Here’s how you can easily organize your nail polish collection with the best nail polish storage ideas!
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Is your vanity or medicine cabinet overflowing with all kinds of things? From skincare to hair tools and endless bottles of nail polish?
Beauty products, especially nail colors, are easy to hoard. We can’t stop adding to our already enormous collections because there are so many finishes and shades available! The difficult part is deciding where to place them all. Fortunately, we have some storage solutions that are guaranteed to inspire, from wall shelf setups that will make your stash seem salon-ready to colorful jars that can double as home décor.
Now let’s get organized with our best nail polish organizing ideas!
Revamp Your Collection
To start with, you should only keep the bottles you will actually use in your storage by cutting down on the total number of bottles you own. So, put all the nail polish bottles you own and place them on your bathroom counter. Gather them from all the places you might have a bottle or two hidden away, like your bedside purse and all of your bathroom drawers.
Next, it’s time to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
You should be able to cut down on the amount of nail polishes you need to store to a more manageable number if you are honest about how old some of them are and if you plan to wear them again.
You’ll have a better idea of the kind of organizer that suits you once you’ve finished this phase.
The same process applies to the rest of your nail supplies.
1. Nail Polish Racks/ Shelves
One of the best and most convenient ways to arrange and store your nail polish is to use a nail polish rack. Because they come in so many different sizes and styles, you can just choose one that matches the size of your nail polish collection.
Shelves are also an excellent choice if you have room on your wall or anywhere else where you can hang items! You can also use bins with dividers to keep nail polish containers from piling on top of one another.
Wall-mounted racks are a great option if you’re short on counter or drawer space. They keep your nail polishes visible and within easy reach, and they can also add a pop of color to your room.
Make Your Own Nail Polish Rack
If you don’t want to spend money on a rack, you can DIY one out of foam board, wood, or picture frames. To hold the nail polish bottles in place, the majority of these rack layouts call for fastening rows of tiny wooden dowels or foam cutouts to the rack’s frame. This rack can be suspended from a wall or shelf.
2. Use a Drawer
Try arranging nail polish samples on the front of a drawer if you own almost every hue under the sun. Start by painting several small cabochons using nail polish. Let them dry for a day, then glue them to tiny circular magnets and arrange them on the front of your polish drawer.
3. DIY Nail Polish Organizer
If you’re a fan of DIY projects, creating your nail polish organizer can be a fun. You can use materials like wood, and cardboard, or even repurpose an old spice rack. A DIY nail polish organizer can be customized to fit your space perfectly and give your collection a personal touch.
And if you don’t want to DIY, I use these plastic organizers from Amazon – they’ve been a lifesaver! They keep everything in its place and you can see all the colors you have without digging around. You can fit more than 48 in each one with the adjustable compartment row.
4. Medicine Cabinet
Transforming a medicine cabinet into a nail polish storage space is a pretty clever and practical idea. Medicine cabinets are designed to keep items organized and easily accessible, which makes them perfect for storing nail polish bottles, nail files, and other manicure tools. Plus, they usually have adjustable shelves, allowing you to customize the space to fit your needs.
5. Drawer Dividers
Bathroom drawers can get easily cluttered, but drawer dividers can help keep everything in order. Use dividers to separate your nail polishes from other manicure tools like nail clippers, nail files, and swatch sticks. This not only keeps your polishes organized but also prevents them from rolling around and potentially breaking.
6. Nail Polish Holder
A dedicated nail polish holder is another great way to store your polishes. These holders are designed to keep bottles upright and secure, reducing the risk of spills. Look for holders that can hold various bottle shapes and sizes, ensuring that all your favorite polishes fit perfectly.
7. Stasher Bags
Stasher bags are reusable silicone bags that are great for storing nail polish. They are clear, so you can easily see what’s inside, and they’re also flexible, making them perfect for squeezing into tight storage spaces. Stasher bags are great if you need a portable solution, as they can easily be packed for travel.
8. Clear Plastic Bins
Clear plastic bins are a simple and affordable way to organize nail polishes. They also come in different sizes, so you can choose the right ones based on the size of your collection. The transparency of the bins makes it easy to see all your colors at a glance. You can also label the bins to categorize your polishes by color palette, brand, or frequency of use.
9. Keep Swatch Sticks and Color Wheels
Keeping track of your nail polish colors is hard, especially if you have an extensive collection. Swatch sticks or color wheels are great for organizing and displaying your colors.
Swatch everything on individual swatch sticks and have them stored in jars. It’s way easier to pick out colors using the swatch sticks because you can see everything at once. Then you just have to go find the matching bottle!
10. Manicure Kits
For those of us who like to have all their manicure tools in one place, try using a manicure kit with compartments for your nail polishes, nail clippers, files, and polish remover. This is a great way to keep everything together and organized, making your manicure routine more efficient.
11. Dark Place Storage
To extend the shelf life of your nail polishes, it’s important to store them in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight. UV light can cause the colors to fade and the formula to thicken. A cupboard, closet, or drawer is a great way to keep your polishes in the dark and at room temperature, which helps maintain their quality.
Keeping your polish out of light is important for longevity. You can put little stickers on the caps so you can see the colors without pulling the bottles out.
What Is the Proper Way to Store Nail Polish?
When storing your nail polishes, there are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure they stay in good condition:
- Room Temperature: Always store your polishes at room temperature. Extreme heat or cold can affect the formula and cause it to thicken or separate.
- Expiration Date: Be mindful of the expiration date of your polishes. Most nail polishes have a shelf life of 1-2 years. Regularly check your collection and dispose of any expired bottles.
- Easy Access: Organize your polishes in a way that makes them easily accessible. This will save you time and hassle when you’re looking for a specific color.
- Nail Polish Remover: Keep a bottle of nail polish remover nearby. It’s useful for quick clean-ups and can also be used to thin out polishes that have started to thicken.
- Gel Polish: If you use gel polish, make sure to store it separately from regular nail polish. Gel polish requires different care and should be kept in a cool, dark place.
Staying organized with your nail polishes doesn’t have to be complicated. With these simple ways to organize, you’ll always have your favorite colors within easy reach, and your manicure tools will be right where you need them.