Maximize Bathroom Under Sink Storage
Why Your Bathroom Needs A New Organizing Solution
The cavernous space below most bathroom sinks is a disorganized mess of clutter, inaccessible toiletries, and beauty gadgets which harbors challenges that can seem impossible to rectify… If you look under your bathroom sink, I’m sure you know what I mean.
This space is typically underutilized because of the height of the cabinet, which is further complicated by presence of plumbing pipes and the underside of the sink. These obstacles make adding drawers challenging and inefficient. Without a system incorporated, this valuable real estate can easily become a disorganized catchall space.
Custom Solutions During A Renovation
I counted today and I have lived in 35 different houses in my lifetime! In past homes I would just live with this nebulous space and not implement any organizational system to make better use of it. When working on the master bathroom design for our fully remodeled 1959 ranch home in Raleigh, North Carolina, I decided to finally come up with a solution that would tackle this space once and for all.
We have a double vanity with a cabinet below each sink and 3 fairly narrow drawers in-between. In a perfect world, I would love double the number of drawers, but the space would not accommodate that. I decided to get creative and figure out a way to maximize this troublesome spot. My end goal was to make use of available height of the space and create a system of storage that is easy to maintain.
Organizing Systems You Can Implement In Your Bathroom Cabinets
Because we own our home, I wanted to implement a permanent solution, as I know this will be where we will live for 10 years or more. After exploring a few options, I settled on the addition of a shelf spanning the width of the cabinet, dividing the vertical space in half and accommodating the plumbing with a cut out.
We were able to purchase a couple of extra shelves from the cabinet manufacturer. Our contractor cut them to fit and installed them with supports affixed to the cabinetry. This could easily be a DIY project or constructed by a handyman.* Follow these steps to create this solution.
How To Create Your Own Custom Under Sink Shelving
o Source Shelf Material: Contact your cabinet manufacturer, if possible, and ask to purchase an extra shelf for the space. Alternatively, purchase white melamine from a hardware store.
o Measure and Cut: to allow for existing plumbing
o Install: cut supports to mount the shelf on and attach to cabinet sides
*p.s. if you don’t feel up to DIYing, our team can recommend and schedule appointments with the best handymen in your neighborhood while organizing your bathroom.
If you want to further customize your space, I’ve included a few additional options below. These flexible organizing systems will accommodate almost any situation, and will give you reliable systems to make both your morning and evening routines easier.
Which one to choose will depend on several factors including budget, plumbing pipe placement, and whether a permanent installation (requiring tools) is possible, or if your situation dictates a temporary solution that you can move to your next home.
The Best Organizing Products For Under Your Bathroom Sink
· Bathroom Under Sink Starter Kit: Allows for a variety of toiletry storage and adds drawers for storage.
· Expandable Under Sink Organizer: Designed for under the kitchen sink area but would work just as well under a bathroom sink.
· Wire Pull-Out Cabinet Organizers: Makes use of available height and creates drawer space within it.
· Stackable Under Sink Organization Storage Kit: Plenty of size options to customize for individual bathroom supplies.
Once a structural storage system has been installed, it’s time to organize the space. Since moving in and incorporating the simple addition of a shelf under each sink, I had not had the chance to add organizing products to create a system for easy access and maintenance. I followed the same process in my own space that I do with any organizing project done for clients.
Takeaway: Installing the right systems really does help you keep your space well maintained and organized!
6 Steps To Organize Your Bathroom Cabinets
STEP 1 - take everything out
Take everything out. Wipe down all surfaces so you are starting with a clean slate.
STEP 2 - incorporate organizing products
Categorize all the toiletries, hair tools, back-stock, etc., while eliminating anything that you no longer need or use. These affordable KUGGIS bins with lids from IKEA were a great solution for things that I only use on an occasional basis. I added a larger one without a lid for my blow dryer, straightener, and brushes. A turntable from The Container Store is perfect to house all the toiletries I utilize on a daily basis. Lastly, I added this modular vanity organizer from Target to contain back-stock.
STEP 3 - sort, categorize & contain
Categorize all the toiletries, hair tools, back stock, etc., while eliminating anything that you no longer need or use. Put everything into containers so that like items are together and you can easily access both things that you utilize on a daily basis and those that are back stock items or not used everyday.
STEP 4 - organize
Arrange containers in your cabinet to set up systems for easy maintenance and maximize the space. Stackable containers are great for storing items that are not utilized everyday.
STEP 5 - label
I am a minimalist when it comes to labeling, but I like adding beautiful custom labels where warranted, and they can add to the overall aesthetic. I decided to add them to the four small boxes with lids where the contents are not visible.
STEP 6 - maintain
Completing all these steps will add a whole new level of organization to your daily self care routines—and could save you money as well, now that you will be able to find products you already have and avoid purchasing duplicates. Now that everything has a home in your space, maintenance will be much easier.
Raleigh Skin Care Stores + Local Resources
I love finding local sources for toiletries and bath products to incorporate into my daily and weekly self-care routines. Now that you’ve organized under your bathroom sink, you can browse local, high quality shops to purchase essentials you’ve run out of (no more duplicates for you!). The following shop that has an amazing assortment of local products that I highly recommend:
Edge Of Urge and Trellis Beauty both carry a skin care line from Durham based Lo & Behold, which handcrafts 100% natural body care products.
I hope these suggestions help you set up systems in your bathroom that will simplify life and create more time and space for what you love! If you need a system like this DONE FOR YOU click the button to