Why a Makeup Organizer Belongs in Your Kitchen (It’s So Smart!)

As a home editor, I get to see thousands of images of beautifully designed interiors. You’d think your eye would start to gloss over some of the pictures. Because of the way home decor trend cycles work, you do start seeing some of the same things over and over again — seamless countertops and backsplashes, Roman shades, shimmery zellige tile. But somehow, seeing so many spaces actually helps me to zero in on when something is different — in a good way. 

Take this gorgeous, similar to a galley kitchen setup, for example, which was done by designer Kyi Gyaw for The Dean, a high-end apartment building in Ithaca, New York. A serving station-meets-wet bar in a common area, my eyes were delighted by the gorgeous dark green tile, moody backsplash, and the jewelry-like lighting.

A closer look, though, revealed something I’m not used to seeing in a kitchen: glassware organized on tiny tiered shelving units. It’s open shelving, sure, but not the typical wall-mounted style or a freestanding spice rack of any kind. These tiny, supercute shelving units are makeup organizers you’d typically see on a vanity in a bathroom or bedroom.

I immediately thought those are vintage, but no: Gyaw snagged them at T.J. Maxx. “It’s supposed to be for makeup display,” she says. With just two different tiered organizers, she turned this stretch of kitchen countertop into the perfect spot to craft a cocktail (or mocktail) by stacking each unit with glasses, an artfully placed bottle, and even a few floral flourishes. Since they’re made for toiletries and beauty products, these pieces are the perfect size for smaller glasses, liquor bottles, and bar-related accents. 

T.J. Maxx carries these kinds of pieces in stores, but nothing similar is stocked online right now. The closest I could find to the style on the right in Gyaw’s image is the Zufudo Rotating Skincare Bathroom Organizer from Amazon, which features pretty fluting and gold metal accents. The shelves appear to be placed far enough apart that you could probably fit a few juice glasses or rocks glasses on them. 

I could also see these kinds of pieces working for spices or baking supplies, if those are things you’d want to have at the ready instead. A few of these could be fun for a party, too, say, if you make a batch drink and just want to have your glasses organized in a fancier format than just placing them directly on the counter or a table. You could also use one on a bar cart to eke out extra space for storing glasses and the like. 

And there you have it! Sometimes the best countertop organizers aren’t made for the kitchen. A stylish storage reuse that’s endorsed by a designer is always a win in my book!