Bathroom Organisation Hacks
Jordana Ashkenazi, an interior designer and founder of Element One House, shared her insights on how to elevate your bathroom to make it ooze luxury, impress visitors and stay organised. She emphasized that you don’t have to sacrifice form for function when it comes to giving the bathroom, ensuite or even the guest toilet a spruce up for spring.
If you have a big budget or are renovating, she suggested investing in installing drawers, built-in cabinetry and mirrored cabinets that hide all your toiletries and bathroom bits. If built-ins are not possible, freestanding shelving styled with matching baskets works beautifully and still feels intentional.
Changing up the mirror doesn’t have to be a big task, but it can pack a punch. Many newer mirrors are incredibly designer-led now, with integrated lighting, back-lighting or perimeter lighting and internal shelving, so you get storage without the bulky old sliding cabinet look. Another easy upgrade, according to Jordana, is fitting some floating shelves. One or two shelves above a toilet or along an empty wall can create extra storage without feeling heavy.
Adding subtle LED strip lighting underneath shelves or within niches can introduce a soft glow that feels elevated without being overpowering. Jordana loves compartmentalising her bathroom drawers and said you don’t need to splash out on expensive dividers or organisers. She often reuses boxes from packaging or adds simple drawer dividers to separate hair tools, skincare and everyday items.
Bathroom drawers are usually deep and become chaotic quickly, so giving everything its own section keeps it feeling calm.
Get the Luxe Look
Small touches can make your cold bathroom feel warm and inviting, and Jordana said this can be easily achieved by following the stylings of a boutique hotel rather than a showroom. She loves layering a simple tray with a candle, a reed diffuser and a beautiful tissue box holder to create a styled moment. Greenery is also key. A small faux plant or a real plant, if the light allows, instantly softens the space.
Art isn’t just for living rooms and bedrooms, and can inject personality into your bathroom’s empty walls. Jordana said art in the bathroom makes the space feel ‘designed rather than purely functional’. Refillable pumps for soaps and body wash always look elevated when paired with porcelain, stone or marble accessories, although she is a sucker for seeing well-styled Aesop bottles in a bathroom too.
Lighting makes a huge difference. There are so many gorgeous bathroom lights now that can add instant elegance and really elevate a space. When Jordana is tasked with renovating a bathroom, she likes to make the vanity the focal point. A beautiful mirror with wall lights on either side, or even a single light above, can transform how the entire bathroom feels and create that polished, designer look.
Function and Form Can Coexist
Design should solve storage, according to Jordana. The designer is a big fan of bathroom niches, but adds that they will depend on your budget and layout. You cannot usually just add a niche into an existing bathroom without retiling, so they work best when you are already renovating. If you are retiling, niches in showers or even in bathroom walls for toilet rolls or baskets can completely elevate the space.
Where space allows, niches can also be styled decoratively with small ornaments, a planter or sculptural pieces to give the bathroom more personality. Subtle lighting in niches or shelving, like with strip lights or rechargeable lamps, can also ‘add a layer of drama and depth’.
Bathroom No-Nos
Jordana shared some mistakes people make when considering their bathroom design, saying to avoid overcrowding surfaces and leaving functional items on countertops or exposed shelves. She also tried to steer clear of plastic accessories where possible. At minimum, she would lean towards bamboo, but she personally prefers stone, marble, porcelain or glass accessories.
If safety is a concern, especially in family bathrooms, heavier stone pieces are a great option because they are less likely to be knocked over. However, there is one small area of the bathroom where Jordana gives plastic her tick of approval: the toilet brush. Wall-hung toilet brush holders might look sleek at first, but in reality, they can feel a bit icky over time and are not always easy to replace.
She prefers simple, replaceable toilet brush systems that you can swap out regularly without spending a fortune. Another mistake Jordana mentioned was ignoring tile grout and silicone. If grout becomes mouldy or discoloured, it can make an otherwise beautiful bathroom feel tired and unclean. Simply regrouting tiles or even changing the grout colour can give the entire space a fresh new look without replacing tiles.
Clear the Clutter
Getting rid of unused, unwanted or out-of-date items can make a bathroom feel cluttered, disorganised and chaotic. Expired skincare, half-used travel minis and bulky plastic organisers are the biggest offenders. Too many cleaning products left on display can instantly make a bathroom feel less luxurious.
For families, it might be time to consider whether the kids’ old bath toys are still needed or worth keeping. If toys are mouldy, broken or no longer used, it is time to clean them properly or let them go. She added: ‘I also encourage people to reassess bins, toilet roll holders and toilet brush systems. Old accessories that no longer match or feel unhygienic can really date a space.’
Small but Impactful Changes
If you don’t want to or don’t have the budget for a full bathroom refresh, Jordana shared some small upgrades you can make to exude luxury. Upgrading towels, adding a textured bathmat and swapping out soap dispensers for refillable bottles can elevate a tired bathroom, while changing the toilet seat can ‘surprisingly refresh’ the water closet.
Colour is a great way to liven up the space too. Painting walls, adding wallpaper or bringing in coloured accessories can completely transform the feel without a big renovation. Wallpaper, especially, has evolved so much. You can go playful and bold or keep things soft and sophisticated, and there are fantastic options now at all price points.
Even something as small as switching out your chrome pedal bin for something more considered that matches your accessories can make all the difference.
Where to Splash Your Cash
Balance your budget around the elements you interact with most, Jordana advised. She said tapware is one thing she recommends investing in ‘because it is not just decorative, it is plumbing and it is something you use every day’. The designer said to opt for a well-made tap that fits your budget, as cheaper taps often need replacing sooner.
Because tapware is usually integrated into tiling and plumbing, swapping it out later can become more costly than people expect. There are so many gorgeous finishes available now, from warm metallic tones to softer brushed textures, and the right tap can completely change the feel of a vanity or shower.
Opting for a well-designed vanity is another key way to make your space sing. The vanity can be a real giveaway as to the price point or age of a bathroom, so investing in something more considered instantly elevates the overall look. Electric towel rails are another bathroom feature worth investing in if your budget permits, according to Jordana.
She loves electric versions that are independent from the boiler because they bring warmth, comfort and that luxury hotel feel while also tying in beautifully with tapware finishes.
Budget Luxe Bathroom Buys
When you’re shopping for your bathroom upgrades, there are some buys Jordana said are always worth adding to your cart. Lovely toothbrush holders, soap trays and refillable dispensers instantly elevate a countertop and make everyday items feel intentional rather than cluttered. A well-designed bin that complements your accessories, a replaceable toilet brush system, and structured baskets can make a surprising difference to how polished a bathroom feels.
She also highly recommends a ‘considered’ reed diffuser or ‘beautiful’ candle. Scent is such an underrated part of bathroom design. A key fragrance can completely change how a space feels, and when styled alone or on a tray with a few accessories, it adds warmth and a more designer-led finish. Jordana added that designer laundry baskets and slim drawer organisers can keep your look cohesive while avoiding unsightly plastic.
