To organize bathroom cabinets, empty them completely, toss anything expired or unused, group what’s left by category, and store each group based on how often you use it. Measure your cabinet before buying organizers, so bins, risers, and pull-outs actually fit around the door hinges and the drain pipe.
How to organize a bathroom cabinet, step by step:
- Empty the cabinet and clean it.
- Purge expired, unused, and duplicate items.
- Group what’s left by category.
- Put daily items in easy reach and backups in back.
- Measure, then add organizers that fit.
This guide from the team at #1 Construction covers all ten steps in detail. It also explains how to work around the pipes under the sink, which organizers solve which problems, what not to store in a bathroom, and how to tell when the cabinet itself is the problem.
Before You Start, Check the Cabinet Itself
Organizing guides skip this step, but it’s the first thing a contractor would do. Once a cabinet is full of bins, you won’t notice a slow leak until it has done real damage. With the cabinet empty, take two minutes to check:
- Water lines and drain: Run the faucet, then look and feel for drips at the supply lines, the shutoff valves, and the P-trap (the U-shaped pipe under the sink).
- Cabinet floor: A soft, swollen, warped, or stained floor panel usually means water has been getting in.
- Shutoff valves: Make sure you can reach them quickly. In a leak, you’ll need to turn the water off fast.
- Hardware: Tighten loose hinges and check that drawer slides run smoothly before you load them.
- Smell: A musty odor can point to moisture you can’t see.
If you find an active leak or water damage, fix it before you organize. A drip at a valve is often a quick repair, while a soggy cabinet floor may need replacement. Our plumbing services handle both.
How to Organize Bathroom Cabinets in 10 Steps
1. Empty everything and clean the cabinet
Take every item out of every cabinet and drawer you’re organizing, and put it all on a towel or the counter. Seeing everything at once is what makes the rest of the process work. Wipe the shelves and drawers with a mild cleaner and let them dry completely before anything goes back in.
2. Purge what’s expired, unused, or duplicated
Go through each item and ask three questions:
- Is it expired, separated, dried out, or smelling off? Toss it, and dispose of medicines and chemicals according to their labels or your local guidelines.
- Have I used it in the last several months? If not, be honest about whether you will.
- Do I have more than one open? Finish one before opening the next.
This step alone often frees up more space than any organizer will.
3. Sort by category
Group what’s left by what it’s for, not by size or container shape. Most households end up with categories like these:
| Category | Typical items |
| Daily essentials | Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, face wash, deodorant |
| Skincare and makeup | Moisturizers, serums, sunscreen, cosmetics, brushes |
| Hair care and tools | Brushes, styling products, hair dryer, straightener |
| First aid and medicine | Bandages, ointments, pain relievers, thermometer |
| Cleaning supplies | Bathroom cleaner, sponges, toilet brush refills |
| Backups | Extra toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, razors |
In a shared bathroom, add one more layer: give each person their own bin or drawer for personal items.
4. Assign zones by your daily routine
Where something lives should depend on how often you reach for it. This is the rule professional organizers return to again and again.
| Zone | What goes there |
| Prime reach: top drawer, front of the shelf, eye level in a medicine cabinet | Items you use every day |
| Second tier: middle drawers, middle of the shelf | Items you use weekly |
| Back and low: the back of the under-sink cabinet, bottom drawers | Backups and occasional items |
| High or locked: a high shelf or a cabinet with a child lock | Medicines and cleaning chemicals, if children live in or visit the home |
5. Measure before you buy anything
Most organizer mistakes come from measuring the wrong thing. Measure these, and take the numbers with you when you shop:
- Door opening width, not just interior width. The face frame (the wood border around the opening) often makes the opening narrower than the inside.
- Hinge clearance: Hinges stick into the opening and can block a pull-out from sliding.
- Interior depth and height, front to back and floor to bottom of the sink.
- The pipe zone: Note where the drain and supply lines sit, and how much clear width you have on each side of them.
- Shelf height, if there’s a shelf, plus any lip at the front of the cabinet floor.
6. Work around the pipes
The under-sink cabinet is the hardest space to organize, because the plumbing runs straight through the middle. Instead of fighting it, treat the cabinet as zones around the pipe:
- Use narrow pull-outs on each side of the P-trap: Two slim sliding drawers or bins, one on each side, often hold more than one wide organizer that doesn’t fit.
- Try a U-shaped organizer: These are designed with a cutout that wraps around the drain.
- Use the space in front of the pipe for a shallow tray of items you grab often.
- Keep the shutoff valves and P-trap clear: You or a plumber will need quick access during a leak or repair.
7. Go vertical with risers and stackable bins
Most bathroom cabinets waste the space above the items on the floor of the cabinet. Shelf risers (small freestanding shelves) create a second level for short bottles. Stackable bins and two-tier organizers let you build upward without piling items on top of each other. Put taller items in back and shorter ones in front so nothing hides.
8. Put the cabinet doors to work
The inside of a cabinet door is free storage:
- Adhesive hooks hold brushes, washcloths, or a hair dryer cord.
- Door-mounted caddies or small baskets hold flat items like hair ties, nail files, and travel-size products.
Before you mount anything, close the door slowly and check that the organizer clears the shelf edge and the items inside. Let hot styling tools cool completely before storing them, and keep them in a heat-resistant holder.
[IMAGE: Inside of a bathroom cabinet door with adhesive hooks holding a hair dryer and brushes | bathroom cabinet door organizer with adhesive hooks for hair tools]
9. Divide every drawer
Without dividers, every drawer slowly becomes a junk drawer. Use drawer dividers or small modular bins sized to your drawer, and put non-slip liner underneath so they don’t slide when the drawer opens.
In deep drawers, stand bottles upright in rows, like files in a filing cabinet, so you can see every label from above. In shallow drawers, use one layer of small trays for makeup, razors, and grooming tools.
[IMAGE: Bathroom vanity drawer organized with clear drawer dividers holding makeup and grooming tools | bathroom vanity drawer organized with clear drawer dividers]
10. Make it easy to maintain
An organized cabinet stays organized only if putting things away is easy. A few habits make the difference:
- Label bins so everyone in the household knows where things go.
- Follow one in, one out: When a new bottle comes home, the empty one leaves.
- Cap your backups: Decide how many extras of each item fit in the backup zone, and stop buying when it’s full.
- Do a quick monthly reset: Put strays back, wipe up spills, and toss anything expired.
How to Organize Each Type of Bathroom Cabinet
Under the bathroom sink
Use the pipe-zone approach from step 6. Store cleaning supplies, backups, and bulky items here, and keep the most-used things in front. Put a washable liner or shallow tray on the cabinet floor so a spill or small drip is easy to spot and clean.
Vanity drawers
Reserve the top drawer for daily essentials, the middle for weekly items, and the bottom for bulkier things like hair tools or backups. Divide every drawer (step 9).
Medicine and wall cabinets
These shallow cabinets work best for small, frequently used items at eye level. Use small clear containers or a mini turntable to keep bottles from disappearing behind each other. Many shelves are adjustable, so move them to fit what you store.
Cabinets without drawers
If your vanity is all doors, you can effectively add drawers:
- Pull-out organizers or sliding baskets that install on the cabinet floor
- Stackable clear drawers that sit on the shelf
- Bins with handles that you pull out like a drawer
Small bathrooms with almost no storage
When the cabinet is tiny, keep only daily items in the bathroom and move backups to a hall closet. Use every vertical inch: door hooks, a narrow rolling cart beside the vanity, and wall shelves above the toilet.
Bathroom closets and linen shelves
Store towels folded or rolled by type, keep backup toiletries in labeled bins, and put the heaviest items on lower shelves. Leave a little air space between stacks so towels stay fresh.
Best Bathroom Cabinet Organizers by Problem
The best organizer is the one that fixes your specific problem. Use this table to match them.
| Problem | Organizer to try | What to watch for |
| Can’t reach items in the back | Pull-out drawer or sliding basket | Hinge clearance and door opening width |
| Pipe in the middle of the cabinet | U-shaped organizer or two narrow pull-outs | Keep valves and P-trap accessible |
| Bottles fall over or hide | Turntable (lazy Susan) or clear bins | Turntable diameter vs. cabinet depth |
| Wasted space above items | Shelf riser or stackable bins | Height under the sink bowl |
| Messy drawers | Drawer dividers and modular trays | Non-slip liner so trays don’t shift |
| No drawers at all | Stackable clear drawers or bins with handles | Fit through the door opening |
| Small loose items | Door-mounted caddy or hooks | Door must still close fully |
[IMAGE: Lazy Susan turntable holding skincare bottles inside a bathroom cabinet | lazy Susan turntable holding skincare products in a bathroom cabinet]
What Not to Store Under the Bathroom Sink (and What to Keep)
Avoid storing:
- Incompatible cleaners side by side. Never store or use bleach with ammonia-based cleaners or acids; mixing them creates dangerous fumes.
- Unsecured chemicals or medicines in homes with children. Use a child lock or a high shelf.
- Anything that shouldn’t get damp, such as paper goods outside of a sealed bin, electronics, or extra towels if the cabinet tends to stay humid.
- Items whose labels say “store in a cool, dry place.” A bathroom that fills with steam every morning isn’t one, so consider a bedroom or hall closet instead.
What to keep in a bathroom cabinet:
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Floss
- Hand soap and body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Deodorant
- Toilet paper
- A basic first-aid kit
- A bathroom cleaner
- A plunger
- Clean hand towels
Towels: It’s fine to keep towels in the bathroom as long as they dry fully between uses. Hang used towels spread out rather than bunched, run the exhaust fan after showers, and store clean towels on open shelves or in a well-ventilated closet.
Bathroom Cabinet Organization on a Budget
You don’t need to buy a full system. Many DIY bathroom cabinet organization ideas use what you already have:
- Shoeboxes or small food containers as drawer dividers
- A tension rod across the under-sink cabinet to hang spray bottles by their triggers
- Mugs or glass jars for makeup brushes and cotton swabs
- Magazine holders on their side or upright for hair tools, styling products, or rolled hand towels
- Adhesive hooks inside cabinet doors
Spend money where a purpose-built product really works better: a pull-out organizer for a deep under-sink cabinet, or dividers sized exactly to your drawers.
When Organizing Isn’t Enough
Sometimes the cabinet itself is the problem. These are signs that new or better storage may be worth considering:
- The cabinet floor is warped, swollen, or stained from water damage.
- Your vanity has no drawers, and you’re stacking everything on the cabinet floor.
- There’s not enough storage for everyone who shares the bathroom.
- You can’t find a spot for hair tools because there’s no outlet nearby.
A well-designed vanity solves most of these at the source. Look for:
- Drawers instead of doors, with a U-shaped top drawer that wraps around the plumbing
- Pull-outs built to fit around the pipes
- Outlets designed for installation inside a drawer or cabinet for hair tools, installed by a licensed electrician
- A recessed medicine cabinet set into the wall for extra storage that doesn’t stick out
- Moisture-resistant materials suited to a humid room
[IMAGE: Custom bathroom vanity with pull-out drawers built around plumbing and an in-drawer outlet | custom bathroom vanity with pull-out drawers built around plumbing]
What looks timeless: If you’re replacing a vanity, white and natural wood tones are long-standing safe choices that work with most tile and fixture styles. Bathrooms tend to look dated or overdone when they mix too many finishes, use heavily ornate trim, or crowd the counter with decor. Clean lines, consistent hardware, and closed storage that hides the clutter age well.
If your storage problem is really a cabinet problem, our custom cabinetry and bathroom remodeling services can build storage around how you use the room. For more ideas on getting space out of a tight bathroom, see our guide to small bathroom remodeling ideas.
Need More Storage Than Your Bathroom Has?
If organizing helped but your bathroom still doesn’t have enough storage, or you found water damage under the sink, #1 Construction can help. We’re a family-owned, licensed and insured design-build remodeler serving Ann Arbor, Novi, Farmington Hills, Northville, Bloomfield Hills, and the greater Metro Detroit area since 2005. Here’s what working with us looks like:
- Our in-house design staff plan storage around how you actually use the room.
- You get a free itemized estimate within a week.
- We handle permits and paperwork.
- You work with one dedicated project manager from start to finish.
- Our work is backed by a 1-year labor warranty.
New customers save 10%, and seniors, military members, and first responders also save 10% (offers can’t be combined; mention them when you schedule). Call (734) 375-6091 (Mon–Fri, 7:30–4:30) or request your free estimate online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to organize a bathroom cabinet?
Empty the cabinet completely, clean it, and toss anything expired or unused. Group what’s left by category, such as daily essentials, skincare, hair care, first aid, cleaning supplies, and backups. Store daily items in the easiest-to-reach spots and backups in the back. Measure the cabinet before buying organizers so everything fits around hinges and pipes.
What are some creative ways to organize bathroom cabinets?
Hang spray bottles from a tension rod under the sink. Mount adhesive hooks inside cabinet doors for brushes and hair tools. Use a turntable in deep corners, stand bottles upright in deep drawers like files, and repurpose shoeboxes, jars, or magazine holders as dividers. Two narrow pull-outs on either side of the drain pipe often hold more than one wide organizer.
What are good bathroom cabinet organizers?
The most useful organizers are pull-out drawers or sliding baskets for deep under-sink cabinets, U-shaped organizers that fit around the drain, drawer dividers, clear stackable bins, shelf risers, turntables, and door-mounted hooks or caddies. Choose based on your specific problem, and measure the door opening, hinge clearance, and pipe locations before you buy.
What should you not store in a bathroom?
Avoid storing items whose labels say to keep them in a cool, dry place, since bathrooms get warm and humid. Never store bleach next to ammonia-based cleaners or acids, because mixing them creates dangerous fumes. Keep medicines and chemicals locked or out of children’s reach, and keep paper goods and extra towels in sealed bins or a drier closet.
Is it sanitary to keep towels in the bathroom?
Yes, as long as towels can dry completely between uses. Hang used towels spread out rather than folded or bunched, run the exhaust fan during and after showers, and wash towels regularly. Store clean towels on open shelving or in a ventilated closet rather than a closed cabinet that stays damp, which can make them smell musty.
What color bathroom vanity never goes out of style?
White and natural wood tones are long-standing safe choices for a bathroom vanity. Both work with most tile, countertop, and fixture styles, and they’re easy to update with new hardware, mirrors, or paint colors later. Whatever color you choose, a clean, simple door style and consistent hardware finish will look current longer than ornate details.
