cabinet, you may not always choose to do your nails or makeup in the bathroom. Make it effortless to take beauty supplies with you wherever you want by containing them in something you can carry.

A small, divided container easily organizes polish bottles, cuticle oil, and nail files, and makes it simple to take them in and out of the cabinet when you want to give yourself a manicure. Once you’re done, just pop it back on the shelf. A narrow caddy can also be used to store bandages, antiseptic wipes, and gauze pads, then carried by a handle to wherever the scraped knee is to be tended to.

Decant Daily Items

The term "decanting" often evokes the process of pouring wine from its bottle into a pretty carafe. But in the world of home organization, it refers to anything that can be taken out of its original packaging and placed into a less obtrusive container. In the kitchen, everything from spices to pasta gets decanted into pretty glass jars. In the bathroom, you can do the same with the small items you use frequently.

Using either clear jars or open divided containers, add makeup sponges, cotton rounds or swabs, and floss picks. Place them on the lower shelf of the medicine cabinet for easy reach on busy mornings and tired nights. This also allows you to see when it’s time to replace any of your supplies. If the entirety of the package doesn’t fit in the container, put the bag or box with its remaining contents in a nearby linen closet, so it's quick to refill.

Designate Cabinet Space

A multi-user medicine cabinet isn't doomed to be disorganized. Sort most items into categories, specifically the ones that are used communally. Then, designate a special spot for the personal items of each person who uses the cabinet. Tall, open jars can store the specific toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste tube for you, your partner, or the kids. Add an obvious label to each jar, so no mistakes are made.

Consider the height and depth of your medicine cabinet when planning storage for each person. For example, those who are taller can, perhaps, use the second shelf, freeing up the bottom for anyone who needs it. If your style of medicine cabinet has more than one section, consider assigning one per person. Or if you have a trapdoor cabinet, use one door for yourself, one for your spouse, and the third for the items you share.

Include See-Through Containers

Contain multiple small items in see-through containers that keep contents in view. These clear canisters with lids, for example, don't take up much space but make finding beauty accessories a cinch. Being able to see what belongs in each container makes it easier to keep things in the right spot.

Add Under-Shelf Storage

Don't forget about utilizing the underside of medicine cabinet shelves. Install simple stick-on hooks to hang headbands, necklaces, or bracelets, so they are always close at hand. Place these hooks near the sides of the cabinet, so hanging items won't be in the way.

Create a Catch-All for Miscellaneous Items

A jumble of tiny miscellaneous items can turn your medicine cabinet into chaos. Control small bits such as bobby pins, barrettes, and cotton swabs with right-sized containers. Choose storage vessels with lids or ones that don't tip easily, so you don't accidentally knock a container over and send things flying.

Maximize Space

Risers enable you to store twice as much in the same amount of space. Acrylic risers boost organization without blocking views. Mini jars and containers are great for storing smaller items such as ear swabs, barrettes, nail clippers, dental flossers, and hair elastics.

Group by Category

Group together all the items within a category of care, designating areas for skin, hair, teeth, and first aid needs. On bleary mornings, you won't have to hunt for toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash because they will all be in the same spot. Sort items into matching containers, such as white ceramic cups or clear acrylic tumblers, to instantly make shelves look neat. For a good look, paper the back of the cabinet with an adhesive shelf liner.

Add Clear Organizers

Base your medicine cabinet organization ideas on your personal needs, and provide easy access to the items you use most often. Here, the lower shelves hold shaving gear and products used every day, while the upper shelves stow health aids. Clear acrylic organizers group similar-size items.