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Get your bathroom drawers under control with these simple ways to organize nail polish.
We all have that bathroom drawer. You know the one. The one with all the nail polish! Years’ worth of bottles thrown in helter-skelter any which way, so you can’t see what you have and are left digging through it every time you treat yourself to a spa day at home.
This can be stressful, but there are solutions to this mess!
We are here with some nail polish tips that include:
- How to decide which ones to keep and which to let go of
- Some DIY storage solutions for the ones you decide to keep
- Our favorite organization products from Amazon
Let’s get started with our favorite ways to organize nail polish!
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How do you organize a lot of nail polish?
Are you a nail polish aficionado with extensive collections of nail polish and other manicure and pedicure supplies? If so, then your best bet is to purchase or make some kind of storage unit that will keep them organized and visible. You’ve seen that piling them in a drawer just doesn’t work! So we are here to show you the best options for nail polish storage solutions.
- First, you need to reduce the number of bottles you own so you only store the ones you will actually use.
- Take every bottle of nail polish you own and put them all on your bathroom counter at the same time.
- Make sure you gather them from every place you might have a bottle or two stashed away:
- your nightstand
- purse
- all your bathroom drawers.
- Next, it’s time to decide what to keep and what to throw away.
1. Age. How long is it OK to keep nail polish? Well, it doesn’t last forever. Plain nail polish has a lifespan of around 18-24 months, and gel polishes around 36 months. So, if you have a pile of bottles that you cannot remember purchasing or the last time you used them, chances are they are expired and should go in the trash. This is key to organizing your nail polish collection.
2. Preference: Even if a polish is not expired, decide if you can see yourself wearing it again. Maybe the shade isn’t what you thought it would be? If it hasn’t expired, consider:
- Giving it to a family with small children for crafts (painted rocks in the summer is a fun idea),
- Giving it to a budding nail artist to practice with, or
- Gift it to someone you think may be excited about the color.
If none of these options work for you, throw it in the trash with the expired ones.
Getting Real about Nail Polish Clutter
If you are honest about how old some of your polishes are and about the likelihood of wearing them ever again, chances are you can reduce the number of bottles you need to store to a more manageable number.
Once you have completed this step, you will better understand what type of organizer will work best for you.
This process goes for all your other supplies too.
- How many bottles of nail polish remover do you really need?
- Do you use all those manicure sets?
- How many packages of Q-tips and cotton balls are taking up precious space in your bathroom?
Time to purge everything and make sure you only keep what you will really use. This may take some time and effort, but in the long run it will be worth it.
Shop our favorite tiered spinning nail polish organizer here.
How do you store nail polish at home?
The reality is you can store nail polish at home in much the same way the salons do. Investing in pretty containers with the right display features will make you feel like you are at a professional nail place right in your bathroom.
- First, decide how you want to store it.
- Color coding is a great organization method.
- If you decide to organize your nail polish collection by color, look for or create storage solutions that give you different sections or compartments for different shades.
- This keeps your nail polish organized and makes it easier to find the color you’re looking for.
- You could also store it by frequency of use, occasion, or any other way that makes sense to you.
- I personally love to store them like a rainbow.
Should nail polish be stored upright?
- The answer is yes! Nail polish must be stored upright to give it the longest life possible.
- Polish left on its side will get clumpy, overly thickened, and dried out more quickly because it is spread thinner and more of it will be exposed to air than if it was left upright.
- You will never see bottles on their sides at a salon, so the same should be true at home.
Now that you have pared down your collection, it’s time to choose your organizer(s).
There are a variety of different ways to store your nail polish collection. We will answer all these questions and more:
- How do you organize nail polish in cabinets?
- How can I hang nail polish organizers on the wall?
- What are the best countertop organizers for nail polish?
DIY Storage Options
If you’re feeling crafty or creative, there are some great options for DIYing your own storage option. Here are our favorite ideas for DIY nail polish organizers:
- Wall-Mounted Magnetic Board: you can attach a metal sheet or magnetic board to your bathroom or closet wall and then attach small magnets to your nail polish bottles so they will stick to the board. This is a really easy way to store the bottles you want to keep. Not only does it create a visually appealing display, but it also keeps your nail polishes easily accessible and organized. What a good idea, right?
- DIY Nail Polish Rack: create your nail polish rack using wood, foam board, or a picture frame. Most plans for these racks involve attaching rows of small wooden dowels or foam cutouts to the rack’s frame to hold the nail polish bottles in place. Then this rack hangs on a wall or shelf. You can find so many tutorials on Pinterest if you want to create your own rack.
- Repurposed Shoe Organizer: this option is a great way to store nail polish if you have an extensive collection and don’t feel like making something fancy to hold it all. Just hang a clear over-the-door shoe organizer on the back of your bathroom door or inside your closet. Use the pockets to store and categorize all the bottles.
- Tiered Spice Rack: these racks are a perfect size for storing many things, including nail polish. Just use any tiered shelf organizer to display your nail polish bottles. This allows you to easily see and access each color while keeping them organized and neatly displayed, just like spice bottles in the kitchen.
Value-Priced Nail Organizing Products
If DIY or repurposing isn’t your thing, that’s okay. Maybe you want to spend more time polishing and less time organizing. We get it. A few ready-to-purchase products can make a real difference in how you store your polish and other nail tools.
Acrylic Nail Polish Organizer:
Invest in an acrylic nail polish organizer with multiple compartments or adjustable small dividers. These organizers often have slots that can accommodate different sizes of nail polish bottles, your manicure tools, and cotton swabs. They can be placed on a vanity or inside a drawer.
Clear Plastic Storage Containers
Use clear plastic storage containers with compartments or dividers to store and organize your nail polish collection. These containers allow you to see the colors at a glance and keep them sorted by shades or brands.
Acrylic Display Rack or Shelves
If you have the wall space, consider installing dedicated nail polish racks or shelves on your wall. This specially designed acrylic rack or wall shelf can hold multiple bottles and create an attractive and organized display.
We also really love the all-purpose acrylic tiered storage shelves. These are perfect for displaying nail polish (or any other item) in a way so you can see all you have.
Organizing Acrylic Carousel
If you have the space, this rotating nail polish carousel is a great option for storage. It can sit on a counter, dresser, or any other flat surface. It gives you easy access to every single bottle in a small space, but still within easy reach!
Soft Carrying Case
If you have a very large collection and want to go with something other than hard acrylic, try a soft-shell carrying case that fits under your sink or in a deep drawer! This is a very compact way to store a lot of nail polish.
These are not the only ready-to-use organization products on the market, but you get the idea. The important thing is that you choose a storage method that truly works for you and stick with it. Choose an organizing solution that suits your space, style, and the size of your nail polish collection. Any of these ways to organize your nail polish collection will leave you feeling excited for the next time you give yourself a DIY manicure.
Now that you’ve tackled your nail polish collection, it’s time to start organizing those drawers!
