How I Organize My Vanity

My friends and family members know that I'm a super-organized person, so the biggest question I get asked is how do I manage to store and organize all of my beauty products.

Behold, my makeup and beauty product collection, above. Now I know that this is way more than any one person needs. But like anyone who's got a collection of anything, I find joy in discovering new products and finding things that work for me. And my one of my other passions - organization - comes out in full force when I have to find ways to store everything. 

So if you want some help in figuring out how best to organize your beauty products, keep reading.

Take inventory of what you have

The first step for organizing and storing your makeup - or organizing any part of your home - is to take inventory of what you currently have. This is a great time to go through what you own and figure out what you'd like to keep and what needs to be thrown out. Once you know what and how much you're planning to keep, then you can come up with a plan for how you'd like to keep it all organized.


Devise a plan that you can stick with

I watched countless YouTube videos to see how other beauty lovers were storing and organizing their makeup so I could get a sense of the options available to me. I really locked in on using Muji acrylic cases because I know that I'm very visually oriented - in order for me to use something, I have to be able to see it. Knowing how your brain works will be helpful to creating a solution that makes sense for you. 

Of course, a plan is only successful if you're able to stick with it. I grouped all my makeup into specific sections within each acrylic case and organized everything in the order in which I apply my makeup. This way, the storage makes a lot of sense in my mind and it's easy for me to know where to put any products back after I've finished using them.


Modular vs. static storage - which is best for you?

As a makeup lover, I knew that my collection would grow over time, and that I would need to reorganize as new products came in. The beauty of these acrylic cases is that they're completely modular - I can stack them in whatever formation I need to in order to best fit my needs. Plus, as my collection grew, it was an easy trip to Muji to pick up another case as needed. A popular static storage option is the IKEA Alex drawer system. I considered this option because it's got a lot of space in a relatively slim profile. But, I knew that if I ever needed more storage for any reason, I would be stuck with a large furniture piece that might not fit my needs anymore. 

In general, if you want to be able to customize your organization or you anticipate your collection may grow, modular storage is your best bet. If you think your collection will remain at the same level, then consider a more static option.


Think outside of the box - and don't be afraid to DIY

Sometimes I can't find the exact organizational piece that I'm looking for. But, when I get creative with my solutions, I usually find something that works perfectly for my needs. For instance, I wanted to find a solution for storing my perfumes and beauty products but struggled to find something that fit my needs. Instead, I took a trip to the kitchen aisle at Target and found acrylic serving trays that perfectly fit the dimensions I was looking for (out of stock online, but similar here).

I love a great DIY project, and when I found silver jar candles at Nordstrom Rack, I knew that the jars would be perfect for storing my makeup brushes - and they have been! The tray that I store my primers and setting sprays on was a $5 find at Marshall's - and with a little elbow grease to fix it up, it's been a super functional and super beautiful way to stay organized.


Organize by zone and order of use

I mentioned earlier that my makeup drawers are divided into zones and in order of use. I also expanded that to the way I store my bath and body products and my primers and setting sprays (at right). Everything in either tray is organized by the way in which I would use an item - this way, I'm able to grab what I need without thinking about it because everything is laid out within my beauty routine.

Generally, my vanity is organized in zones - everything related to makeup, bath and beauty, or perfume has its own area. Not only does it help me more easily identify my products, but because they're all thoughtfully and carefully arranged, my vanity never looks cluttered or unorganized despite the volume of items.


So, how do you organize your vanity? Share your ideas or favorite organizing products in the comments section!