Some of the best makeup storage solutions come from the kitchen. Photo / 123RF
Spice racks and lazy Susans ... some of the best organisation solutions are stolen from the kitchen.
Recently the doorbell has been dinging daily with all sorts of jazzy kitchen gear deliveries. First there was the lazy Susan, then the spice rack, and most recently the new cutlery tray. "Oh yes, we've needed one of those for ages," says husband-to-be excitedly, as he peers over the leaning tower of boxes.
The upcoming awkward conversation was inevitable: "Let's get that lazy Susan out and order Chinese!" he says with all the enthusiasm of a child with a new toy. Right. Time to rip off the plaster. "It's all for beauty storage!" I announce. "All of it. I've scoured the internet for make-up storage hacks, and none of this is for you — or the kitchen."
Dear readers, you should know that you are responsible. The other week when I mentioned storage in passing, you left comments on The Sunday Times website with all sorts of genius storage ideas, and as a result I am now the proud owner of a spinning wheel of scents and a row of organised racks. Yes, goodbye spice racks. Hello skincare racks.
Let's start with the lazy Susan. Get yourself a mini-carousel and take your fragrance wardrobe for a twirl. That way none of them gather dust at the back of the bathroom cabinet. That rich musky scent that reminds you of hot summer nights in Marrakesh? Easy. Spin 90 degrees to the left. I say scent, but you could get more than one and have a skincare carousel, a haircare carousel and so on.
For nail polish, a spice rack makes perfect sense for anyone who has more than ten bottles. Imagine neat, colour-coded rows labelled "pastels", "nudes", "nailcare". Never again will you rummage through a nail polish bag only to find your favourite is now discoloured because it has been living on its side for 300 years.
The other kitchen accessory is the aforementioned cutlery tray. It's simple: order from any shop, slot into the empty space and use as a make-up divider. Instead of everything rolling around higgledy-piggledy, each category can have a dedicated section. It is the easiest way to spark some make-up drawer order and joy.
When talking make-up storage, it would be sacrilege not to mention upcycling candle jars. Anyone who's unsure how to do it — or tried it once and didn't quite nail it — follow these instructions. Once the wax has burnt down to the bottom, squeeze in a dollop of washing-up liquid, or Elbow Grease Degreaser Spray works well too according to the make-up artist Cher Webb. Fill with boiling water and leave for about 20 minutes. Pour out and clean thoroughly with a tea towel. I have five jars filled with different make-up brushes — not only do they look lovely, but it's also a satisfying feeling to give the finished candleware another purpose.
I must draw your attention to some non-kitchen-themed make-up storage too. Yes, Muji is the stalwart of storage, but allow me to introduce you to Hay Colour Crates. Easy to stack, fun and bright, these are the beauty editor's best-kept secret for packing things away neatly.
I'll finish with a few other speed storage ideas that I may try — or buy — while stuck at home: magnetic tape on the inside of a cabinet for bobby pins, old wine racks for hair products and, wait for it … a storage mirror! Yes, an illuminating LED storage mirror gives flattering light and has oodles of space inside for all your daily essentials. *Adds to cart*
Written by: Sarah Jossel
© The Times of London