That's a beautiful bathroom. Adding to inspiration photos....

I am definately a less is more type person so miniaml stuff on any counter works for me . I actually do not even leave shampoo bottles in the shower they are put away anf brought out for use. We have international students and they have a caddy each with all the stuff they need in the bathroom.

We have things on the counters of all our bathrooms. In the master we have some personal items that get stored on the counter.

I live in an apartment that feels much bigger when there is no clutter. I have drawers in my vanity and everything but the soap pump lives in there. It is easy to use and toss everything back in a drawer.

By the way, who are you Emily H. and for whom are you doing this research? Are you part of Houzz or do you own a business?

I have a few decorative things on my counter and a toothbrush holder but not products. DH has the bigger vanity with twice the number of drawers AND has products on his counter. Go figure!

Hi @Kendrah! I am part of Houzz. We sometimes post polls like these to get an idea of what our community is thinking about particular decor issues or trends. Sometimes you see the results of these types of polls in other publications later. This community is such a passionate bunch with really great things to say. :)

I have no desire to put away commonly used items and then taking them back out later in the day. And, what's more, I hate the look of empty counters, which I think look soulless and lonely.

I hate the look of empty counters, which I think look soulless and lonely.

Or staged.

I have a tray with decorative things that style the counter- a vase or plant, hand soap in a plain amber bottle, a camdke, etc i want to look at the beauty of the stone and fixtures and gorgeous lights and mirrors- not toothpaste or deoderant. Putting personal care items in the drawer below is extremely easy access. We do keep items in tje shower and by the tub but i wish those could be hidden too

I put everything away but my husband on the other hand loves to leave the products he uses out. I put them away he leaves them out! It's a constant battle of a shared bathroom. Clean counters appear organized...aside from a few decorative items.

Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste. That's it.

When nwe installed our new vanity last year, I wanted to simplify everything. We have 8 drawers and 2 cupboards and everything is organized there. Makes life easy. I have 3 glass cannisters filled with pretty things on my counter--soaps/ q-tips/ bath salts. I've lived with that for a year and loved how it looked every day.

I Keep majority of stuff that is not in constant use in baskets and drawers. Drawers host extra toilet paper, cleaning solutions, towels. My baskets are very easy to access, at the arm reach and I keep there organized face creams, make up, hairbrushes.

Although I like my horizontal surfaces as empty as possible I can not imagine hiding in a drawer a wet toothbrush or soap. Those stay on the counter all the time.

I also keep my shower gel and shampoo/ conditioner in my tub/ shower area.

Hiding those items ( toothbrush, toothpaste, hand soap, shower gel and shampoo) in main bathroom that has couple of users doesn't make any sense to me.

One of the cardinal rules of home design is that good design is not only attractive but also functional. Sometimes good function means we want to keep the things we use regularly close at hand. Things that we use daily can be corralled on a tray so they are not random clutter. There are attractive containers available if the originals are unattractive i.e soap and lotion pumps. Or we learn to live with a little less art and a little more function.

Vanity has four small ferns (great environment for them!) in matching cache pots, soap in a handmade dish, and a candle. My products are put away - not hidden away - in their drawers. I like the clean and calm atmosphere.

We are fortunate to have ample storage in our master bath, I couldn’t fill it all if I tried. On the counter I have one soap dish and a candle or plant, everything else is in our medicine cabs. We have plants and several pieces of original art in the bathroom, so I wouldn’t call it soulless or staged, just neat and uncluttered. And no, I don’t hide shower products….they always stay out. Our 3 guest bathrooms are also uncluttered….guests will need space for their “junk”, after all. (I have often wondered why people with decently sized guest bedrooms and bathrooms insist on “decorating”/cluttering good, usable counter space with table lamps, countertop towel holders……this one totally baffles me…..picture frames and FAKE plants…..now where do I put MY stuff???)

My (side) of the counter is VERY tidy. The few products on the counter are used daily and other daily use products are in a drawer. And the counter products are in containers so I can easily clean the counter. I clean the mirror and sink every day after washing up.