Create a Low Waste, Minimalist Bathroom in Ten Simple Steps
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Is your bathroom a calm place you skip to in the morning?
Or are you more likely to find a toddler rooting through the bin,
an overflowing cabinet of half-empty bottles,
and 17 toys that need to be removed from the tub each time you go to shower?
If your home is less like a spa experience and leaning towards messy chaos then a sustainable, minimalist makeover may be exactly what you need.
If you want to create an Instagram-worthy bathroom then you’ve come to the right place.
…Not that my weird orange and blue rented one is anywhere near (although it is amazing how much life a few house plants can bring).
I’m just going to give your bathroom the minimalist makeover it yearns for. But first, let’s talk about why a minimalist bathroom is so great.
What's so great about a minimalist bathroom?
You can clean and tidy really fast.
(The excitement I have over this tells me I’m getting old).
If you have guests arriving at short notice, your minimalist bathroom will take 2 seconds to wipe down and you can focus on hiding the washing up in the oven instead (wink wink).
But seriously, a low maintenance bathroom makes life SO much easier. Especially if you’re a parent who doesn’t have 3 minutes to shower.
Plus you don’t want to be freaking out every time your toddler tries to drink from the toilet bowl.
Your bathroom is the place where you start the day and end the day, and if you are surrounded by clutter and have to search for what you need, then you’re not starting off the day as peacefully as you should.
So what do you say we make it a room you want to go in first thing in the morning.
Tap to pin this to your zero waste board:
Ten simple steps to create a sustainable, minimalist bathroom
Follow these steps (in order) to turn your bathroom into a calm, practical space that is easy to maintain and uphold a sustainable lifestyle in.
You’ll need an hour with few distractions (or two depending on the extent of your hoarding).
1. Take everything out of the room
This Konmari hack works well because it allows you to have a fresh start in the space. Ideally, the whole process needs to be done all at once so aim for naptime.
Spend a moment in your empty bathroom visualising how you would love it to look.
2. Have a fast clean
Grab a damp cloth (and your bathroom spray if it’s grubby) and take two minutes to wipe down those surfaces.
This will make you aware of just how easy it is to do now.
I actually keep a small basket with a bottle of eco-friendly bathroom cleaner (it comes in a 100% recycled plastic bottle) and a natural sponge on a high shelf above my toilet so I can quickly give it a wipe whenever I need to.
I also have a DIY all-purpose spray that contains three ingredients and no vinegar.
Read: 15 Sustainable Alternatives to a Plastic Sponge
3. Declutter all your products
This is the longest step out of them all but the most beneficial.
One by one put each item into one of three piles.
Stuff you use regularly.
Stuff you don’t use and never will
Extra products you will need in the future.
Products you use occasionally.
You have to be strict with yourself here. I also used to struggle with letting things go. But once I realised that my tube of lotion for tired legs (which had been sat in my cabinet unused for two years) was just a marketing ploy something finally clicked in my mind.
There are better things to do in life than trying to remember what creams go with what limbs.
Gifts are another problem area - while it’s lovely that your distant uncle bought you that funky-smelling, designer perfume, if you don’t want to smell like that then it’s got to go to a better home.
There’s no reason to waste any unwanted products either - my friends love it when I have a beauty declutter.
4. Put products back in logically
This step will differ for everyone so summon up your dream bathroom vision in your mind.
I prefer to only have the items my family are actually using at least once a week in the bathroom as it reminds me what I need.
Occasional and extra toiletries and cosmetics can be kept together in a different space (unless you have generous bathroom storage).
This method allows you to be conscious of what you use on a regular basis. It will also draw your attention to products you will probably never use (even if you want to).
It doesn’t matter how you organise your stuff, as long as it works for you.
5. Create a daily-use basket
Get a nice, small basket to hold the items you use every day, for example, moisturiser, contact lenses, toothpaste, hair product.
Having it all in one place keeps life simple and the basket prevents products from ending up all over different surfaces.
6. Do a toy rotation
It’s easy for kids to end up with more toys than they need but this can quickly become a trip hazard in the bathroom (or an unwelcome surprise in the tub).
If you have a small bathroom keep your bath toys in a box elsewhere - but make sure it’s a logical place. Before getting in the tub, ask your little one to choose a couple of favourites to take in with them.
They may even be happy to put them away afterwards (my toddler loves helping me with little jobs).
For younger children, or if you’d prefer to keep toys in the bathroom then try to avoid having more than 2 or 3 at a time, and swap them over each week to keep things exciting.
Children can focus better and play longer when they aren’t overwhelmed with choice.
Our most popular bathroom toys are those little metal cars, recycled stacking cups and a submarine. I prefer sustainable plastic toys because they don’t get mouldy.
7. Get rid of your bathroom bin.
If you’ve never considered it possible to have a bathroom without a bin then this is going to blow your mind.
Once you're using enough reusable items from my list below, you shouldn't need a bin at all.
This step kinda changed my life because, in my toddler’s eyes, there is nothing more appealing than a dirty box full of things he isn’t allowed.
If you haven’t swapped over to reusable menstrual products then this may not be your cup of tea. I would highly recommend these cloth pads or consider trying a menstrual cup though. It is a bit strange at first but once you’re used to it, you’ll be amazed at how much more hygienic it is.
8. Limit the decorations
Especially if you have a small bathroom.
By all means, add a personal touch but just be conscious that ornaments in the bathroom tend to get a bit icky, and it's an extra thing to clean around and under.
House plants, wall decor and hanging decorations are a low maintenance way to add some life to the room.
9. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need
You’ll undo your hard work decluttering if you start buying more products you don’t need.
Being mindful about your possessions begins when you mentally block out the adverts that are everywhere and focus on what is adding meaning to your life (not just taking your money… like erm tired leg lotion).
Before you replace any of the essentials in your bathroom, make sure your extras are used up.
10. Replace with reusable
Once you’ve finally used up all your extras and are down to the last dregs of a particular product, you can switch to a more sustainable (preferably reusable) alternative.
It helps to be organised and do a bit of research before you buy so you don’t waste money on a product that is no good or greenwashing. It’s worth remembering the words “eco-friendly” and “natural” aren’t regulated.
There are ways of living zero waste on a budget (and minimalism really helps when money is tight). Some options cost more up front yet save you a lot of money in the long term.
READ: The ultimate list of plastic-free swaps for your bathroom
Places to shop for reusable, zero waste bathroom essentials
[US]
[UK]
Ethical Superstore sell everything you need in one place
Wearth sell loads of sustainable toiletries
Although the bathroom is one of the easiest rooms to apply minimalist techniques to, it can still take a while to go zero waste in a sustainable way. I like to think of this lifestyle as a process rather than an end goal. It’s about becoming intentional so you can lead a meaningful life that is kind to the planet.
If you’ve tried this technique I’d love to hear how you get on in the comments below.
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