How to Organize Under Your Bathroom Sink So That It's Both Tidy and Functional

The space under the bathroom sink is often rife with organizing challenges. It's too small to hold very much, and the space it does afford is often truncated with pipes or drawers. But utilizing this space effectively can add to your overall storage capabilities in the bathroom, a place that can be generally prone to disorganization.

"Having an organized bathroom is the first step in starting your day," says Jill Viglione, certified professional organizer and founder of Embrace Your Space. "Being able to find what you need quickly and easily will save you time and frustration. It also is just a really nice part of self-care."

So, how do you prevent your under-the-sink area from becoming a disorganized pile of bathroom toiletries? We spoke with organizing experts to determine the tools you need and the things you absolutely must do in order to keep this tiny but important space well-organized and maintained.

Before You Start

Ready to tackle your under-the-sink storage area? Before you begin, it's essential that you do a few things to ready the space.

Take Everything Out

You have to know what you're organizing first, and if you haven't cleaned out under your sink in a while, this is a good place to start. "The first step for organizing under a bathroom sink is to remove everything," says Viglione. "Take a few minutes to wipe out the inside."

Sort What You Have

Now that you've removed the contents of your under-sink area, sort everything. "Start sorting items into categories based on type and how they are used," says Viglione. "For instance, categories may include dental, skincare, travel, first-aid, and beauty backstock."

Toss Expired Products

You probably uncovered some items that are well past their expiration date—get rid of them. "Once items are sorted, toss expired products and evaluate how many you will need in the next year. Setting a time limit for beauty products will help eliminate extra items and free up space," Viglione says.

Label Your Containers

With your sorted and up-to-date products in front of you, now is the time to pop them into containers and label them appropriately. "Once items are sorted and reduced, the next step is to add labeled containers for each type," says Viglione. "Containers will not only keep the space under the sink organized, but will protect the inside from liquid spills."

Now you are ready to fully organize under your bathroom sink.

Add Stackable Pull-Out Drawers

"If you have open cabinets under your bathroom sink, you want to optimize the vertical space under there," says Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company Of Space + Mind. "We like to add modular drawers that stack on top of one another to maximize the use of the space, which can double or triple your storage."

Use Bins

For even the tiniest under-the-sink areas, consider bins. "If you don’t have the space for drawers, then consider plastic bins that fit well in the space," La Fond says. "We prefer plastic for the bathroom so it can easily be wiped clean if you have any spills. Measure both sides of your cabinet, considering pipe placement, and plan bins accordingly."

Utilize the Back of the Cabinet Doors

Don't sleep on the back of your cabinet doors—there are many possibilities you probably haven't thought of when it comes to under-the-sink organizing. "The back of any cabinet door is a great opportunity for storage! Use hooks for small items or add an organizer that adheres to the cabinet for regular use items," says La Fond. You can also add other items like tension rods to hang cleaning supplies or over-the-door baskets to throw smaller items into.

Install Adjustable Shelving

If you have a bigger space under your bathroom sink, consider installing adjustable shelves. You'll be able to customize the space to your unique needs, whether its storing taller bottles or larger hair styling tools.

Try a Divided Container

If the plumbing under your sink leaves very little room for adding things like stackable pull-out drawers, a rolling clear divided container might be the better option. "Since the area under a bathroom sink can be challenging because of plumbing, a long divided container like the STAK container from The Container Store is an excellent solution," says Viglione. "It's 18 inches deep, has wheels, and is designed to roll under the pipes. The best feature is that it has movable dividers which keeps items standing up and organized."

Repurpose a Lazy Susan

When you think of a lazy Susan, you're probably imagining it's uses for kitchen pantry organization, but it can pull double-duty under your bathroom sink as well. Be sure to opt for one that has divided compartments so that you can easily sort and find items when you're spinning the turntable.

Add Drawer Dividers or Containers

If you've taken the time to add stackable drawers, don't waste that opportunity by throwing things inside them in a cluttered mess. "Clear smaller containers can be added inside the drawer to keep things divided and organized," says Viglione.

Pop a Small Trash Can Inside—or Nearby

If you have the luxury of space inside your cabinet, add a tiny trash can inside so that you have no excuse when you are editing your toiletries and makeup products for expired items. If there's no more space, add the trash can nearby.