5 messy things that guests always notice in your bathroom – and the clever storage essentials you can use to hide them from nosy visitors

If you love hosting, you’ll know that there’s nothing better than opening up your home to friends and family. But it’s hard to deny that there’s also a lot of pressure to make your home look perfect - especially in shared areas that you know they’ll be using (and probably judging).

And while one of the best ways to ensure your house is always guest-ready is to make use of the rooms they won’t be using, this gets a little complicated in communal areas like the bathroom. All it takes is one trip to the loo, and nosy guests will be quick to judge everything they see in front of them… even if you think you’ve done a good cleaning job.

After all, so many of us are houseblind to our own clutter, which is why it’s important to step back and see things from your guests’ point of view. Is there something on show that needs to be hidden? Do you need to move something elsewhere? These are the messy things guests always notice in your bathroom, and what to do about it.

1. Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Bathroom essentials are exactly that: essential. That’s why it’s not a bad thing to find toothbrushes and toothpaste in a bathroom, as they’re the everyday items you and your family use regularly. But while they probably don’t look messy to you, guests often find them a little off-putting.

This is because toothbrushes and toothpaste (and other tooth-y items) are usually kept by the same sink that guests wash their hands in, meaning they’ll stare directly at them for at least 20 seconds - probably while humming "Happy Birthday" twice from start to finish. This can be especially horrifying for guests if they’re dirty and scummy.

The trick here isn’t to get rid of them, though. Sometimes, relocating them to a different area of the bathroom, or using one of the things people with tidy bathrooms have to hide them from view, is the solution. There are also so many aesthetically pleasing toothbrush holders out there, too.

2. Shower and bath toiletries

The logical place to keep shower and bath toiletries in your bathroom is right beside (or even inside) the shower and bath. And while caddies and in-shower shelves can be a game-changer when you need clever bathroom storage, they can look incredibly chaotic.

These bottles and potions are some of the messy things guests always notice in your bathroom, as they’re typically big, bulky, and always look out of place alongside your bathroom fittings and decor. Of course, it’s not the end of the world if your guests know that you clean yourself (shocker!), but you can make it look tidier if you want.

Focus on decluttering what you no longer need, pop the uglier items in a cupboard while guests come by, or you could decant your products into sleeker, more stylish bottles that can be attached to the bathroom walls for that luxe, hotel-like feel.

3. Toilet paper

One of the first rules of hosting is having enough toilet rolls in the bathroom so nobody gets caught short, but there’s no denying that toilet rolls aren’t easy to store - and they’re not the prettiest, either. Because of this, it’s easy for them to look messy if they’re placed on top of or to the side of the toilet.

But what can you do about it so your guests don’t judge you for it? Our Content Editor, Holly, swears by a bathroom toilet-roll storage hack that lets you add a small curtain around your sink or open shelving to hide them from your guests’ view.

If that’s not a route you want to go down, there are so many other options out there - from buying sleek and stylish toilet roll holders to storing them in wicker baskets with lids so they’re not visible at all. This way, they can remain nearby without making the space look messy.

4. Wet, crumpled towels

In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than visiting someone’s house and wiping your hands on a damp, crumpled towel. It makes me wonder what kind of germs are lingering there, and it makes the whole bathroom look (and feel) messy and unloved - especially if there are other towels hanging haphazardly elsewhere.

Your guests probably think the same when they visit your house, which is why it’s always a good idea to refresh and fold your towels before they arrive. This will only take you seconds, but in the long term, you might want to think about your bathroom towel storage ideas.

Sometimes, simply switching up how you store and present the towels in your bathroom can make a huge difference to your experience - and your guests’. This can be especially handy if your towels are looking a little old and worn out, as you could opt for a solution that completely hides them from view.

5. Bathroom bin

In my eyes, a bathroom bin is a must. It’s a handy way to dispose of all manner of bathroom items, from sanitary products to tissues, floss, cotton buds, makeup wipes, and any empty cosmetics and toiletries that can’t be recycled. But a bin is also one of the messy things that guests always notice in your bathroom.

This is primarily because bins aren’t attractive items, and they can often stick out like a sore thumb - especially if they don’t have a lid and are in an open, visible area of the room. They can be off-putting, and most people (both the guests and the hosts alike) don’t want the other to see what’s in there.

To maintain privacy and hide it from your nosy visitors, the solution here is simple: hide or change the bin. Hiding can work if you’re confident your guests won’t need it while they’re in your home, but changing it to one that looks better and has a lid is a happy medium for everyone.

With these handy storage solutions in your bathroom, you'll impress your guests AND keep clutter at bay.