Best Nail Polish Storage Ideas

Nail polish is sunshine in a bottle. You can’t beat a good coat of polish for brightening a gloomy day, right? Here are some of the best nail polish storage ideas for you!

Because even though painting your nails in a couple of swipes of your favorite color serves as an instant mood and confidence booster, an unorganized nail polish collection will soon steal that joy. Seriously, there’s no reason for your beloved nail polish selections to be sitting on your bathroom counter or in a basket all jumbled up instead of being properly organized.

It’s hard to fish through your overwhelming stash of bottles every time you need to paint your nails, so why not organize them in the most elegant way possible?

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Organizing And Storing Your Nail Polish Collection

Storing nail polish is not an issue when you only have a couple of bottles in your makeup collection. But if you are an avid nail polish user or work as a professional nail technician, you need a solid plan to take care of your entire collection. Here I’ll share with you my steps to figuring out which nail polish organizer options will suit you best.

Steps To Finding the Best Nail Polish Storage Idea For You

Step 1 – Determine the Size of Your Selection

The fewer nail paints you have, the easier they are to store. However, if you have a huge collection and plan to keep expanding it in the future, you must consider this fact before deciding on your storage option. Buying only one or two small organizers won’t cut; you will need a proper system to store every bottle you own.

Step 2 – Consider the Size of the Bottles

The size of the organizer you get also depends on the kind of nail varnishes you have and like to buy the most. There really is no standard size or shape for nail polish bottles; it’s different for each brand. Some have small and easy-to-store bottles like Essie, while others require a bit more room like the ones from Sally Hansen. So, eventually, you want an organizer that can fit versatile shapes. Or maybe even get different organizers for different brands if you need to.

Step 3 – Think About Your Specific Storage Needs

Are you planning to put your polishes on a shelf for display, or do you want to put them in a travel case to take them out with you? Do you use your nail polishes for personal use only? Or are you a nail tech who provides manicures and pedicures to clients?

Nail varnishes that you use at home can be put on racks, inside boxes, or drawers. However, those kept for professional use will need to be stored in something more travel-friendly.

The 5 Best Nail Polish Storage Ideas

1. DIY Nail Polish Organizer With Drawer Dividers

For those of you who don’t want to put up their nail polishes for display, neatly organizing them in a storage drawer will do the trick.

If you have an oversized drawer, try to split it down into smaller sections with the help of dividers, like these on Amazon.

This way, you can keep your assortment of nail polish bottles in one place without them knocking down or getting jumbled up when you open or close the drawer.

2. Acrylic Display Rack

Proud of your impressive nail lacquer collection, then why not showcase it using an acrylic rack? Like ordinary acrylic lipstick holders, this acrylic display rack is an excellent buy for featuring your nail paint collection. This one is my absolute favorite; it can hold up to 72 bottles at a time which is quite impressive!

3. Nail Polish Rack Wall Mounted Shelf

Being a nail polish junkie, you might have already run out of space to put another organizer on your vanity or bathroom shelf. In that case, these gorgeous floating wall-mounted shelves will prove to be a godsend.

Each 15″ long and 1.6″ deep nail polish storage rack can hold between 10 to 15 bottles. They’re fantastic for adding a display feature to your room while also being super simple to install.

4. Holder and Organizer for Nail Polishes

Makeup cases have always been popular amongst makeup artists. So, why not have something similar for all of you nail fanatics out there, right? Meet this awesome universal nail polish holder & organizer by ALCYON.

It comes with 54 compartments, so you can always carry your nail lacquers with you on the go. The translucent walls make it easy to see inside the case, and the durable handle provides you with a comfortable grip.

5. Stackable Cosmetic Organizer Drawers

Do you own a small nail polish collection but still want to organize it aesthetically? No sweat, I’ve got you covered! Clear plastic or acrylic drawers are perfect for storing fewer nail polishes. You can stock them with your most used colors and arrange them according to color for a more pleasing appearance.

I find this two-drawer set from Amazon to be a great addition to my vanity. With their 4.5-inch height, the drawers are just the right size to display my humble collection of nail lacquers. I stack the two, one on top of the other, which lets me save space and keep things organized at the same time.

FAQs On Storing Nail Polishes

Can I Throw Away Nail Polish?

With an extensive nail polish arsenal, you will undoubtedly have plenty of bottles that are past their expiry date. The good news is if the polish hasn’t hardened too much, you can still salvage it with the help of nail polish thinner liquid. However, if it’s completely separated, smells funny, or has become too clumpy, consider getting rid of the bottle for good.

Do You Have To Store Nail Polish Upright?

Another important consideration for organizing and storing nail polishes is what position you will keep them in. Since nail polishes need to be stored upright to avoid spillage, make sure the organizer of your choice is tall enough to accommodate all your bottles upright.

What Happens If Nail Polish Gets Too Hot?

Nail varnishes contain solvents that evaporate when exposed to heat. That means your nail polish will harden prematurely if kept near heat (or left to sit in the sun for that matter). Furthermore, the acetone inside nail paint expands at higher temperatures and turns into gas, which can cause the bottle to explode. Thus, nail polishes are always best stored in a cool and dry place.

How Does Vinegar Make Nail Polish Last Longer?

Soaking your fingernails in a mixture of water and vinegar before applying your nail paint will make it last for up to two weeks. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps remove excess oils, allowing the polish to stick directly to your nails, and hence it stays on for longer.

Make sure to dry your nails thoroughly before you apply the polish.

How Long Can You Store Nail Polish?

The life span of nail varnishes varies from brand to brand. Typically, these stay good for as long as 24 months. However, if your bottle of nail paint still works well after the 24-month mark, feel free to use it as long as you like.

Nail Polish Storage: Summing It Up

I hope this article gave you some serious nail polish storage inspiration so you can immediately kickstart your nail polish storage project. If you want more tips and tricks on how to organize your home, be sure to check out my blog. From managing your kids’ clothes to sorting out your tea collection, I’ve covered something here for everyone!

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