How to make your bathroom essentials look nice – 9 must-have buys to instantly elevate your space

Sometimes, the packaging of your favorite products can look cheap and jarring against your bathroom scheme, so why not use refillable bottles like this set instead? 'An easy way to up-level your must-have shower items is to use bottles that match your bathroom’s vibe. You can purchase bottles for your shampoos, conditioners, body soaps, and all your must-haves. You don’t want your bottles to be the standout items of your look,' says Sallie Lord, of GreyHunt Interiors.

A bathroom vanity can quickly start to look cluttered. Pieces of jewelry you've taken off before a shower, spare hair bands and bobby pins, and even small makeup and skin care products can quickly cause a mess in your space. So, having a place to store them can make all the difference. This rattan tray is the perfect addition to your vanity – it looks stylish, hides small bits of clutter, and creates a sense of permanency and place for miscellaneous items you need within easy reach.

If you're more partial to a bath, there are always a few bathroom essentials you need within reach. Instead of introducing a boring small shelving unit beside the tub, opt for something that can double up as decor. 'Think about things that make your bath time a pleasure and allow for that when you furnish the bathroom,' says interior designer Benji Lewis. 'If you like reading a book, have a small table positioned beside the tub so you can put your book on it when you’ve finished bathing.'

More visible in the bathroom than your shower products, soap bottles on your bathroom vanity are always jarring in a scheme. Whether it's the packaging or the brightly colored soap inside, it's worth investing in refillable bottles that match your bathroom. 'We know that people often pick up hand soap from the store and don’t think about the bottle. We recommend finding a bottle you love and refilling it with a hand soap brand you love for a cohesive, up-leveled, and subtle look,' says Sallie.

There's nothing worse than a beautiful, relaxing bathtub that's been taken over by a slew of products crammed around its perimeter. It looks messy and makes finding the products you need almost impossible. Instead, keep only the products you need for everyday use out and introduce a really stylish bath caddy. A design like this wood and gold one is a decorative piece in itself, but with a candle and a couple of luxe bath products on top, it instantly elevates the whole area.

On the other hand, if you prefer to use bar soap, alternative packaging just isn't an option. However, opting for a more luxurious, aesthetic soap dish will instantly elevate your bathroom countertops. Opt for a design that not only looks elevated but also pairs beautifully with your bathroom color ideas. This beige marble soap dish from Zara Home is a stylish option, especially in more muted, tranquil spaces. There is also a matching tray available for any extra essentials you want to keep organized.

If there's one thing no bathroom is complete without, it's your toothbrush. It's perhaps the most essential bathroom item, alongside soap, that you need to use multiple times a day. So, storing it on your vanity or bathroom countertops is the norm for most people. There are ways to make it look nicer, though – a sculptural toothbrush holder like this super fun design is an easy way to take you toothbrush from a boring essential to a piece of art in your space.

So you've organized all of your products and essentials on your bathroom shelves, but they still look cluttered and, well, not very aesthetic. While shelves are fantastic for extra storage in a small space, they can still look messy. Instead, organize your bathroom essentials into wicker baskets, like this set of two featuring a fabric lining, and then place them on your shelves. It will hide the jumble of products while still making them easy to reach and store. A win-win for a nicer looking display.

If you need a bit of extra space to store your products, stay away from plastic units. They look cheap and ugly and absolutely do not make your bathroom essentials look nicer. Instead, we recommend choosing a material and design that feels more elevated – like this bamboo freestanding storage unit. It feels a little bit more luxurious and will instantly make your bathroom essentials look nicer, rather than an after thought. It's these small touches that make all the difference.