Anyone who knows me knows that I change my purse like I change my clothes. I’m a proud owner of purses in a wide variety of colors, styles, and textures for any occasion. Some may call it excessive, but I call it a hobby. And although my purse collection is vast, the items I keep in my bag stay pretty much the same from day to day (I’m the walking emergency kit for my friends). Lip gloss, feminine products, touch-up makeup, phone chargers, snacks… You name it, I’ve got it in my purse.
That being said, the hardest part about being a consistent purse-changer is moving the contents of my bag to the next one whenever I want to switch. I typically use what I call the claw method (AKA literally just grabbing whatever I can with one hand and shoving it into the next purse), but it’s all too easy for essentials to get lost in the shuffle. That is, until I discovered this TikTok hack that has forever changed my purse swap routine. To all my accessory lovers out there, you need to get yourself a purse bowl. Here’s everything you need to know about the purse bowl hack and tips for implementing this hack into your everyday life.
What is a purse bowl?
The idea of a “purse bowl” was first shared by TikTok creator @cocotakes in a video she posted last month. It’s basically just a decorative bowl where you can dump the contents of your purse when you get home. The next day, you can easily grab everything in the bowl and throw it into your purse of choice before you head out the door. Instead of the usual chaotic process of fishing out the contents of yesterday’s purse when you’re already running late, the purse bowl keeps all your essentials visible and easily accessible so you can ensure everything gets transferred to the new bag. This hack has even inspired me to switch out my purses more often because it’s such a smooth process.
A purse bowl is also a great way to keep yourself more organized. Say goodbye to misplacing your favorite lippy or losing your keys since all your items will end up in your purse bowl at the end of each day.
How to use a purse bowl
OK, so I’ve convinced you to get a purse bowl. Now, where do you start? The first step is to find a bowl that will fit all your essentials, so start by dumping out your bag’s contents on a table and see what you’ve got. If you need a reference for the size, grab a bowl out of your kitchen cabinet and see how much you can fit in it. Once you have an idea of the size you’re looking for, shop around for decorative bowls at retailers like Amazon, Anthropologie, and Target. You can choose whatever shape, color, and texture you want, but keep in mind that sturdy materials like ceramic or natural stone will hold up better than plastic or glass.
The next step is to figure out where to put your purse bowl. This also depends on your personal routine. The idea is for it to be one of the first places you walk past when arriving home. For example, if you usually enter your home through the front door, a console table in the entryway could be the best spot. Or, if you come in through a garage, maybe there’s a counter space where you usually throw your bag or water bottle. You could also keep your purse bowl near your purse collection for easy access; in that case, a spot in your bedroom or closet could work best. The key is to place your purse bowl somewhere you’ll pass by anyway, so you’ll be more likely to use it on a daily basis.
The final step? Buy a ton of purses (I’m joking… kind of). Long gone are the days of using one purse for months on end because this hack reminds us that purses are just as much a changeable accessory as your favorite jewelry or sunnies.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.