How to Organize an Under-Sink Kitchen Cabinet: 5 IKEA & DIY Hacks That Actually Work

Under-sink kitchen cabinet organized with pegboard panels on both doors, caddies and a pull-out tray

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Organized 36-inch IKEA SEKTION under-sink kitchen cabinet with liner tray, pull-out drawer, and SKÅDIS pegboards on the doors
36″ IKEA SEKTION under-sink cabinet with updated hacks.

If you are trying to work out how to organize an under-sink kitchen cabinet, here is what finally worked in ours. Under the kitchen sink has to be the hardest cabinet in the whole kitchen to keep organized. You have drain pipes, hoses, filters, water lines, cleaning supplies, dishwasher products, towels, soap and all kinds of little stuff, and somehow all of it is supposed to fit in one cabinet. Unlike a regular cabinet, half the space is already taken before you even start.

This cabinet is part of my complete IKEA kitchen build, the same run that holds the sparkling water and filtration equipment.

Ours is a 36-inch IKEA SEKTION sink cabinet, and it is especially busy. We have a 35-inch Franke Culinary Center sink filling the whole top, plus a GROHE Red tank, GROHE Blue filtration and a hand blower underneath. There was almost nothing left to work with.

My goal was simple. Keep the cabinet floor as open as possible, make everything easy to reach, protect the cabinet from leaks, and use the space that normally gets wasted. That is where these five IKEA and DIY hacks came in. None of them are complicated. Most came from looking at an IKEA product and thinking, what else can I do with this?

The Short Version

Here is how to organize an under-sink kitchen cabinet, in the order I would do it:

  1. DIY: fit a liner tray with raised sides first.
  2. IKEA: add a MITTLED sensor light so you can actually see inside.
  3. DIY: run the soap dispenser from a large refill bottle.
  4. IKEA: turn a HÅLLBAR recycling frame into a sliding storage tray.
  5. IKEA: put SKÅDIS pegboards on the doors for lightweight storage.

Plus two bonuses that cost almost nothing: a smart leak sensor on the cabinet floor, and a label with the replacement part number next to each filter.

Contents

The Cabinet This Went Into

We have a huge sink. It is a 35-inch Franke Culinary Center sink that goes from one end of the kitchen sink cabinet to the other, and it fills the whole top part. The bottom part is just as busy. We have a GROHE Red hot water on-demand system that provides hot, clean, filtered water. We also have a hand blower down there. We have GROHE Blue components like filtration and all that stuff, plus the expansion tank from the Red system.

Under-sink water filtration and plumbing being assembled on top of the liner tray in an IKEA sink cabinet
After the liner was placed, the rest of the plumbing was assembled in the cabinet.
Franke 35-inch Culinary Center sink above the IKEA SEKTION sink cabinet in a white kitchen with marble countertop
Cabinet view from a distance, with the Franke Culinary Center sink.

So at that point, the space is really busy. I tried to push everything to the backside so the front stays usable for something else. That was my starting point. If you want to see the rest of the plumbing and appliances that went into this kitchen, I covered all of it in the appliance and plumbing breakdown.

DIY Hack #1: Protect the Bottom With a Liner Tray

Raised-edge liner tray on the floor of an under-sink cabinet, catching drips below the plumbing
The liner is the first line of defense against a water leak.

The very first thing I did, before anything else, was put a mat or liner at the bottom. This is the least exciting part of the project and I think it is the most important one. My main point here is to protect the surface of the cabinet floor, because eventually something will leak. One hundred percent. There is water here, water there, chemicals, soaps, everything. Maybe it is a plumbing connection, maybe a cleaning bottle tips over, maybe you just get a little water running down something. You will have drips from time to time. Everybody does.

I found a tray, and there are a ton of them specifically designed for each cabinet size. Mine is sized for our 36-inch SEKTION sink cabinet. One thing to know before you order: cabinet widths are always outside dimensions, so a 36-inch cabinet is about 34 inches on the inside, and that inside number is the one your tray has to fit. IKEA cabinets come in a range of widths, so measure yours. As long as it has borders or raised sides, that is the one you need. The whole idea is to put it there so it keeps the water contained, just like a pan, in case anything drips. It basically becomes a second protective floor inside the cabinet.

Mine is no longer available and I could not find the exact link for it anymore, so look for something similar in the same size. A silicone under-sink mat at 34 by 22 inches is the right idea for a 36-inch cabinet. The brand does not matter much. What matters is that it fits your cabinet and has raised edges. Put it in as the first step, and then on top of it you can build your system: racks, pull-out trays, whatever you have. Everything else I added later sits on top of that liner.

IKEA Hack #2: Add a Light Inside the Cabinet

I also put a little cabinet light from IKEA in there, and not just a plain LED strip. It is a MITTLED LED kitchen drawer light with a built-in sensor, dimmable, in white. It turns itself on when I open the cabinet, so I am not feeling around for a switch with my hands full. I had one left over from another project and stuck it in near the top, between the sinks. Huge difference. It is usually so dark under the sink that it is impossible to see anything at the very bottom or along the far wall, especially once plumbing, filters and bottles are blocking what little light gets in.

IKEA MITTLED sensor LED light mounted at the top of an under-sink cabinet, lighting the plumbing and filters
A small IKEA drawer and cabinet light installed up on top.

Now when I open the cabinet I can actually see what is happening in the back. It also makes it much easier to notice a small drip before it turns into a bigger problem. These come in a few different lengths, and they are dimensioned for SEKTION cabinets, so they fit an IKEA kitchen without any modification.

Two things to know before you buy one. It needs an ANSLUTA LED driver, which is sold separately, and you need somewhere to plug that in. Under a sink, that outlet should be a GFCI. If you have one nearby, this is one of the easiest upgrades in the whole cabinet, and it makes a massive difference for how little it costs.

Bonus: I Also Keep a GROHE Sense Leak Sensor Under the Sink

Since there is so much water equipment under this cabinet, I also wanted some extra protection in case something ever starts leaking when nobody is standing in the kitchen. So I keep a GROHE Sense smart water sensor at the bottom of the cabinet. It is a small Wi-Fi-connected leak detector that sits on the cabinet floor. If water reaches the sensor, it can sound an alarm and send a notification to your phone through the GROHE app.

GROHE Sense smart water leak sensor sitting on the liner tray at the bottom of an under-sink cabinet.
The GROHE leak detection sensor placed on the liner to detect water. The battery lasts up to a year.

We actually have several of these around the house in areas where there is water, and I like being able to keep an eye on them all from the same app. I keep this one toward the back of the under-sink cabinet, close to the wall and away from the HÅLLBAR pull-out so nothing bumps or covers it. That way, if water starts collecting underneath the sink, hopefully the sensor sees it before I do. It also monitors temperature and humidity, which is a nice extra feature.

For me, it is one of those small things you install and hopefully never need. But under a cabinet with this much plumbing and water equipment, I like having it there.

DIY Hack #3: Run the Soap Dispenser Off a Big Bottle

This one is not an IKEA product, but it became part of the whole under-sink system, and it is one of my favorite little kitchen hacks. We have a Franke soap dispenser built into the countertop next to the faucet. It came with the usual small reservoir underneath, and I got tired of refilling it.

Diagram of a countertop soap dispenser connected by an extension tube to a large soap bottle under the sink
Schematic of how the extension hose works with the soap dispensing pump.
Large dish soap bottle under the sink with a clear poly tube running up to the built-in countertop soap dispenser
A large soap container with a poly tube fed from the soap dispenser.

Here is how it works. I got a little kit with a clear poly tube and a cap for the soap bottle, about $10, and used that to connect our existing dispenser. I removed the small reservoir from under the dispenser and set it aside. Then I connected the poly tube straight to the stem underneath the dispenser and ran it down into a large bottle of dish soap sitting in the cabinet. The cap screws onto the bottle and holds the tube in place. That is it. The countertop dispenser now pulls soap directly from the big bottle below. I get a huge bottle from Walmart and it lasts a long time. When it is finally empty I swap in a new one, instead of unscrewing a tiny tank under the counter every couple of weeks.

No more crawling under the sink to refill. It is one of those hacks that makes you wonder why the dispenser did not come that way in the first place. The kit is at the bottom of this post with the rest of the materials.

IKEA Hack #4: Turn a HÅLLBAR Pull-Out Into a Cleaning-Supply Drawer

This is probably my favorite actual IKEA hack in the whole cabinet. Because we do not have a lot of space, and pretty much everything is taken up by plumbing supplies, hoses, tubes, and drain pipes, I still needed to store dishwasher supplies, a few cleaners, and stuff like that. I needed something that slides out because it is easier to clean and easier to grab. I like when something comes to you, not you climbing inside the cabinet. That is the same reason every tall cabinet in this kitchen got a pull-down shelf.

IKEA HÅLLBAR pull-out tray slid out of an under-sink cabinet, holding cleaning supplies
The pull-out tray comes out for easy reach and cleaning.
Cleaning supplies stored in the HÅLLBAR pull-out tray next to the GROHE Red boiler under the sink
Cleaning supplies have a dedicated place for storage.
IKEA HÅLLBAR pull-out frame for recycling as sold, with removable sides and top frame
That is how it comes from IKEA. The sides and the top part are just inserted, so it is easy to pull them out.
IKEA HÅLLBAR pull-out tray fully extended on its runners, screwed to the liner tray under the sink
The HÅLLBAR tray extended all the way. The bottom holds with 4 screws.

I was thinking about it and could not find exactly what I wanted. Then, walking through the showroom at IKEA, I noticed the HÅLLBAR pull-out frame that is normally used for recycling bins, in light gray. And immediately I thought: why couldn’t I just use the sliding part? It is about 17 3/4 inches long by 10 3/8 inches wide, which is perfect, because our cabinets are almost 24 inches deep. It gives me a little room up front and on the back.

It comes with a pull-out tray with sides and vertical bars designed to keep trash cans in place. The trash cans are sold separately. I paid about $30 for just the frame.

Here is the hack. I removed those vertical parts and the top part and set them aside. I am only using the sliding bottom part, which is exactly what I need. It is basically a pan that holds my cleaning products. And I know something will leak eventually, so it is very easy to clean. Even if a bottle tips over, everything stays contained. It is relatively small, which is exactly what I need, and it slides out. That is my favorite kind of IKEA hack: taking something designed for one purpose and realizing it works better for something completely different.

I did have to drill four holes into my liner tray to mount it. The whole idea was to keep a waterproof pan, but if you want that slide-out accessory, you still have to drill. There is no way around it. So I drilled the holes and put silicone, just kitchen or bath silicone, to make sure water would not leak through the threads of those little screws. There is nothing else I could do. And honestly, it is not hard to remove if you ever need to. Just four little screws and that is it.

So once I put it in there, I have a very convenient pull-out tray that holds my dishwasher supplies, tablets, and some chemicals. Exactly what I wanted.

IKEA Hack #5: Put SKÅDIS Pegboards on Both Cabinet Doors

Once the inside was getting organized, I looked at the two cabinet doors. Two big flat surfaces doing absolutely nothing. That bothered me.

I was still thinking about adding more storage for little stuff. We usually keep towels there, mop tops, a small container for countertop chemicals, small brushes. I did not want to put them on the floor because the bottom part of the cabinet was already busy, and I wanted to keep it clean. It is easier to clean and easier to see everything when the floor is not packed. A 36-inch cabinet has two big doors, or sometimes one, but most of us have one or two doors under kitchen cabinets. We are not going to put heavy stuff on them, obviously. It is just light stuff: a few towels, some rags, a small chemical tube, a brush, things like that.

IKEA SKÅDIS pegboards mounted on both doors of an under-sink kitchen cabinet with containers and a towel basket
Both doors now have SKÅDIS pegboards installed.
Open under-sink cabinet with SKÅDIS pegboard storage on the doors and cleaning supplies on a pull-out tray
Additional storage on the cabinet doors with SKÅDIS pegboards.
IKEA SKÅDIS gray fabric storage basket with rolled towels next to a SKÅDIS container
The IKEA SKÅDIS system has a lot of containers and hooks.
SKÅDIS containers hanging on a white pegboard inside a cabinet door for small, light items
Containers on the door for light stuff.
SKÅDIS pegboard on the inside of a sink cabinet door holding a towel basket, rags and a brush
We keep IKEA rags, towels and a brush on one door.

I found the SKÅDIS pegboards at IKEA. They are white, so they match the white interior of the cabinet. The size that worked for me was 14 1/4 by 22 inches. I paid about $20 for each pegboard. It comes with four fasteners and a little bracket. You install it and it sits just slightly away from the surface of the door, like a regular pegboard, so you can maneuver your pegs for whatever you want to hang.

It went on perfectly fine. You can put the accessories IKEA sells for the SKÅDIS system on it, like little containers for brushes and stuff. For the rags, I put a little fabric tray that also attaches with pegs. I do not know if the exact one I have is still available, because sometimes IKEA discontinues stuff, but the SKÅDIS storage basket in gray does the same job. We keep our rags and towels on there, with one side for clean ones. They also have an elastic, spongy cord for that system, and you can hang rags on that too. I keep one rag hanging right there on the door, so whenever I open the cabinet, I already have a rag ready to go.

The nice thing about SKÅDIS is that you can move everything around anytime you want. Want a container higher? Move it. Need another hook? Add one. Want to change the whole setup six months later? No problem, you do not have to rebuild anything. It does not take up any space inside the cabinet, and when you open the door, all that stuff comes directly toward you. No reaching behind pipes. It is clean, well lit, easy to clean, and easy to maneuver.

Trimming the SKÅDIS to Fit, and Checking Clearance

One thing. I did have to trim mine because I could not fit the full 14 1/4 by 22-inch pegboard. I had to cut it on both sides, and I put the cut sides facing inside so they are not visible when I open the door. That is another little trick. Depending on your cabinet you may not need to cut anything.

You just have to play with the pegs and set it up the way your cabinet needs it, because everyone has a slightly different situation inside, with different sinks and different openings. You are working around hinges, plumbing, filters, a garbage disposal, water equipment and whatever else you already have in there. Before you mount anything permanently, hold the pegboard and accessories in position and slowly close the door to check nothing hits the plumbing. Use short screws too, so you are not coming through the front face of a finished door.

And do not overload the pegboards. Do not put heavy stuff on them. For light stuff, they are perfectly fine. I have been using mine for years and I love them. They are very easy to change around and play with. Once you open the cabinet, you still have an open concept inside, well lit, and both of your doors are also working for you.

Bonus Tip: Label Your Replacement Filters

One more little thing I started doing is labeling the filters themselves. We have several filtration components under the sink, and some of the cartridges only get changed about once a year. Before, every time I needed a replacement I had to search my Amazon history or try to remember which cartridge went with which filter.

Handwritten replacement filter cartridge part number on a label next to the under-sink filter housing
A handwritten replacement filter part number placed on the cabinet wall next to the filter assembly.

So now I just write the filter model and replacement cartridge part number on a small peelable label and stick it right next to the filter. Very simple, but now I do not have to look anything up. And if I am not home and somebody else needs to order a filter, the exact part number is already sitting right there.

I may start adding the replacement date too. That would make it even easier to keep track of.

Why These Hacks Work Together

Our under-sink cabinet is still busy. There is no way around that, because there is a lot happening underneath that sink. But now every section has a job.

  • Plumbing and equipment stay toward the back.
  • The liner protects the cabinet bottom.
  • GROHE Sense gives me an extra warning if water ever gets where it should not.
  • The LED light makes everything visible.
  • The HÅLLBAR pull-out brings the cleaning supplies toward me.
  • SKÅDIS pegboards turn both doors into usable storage.
  • The big soap bottle means I am not constantly refilling a tiny reservoir.
  • Little labels next to the filters mean I do not have to hunt down cartridge numbers when it is time for replacements.

That is the difference between dropping some organizers into a cabinet and actually designing the space around how you use it.

Final Thoughts

This is why I like IKEA hacks. You do not always need some complicated project. Sometimes you just look at a product and think, what else can I do with this? A recycling-bin pull-out became my cleaning-supply drawer. A wall pegboard became cabinet-door storage. A leftover IKEA light made a dark cabinet usable. And outside of IKEA, a $10 tube kit turned a little soap dispenser into a large-capacity system.

Finished under-sink cabinet organization with lit interior, liner tray, HÅLLBAR pull-out, filtration and SKÅDIS door storage
Complete under-sink organization. Water protected, lighted, organized and clean looking.
35-inch Franke Culinary Center sink with GROHE Blue and GROHE Red faucets and a built-in soap dispenser
Above the cabinet, the 35″ Franke Culinary Center sink with GROHE Blue and Red faucets and more.

None of these are complicated on their own. Together they completely changed how our under-sink kitchen cabinet works. Your setup will be different, though. Different sink, different plumbing, different cabinet, different equipment. I would not try to copy mine exactly. Take the ideas and work them around what you already have.

We built this IKEA kitchen ourselves, and I still have a lot more IKEA kitchen hacks and details from this project to share. Stay tuned and good luck with your project.

FAQ

How do you organize an under-sink kitchen cabinet?

Work from the bottom up, and combine several types of storage instead of relying on one organizer. Put a raised-edge liner tray down first so leaks are contained, add light so you can see, use a shallow pull-out pan for cleaners, and move everything light onto pegboards on the doors. Push the plumbing toward the back so the front stays usable.

What size under-sink liner tray do you need?

Go by the inside of the cabinet, not the label on the front. Cabinet widths are outside dimensions, so a 36-inch cabinet is only about 34 inches inside. A 34 by 22-inch tray is about right for a 36-inch cabinet. Measure the inside width and depth before you order, and make sure whatever you buy has raised edges.

Can you use the IKEA HÅLLBAR pull-out frame for storage instead of trash?

Yes, and that is the whole hack. Buy just the frame, remove the vertical bars and the top piece, and you are left with a sliding pan on runners. The bins are sold separately, so you do not need them. Mine holds dishwasher tablets and cleaners, and the raised sides catch anything that leaks.

Can you mount an IKEA SKÅDIS pegboard inside a kitchen cabinet door, and can it be cut to fit?

Yes to both. I mounted one on the inside of each door of our under-sink cabinet and use them for towels, cloths, brushes and small containers. I started with the 14 1/4 by 22-inch panel on our 36-inch two-door cabinet, but check your own door first. I trimmed mine on both sides to clear the hinges, and turned the cut edges inward so they are not visible when the door is open. Check clearance before you mount anything permanently, use short screws so nothing comes through the front of the door, and keep what you hang lightweight.

How do you protect the bottom of an under-sink cabinet from leaks?

Use a liner tray with raised sides, sized to your cabinet, and fit it before you install anything else. It works like a pan and keeps drips off the cabinet floor. I also keep a smart water sensor at the back of the cabinet so I get an alert on my phone if water ever shows up. The tray contains a leak and the sensor tells you it happened, which are two different problems. Assume something will leak eventually, because it will.

Do you have to drill through the liner tray to mount a pull-out?

If you want a slide-out, yes. I drilled four holes and sealed each screw with kitchen or bath silicone so water cannot get through the threads. It is four screws, so it also comes back out easily.

How do you connect a built-in soap dispenser to a large soap bottle?

Remove the small reservoir under the countertop dispenser and set it aside, then connect a clear poly tube to the dispenser stem. The tube runs down into a large bottle of soap inside the cabinet, and a screw-on cap holds it in place. That is exactly how I set up our Franke built-in dispenser.

Tools & Materials

Affiliate disclosure: some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. IKEA links are not affiliate links. Everything listed here is what we actually used, and the references are here so you can confirm you are looking at the right part. Prices are what I paid at the time, so check current pricing before you buy.

Disclaimer: this is what I did in my own kitchen, not professional advice. Every cabinet, sink and plumbing setup is different. Shut off the water before working near supply lines, keep electrical connections under a sink on a GFCI-protected outlet, and hire a licensed plumber or electrician for anything you are not comfortable doing yourself. You are responsible for your own project.

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