Map what must remain accessible
Start with the cabinet empty and dry. Locate the sink underside, drain trap, supply pipes, shut-off valves, dishwasher hoses and any disposal unit. Sketch their positions from the front and from above. Do not loosen a pipe, disconnect equipment or move wiring to fit storage. A leak, damaged cable or damp cabinet is a repair issue before it is an organization issue.
Measure separate clear zones
Measure the left-hand empty box, the right-hand empty box and any shallow area in front of the pipework separately. A 70 cm cabinet with a central drain does not have 70 cm of uninterrupted width. Do not subtract the pipe diameter and call the remainder usable: the position and bend of the pipe matter. Enter one continuous, obstruction-free rectangular box in the sizer, never the sum of two disconnected spaces.
Test the path and the loaded height
A clear space beside a pipe may still be difficult to reach through the opening. Move a cardboard box representing the proposed organizer from the front into the final position without bending it. Then check the tallest bottle or refill container. A low tray can fit while the bottle above it hits the sink bowl. Make sure a tray can be removed for cleaning without tugging on a hose.
A worked example
Suppose the interior is 70 × 50 × 60 cm, but the left clear zone is only 25 × 38 × 40 cm. With 0.5 cm per side reserved, the zone allows at most 24 × 37 × 39 cm before any narrower opening restriction. A 30 cm-wide basket fails. Two smaller baskets cannot automatically be treated as one 48 cm unit because the pipe separates them.
Leave servicing practical
Keep valves visible and reachable, and leave room to inspect joints. The exact service space depends on the equipment and its instructions; this guide does not set a universal distance. Store chemicals only as their labels direct, separate from food and secured appropriately where children or pets could reach them. Use a removable layout first. If you cannot confirm a safe path or service access, choose smaller freestanding storage or seek qualified help.
Your final check
Sources & method
The workflow and examples are Vlazi planning guidance. Unit conversion uses 25.4 mm per inch. Product examples use the assembled measurements on official IKEA pages, rather than packaging sizes or nominal titles.
Specifications reviewed October 30, 2026. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure. Send corrections to vlazidotcom@gmail.com.