💄 Makeup Storage for Small Spaces (Pinterest-Worthy): A Real Girl’s Guide to Not Losing Your Lipstick

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever knocked over a tower of lipsticks while digging for the one you swear you just bought last month. 🙋‍♀️ Been there. Still there some days, if I’m being honest.

When I first moved into my 400-square-foot apartment, my entire bathroom storage was basically one sad little drawer under the sink. And that was already half full of cleaning spray and spare toilet rolls. Glamorous, right?

So I had to get real creative. I wanted my stuff easy to grab, kind of cute (in case a friend dropped by and peeked in), and not so cluttered that my mascara ended up living in my purse forever.

If you’ve ever typed makeup storage for small spaces Pinterest-worthy into a late-night Google rabbit hole — girl, I see you. Grab your coffee (or wine, no judgment) — let’s fix this mess together.

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📌 Table of Contents

1. Why Even Bother? (Seriously.)
2. Purge Before You Pretty It Up
3. Reality Check: What’s Your Routine?
4. Tiny Space, Big Tricks
5. 12 Storage Hacks I’ve Actually Tried (and Kept)
6. Real Life: It Won’t Stay Perfect
7. Cheap Styling Moves that Look Fancy
8. Staying Sane: Keeping It Tidy-ish
9. Final Thoughts from a Reformed Makeup Hoarder
10. Quick FAQ for Lazy Sundays

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🏠 Why Even Bother? (Seriously.)

Okay, so here’s the thing — messy counters happen. I used to shrug and tell myself it was fine. But then I’d be late for work, rooting through ten lip liners I don’t even use, grumbling like, “Where’s my brow pencil??”

Or worse — I’d rebuy stuff. One day I found three of the same eyeliner rolling around the bottom of my tote. Three. And I’m not even that into eyeliner!

Moral of the story? Tiny space or not, a little storage magic makes mornings less chaotic and my brain slightly less fried. Win-win.

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🧹 Purge Before You Pretty It Up

Real talk: no pretty acrylic drawer set will save you if you’re still hoarding a dusty bronzer from 2015. (I see you. I was you.)

So here’s how I force myself to get ruthless when I’d rather scroll TikTok:

• Dump it ALL out. That’s right. Bags, drawers, your gym tote — everything.
• Sniff test + date check. If it smells weird or you can’t remember when you bought it? Trash.
• Would I lend it? If I’d be embarrassed to let my best friend use it, I’m not putting it on my face either.
• Sort by how you actually use it. Daily faves, once-a-week glam, party glitter you forget about till Halloween.

Confession: I once packed a whole contour kit for a beach trip. Regret it? Absolutely.

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💡 Reality Check: What’s Your Routine?

Be honest — do you get ready perched on the bed, leaning into a tiny mirror? Or maybe your vanity doubles as a work desk and dinner table? (No shame, we’re all out here doing the best we can.)

Before you drop cash on fancy containers, figure out your vibe:

• Do you like to see all your makeup out?
• Do you want it hidden away when guests come over?
• Do you do your face in the bathroom or in your bedroom?

I used to dream of a big glass-top vanity like those Instagram girls — then realized I literally do my makeup cross-legged on the carpet half the time. So I stopped fighting it and set up storage I can drag around. Zero regrets.

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🗂️ Tiny Space, Big Tricks

If there’s one thing tiny apartments teach you, it’s this: go vertical or go home.
Some little mantras I live by now:

📏 1. Use that wall, girl

Hooks, shelves, rails. If it’s blank, it can hold something. Promise.

🔍 2. Clear stuff = less digging

See-through bins and glass jars make me actually use what I own.

🧳 3. Multi-task or it doesn’t stay

A mirror that’s also a shelf? A storage ottoman? Smartest move ever.

🗃️ 4. Keep the daily bits upfront

A red lipstick for date nights shouldn’t block your everyday tinted balm. Trust me — I wasted years doing that.

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🎨 12 Storage Hacks I’ve Actually Tried (and Didn’t Hate)

Here’s where the Pinterest board meets actual living. None of these are too fancy — I’m no minimalist but I do love stuff that works.

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🧺 1. Stackable drawers (with messy labels)

Mine aren’t color-coded or fancy. Just clear boxes with random stickers. Lipsticks here, eyeliners there. So basic but so useful.

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🪞 2. Floating shelf over the toilet

Sounds weird but game changer. Small basket for face wash and daily SPF lives there now. Toilet’s not just for the boring stuff anymore.

🧲 3. Magnetic knife strip — but for tweezers

I stole this from my mom’s kitchen. Tweezers, nail scissors, random bobby pins? Slapped on the strip inside my cabinet door.

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🚪 4. Over-the-door shoe pocket thing

I bought mine for shoes. Never used it for shoes. Holds palettes and brushes now. Bless whoever invented this.

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🛒 5. Rolling cart of wonders

Mine squeaks when I push it but it fits next to my dresser and holds all my “I’ll totally use this someday” palettes.

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📦 6. Candle jars reborn

Burn your fancy candle, wash it, jam some brushes in it. Looks cute, costs zero.

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🎂 7. Cake stand but make it skincare

One of my proudest flea market finds — now my perfume bottles live on it, looking all classy.

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🧵 8. Cheap pegboard, spray-painted

Got mine from a hardware store. Spray-painted it blush pink. Now it’s a home for brushes and lip balms.

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🎒 9. Travel bags = secret stash

I toss my off-season makeup in zip pouches and slide them under my bed. Out of sight, out of mind.

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✨ 10. Spice rack remix

Bought for spices, holds nail polish instead. Way cuter.

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🪑 11. Tray on my nightstand

Daily makeup on a tray so I can drag it around. Lazy? Maybe. Effective? Yep.

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🕯️ 12. Mason jars but on a board

A piece of wood + mason jars screwed on = rustic brush holders. My cousin made me one and I act like I’m on HGTV every time I look at it.

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📸 Real Life: It Won’t Stay Perfect

Listen. Those Pinterest shots? Staged. My “perfect” shelf stays that way for about three days max.

I once spent a weekend labeling drawers. Two weeks later? Lip gloss rolling under my bed again. Moral: easy systems win. If you hate lids, don’t buy a hundred tiny boxes with lids. Just dump your stuff in open bins.

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🌿 Cheap Styling Moves that Look Fancy

My decorating budget = what’s left after my coffee habit. So here’s how I fake “Pinterest chic”:

• One color vibe: I pick white and gold. Makes all the random stuff look intentional.
• Plant power: A fake plant or dried flowers = instant grown-up vibes.
• Mirrors: More mirrors = more light bouncing around = space looks bigger.
• Show off the pretty: That fancy perfume bottle? Display it. The rest can hide.

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🧽 Staying Sane: Keeping It Tidy-ish

Not gonna lie — this is my weakness. Here’s what kinda works for me:

• Five-minute tidy on Sundays. I set a timer.
• Toss old stuff monthly-ish. If I haven’t touched it in ages? Bye.
• One in, one out. If I get a new palette, an old one leaves. Mostly.

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💌 Final Thoughts from a Reformed Makeup Hoarder

If tiny apartments taught me anything, it’s that you don’t need more drawers — you just need less junk. And maybe a cute pegboard.

Your space doesn’t have to be huge to feel fancy. It just has to work for you. So light that candle, clean out that crusty eyeliner, and turn your cramped corner into your dream mini beauty nook.

Small space, big vibes. Always. 💖

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❓ Quick FAQ for Lazy Sundays

Q: Best first buy if I have zero storage?
A: Clear stackable bins. Cheap, flexible, you’ll never regret it.

Q: Roommates keep touching my stuff. Help?
A: Get a rolling cart you can shove in your closet. Boundaries!

Q: I hate seeing my makeup. Hide it?
A: Baskets with lids. Slide ‘em under your bed, no shame.

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Alright — now shut this tab and go tackle that messy drawer. Your Pinterest-worthy makeup stash is calling. 💁‍♀️✨

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