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Updated: Jun 19, 2024

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Katie T’s Cottage Home Fun Fact #28

Fun fact time! This is a new section I’m including on my blog posts so my readers can get to know me on a personal level!

So, for my 28th fun fact, I want to share that I am attempting to garden this year! I’m new-ish to gardening and would love any tips from the experts out there! 

But my goal is to make more food from scratch. Whether it be sauce, salsa, pickles, etc., so having a garden will help fulfill this goal! 

First Things First: Clean the Area

Before I list the 7 bathroom vanity tray items, make sure your area is clean! I used a homemade vinegar solution to clean my countertops.

The recipe is super simple to make. All you need is a little time and some lemon peels! Instructions are below:

• Slice up your lemon peels
• Add vinegar to them and let sit for a few weeks
• drain out the vinegar and add an equal amount of water
• enjoy your new cleaner!

Also, as promised, the FREE label for a vinegar cleaner like this one. Just make sure you use a waterproof label adhesive! 

So now, let’s jump into the 7 bathroom vanity tray items!

Decorative Greenery as an Accent

Every tray is going to look a little different, as it should. Your decorative vanity tray might be larger or smaller.

And because everyone has a unique set of circumstances, it allows for individuation and personal style in each setting. 

My preferred style is modern cottage. It’s a classy and elegant twist on a rustic farmhouse style. Although, I do go back and forth on the two styles because there is so much overlap!

Regardless, I think a good start would be to have some decorative greenery for the aesthetic. 

This is because the greenery will help give depth and fill in the voids while adding a pop of color. This holds truth even on the bathroom vanity tray that is now relocated to my upstairs bathroom. The image below is an older photo, but the greenery really adds a pop of color!

Without adding the greenery, the tray would have a more contemporary look, which is not the style I am looking to achieve today. 

With that said, a good rule of thumb when wanting to add a more rustic and wholesome look to any area would be to add organic materials like greenery, wood, or stone. 

Essential Towles and Facecloths

Next up for the 7 bathroom vanity tray decor and essentials are to include facecloths or towels!

This will vary depending on the space you are working with, but having these handy will be convenient while giving the bathroom countertop a spa-like ambiance. 

Neutral colors are always a safe bet when it comes to decor. So, if you are searching for new facecloths, I’d recommend keeping the color neutral.

Also, keep in mind, that if you decide to fold the towels in a fancy roll, like I did, any pattern on the towel may get disrupted, so it’s best to stick with a solid color. 

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Decorative Jars 

The 3rd item out of 7 bathroom vanity tray decor/essentials is a decorative jar (or two)! This is where you can showcase your style because each jar or canister will elevate the aesthetic of your bathroom decor tray.

I received these farmhouse decor accessories from a friend as a wedding gift. They are the perfect size for this stand and allow room for other essentials and decor.

Something to keep in mind is if you want the jar to be see-through or a solid color. If it’s clear, like glass, this will make it easier for guests to determine what’s in them. 

But I will say many solid decorative jars are stunning when used in a bathroom decor tray, so whatever fits your situation is the best way to go!

Another thing to keep in mind, (as someone who is facing this issue) is how well the jars handle dust.

Because these specific ones are dark AND they have a flat top, it does not lend itself to hiding dust very well. Thankfully, my husband and I are pretty on top of cleaning regularly, but if you live in an older house or live near a body of water where dust is more prevalent regardless of the amount of cleaning that you do, I’d go with a lighter, solid colored jar that doesn’t have a flat top like these do.  

Hand Cream or Moisturizer

Hand cream or moisturizer is always good to have on hand and easily accessible for guests. Keeping it in the bathroom is the perfect place, because they may want to use it after they wash their hands.

This is another area where you can put the moisturizer in a nice container, but keep in mind that it should be labeled for the sake of guests knowing what it is. That is why I kept mine in its original container. 

If you do transfer it to another container, I’d recommend keeping note of the expiration date. If it’s a glass bottle, perhaps write it on the bottom with a marker (use rubbing alcohol or sanitizer to clean it off) because moisturizer does expire. 

If you have sensitive skin like I do and want a basic two-ingredient moisturizer, click the article below.

I’m not a professional cosmetic chemist by any means, but from personal experience, this moisturizer recipe has been the only one that hasn’t burned my face.

The biggest obstacle with this recipe is that it is a harder moisturizer, so spreading it isn’t as easy. My workaround is to put it in a candle warmer to melt it, and it’s perfect to go on!

Decorative Candle

The 5th out of 7 bathroom vanity tray must-have items is to incorporate a candle.

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge candle-burning person for a few reasons.

One, the scent of many candles is overpowering and, two, many of them contain toxic ingredients.

I go into more detail in the article linked below and show you how I made a maple-scented candle, but besides the point, I think candles are still worthy of putting in your bathroom decor tray. 

Similar to the facecloths and towels, candles give a spa-like atmosphere, which is the perfect finishing touch to a bathroom vanity, regardless of style. 

Live Plant

Next up is a live plant!

Again, similar to the accent greenery, a live plant adds an organic and natural look.

Plus, there are many added health benefits of having plants in the home. Many of them clean the air we breathe, and who wouldn’t want that??

Homemade Soap

Last on the list of the 7 bathroom vanity tray items is to include homemade soap!

Okay, I know I don’t technically have soap on my tray. But I thought it was worth mentioning here because it is super important. 

Also, the recipe I used for my soap is as follows:

• 1 part castile liquid
• 2 parts water
• several drops of essential oil

If you are nervous about having soap on or near a wooden soap tray, check out my post on how I added a waterproof layer to my kitchen soap tray!

7 Bathroom Vanity Tray Decor Essentials for a Small Organized Bathroom

Well, my friends, that’s a wrap! I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the 7 bathroom vanity tray essentials to include in your small AND now organized bathroom! Don’t forget to comment below on what you think or if you have any additional recommendations for this list! Until next time! 

Love,

Katie

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