8 Ways to Get a Handle on the Junk Drawer
Don’t sweat the small stuff — give it a few drawers of its own, sorted by type or task
Laura Gaskill
September 14, 2014
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Get The Simple List, my short & sweet weekly email: https://www.lauragaskill.com/thesimplelist/
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Junk drawers get a bad rap, and while it is (mostly) well deserved, there is a way to get that beast sorted and organized once and for all. From creating categories to making smart choices about what goes in and what stays out, these eight tips can help transform junk drawers into “really useful stuff” drawers, ones that keep small items right where you need them.
1. Have more than one small-stuff drawer. A single drawer for small items is simply not enough for most households — and overstuffing is what turns a “really useful stuff” drawer into a junk drawer. It starts innocently enough — you want to quickly clear off a counter because guests are coming, so you slide a few random screws, a rubber band and some pocket change into the drawer. The thing is, it’s a slippery slope. Once that drawer starts to look disorganized, it’s easy to just forget the whole thing and start shoving in every loose item that crosses your path.
2. Come up with categories. To stop that from happening, begin by choosing a few categories of small-stuff drawers. Then you can stop thinking of them as junk drawers entirely, and start thinking of them based on the theme of their contents. For instance:
2. Come up with categories. To stop that from happening, begin by choosing a few categories of small-stuff drawers. Then you can stop thinking of them as junk drawers entirely, and start thinking of them based on the theme of their contents. For instance:
- Household tools drawer
- Office supplies drawer
- Electronics drawer
- Crafts or gift-wrapping drawer
- Drawer for personal items you need to get out the door
3. Know the two ways to sort. There are certainly other ways to sort your belongings, but these two ways are simple and effective.
- Like with like. A family member of mine sorts her kitchen tools into two drawers: “scoopy-stirry” (spoons, ladles etc.) and “cutty-pokey” (knives, vegetable peelers etc.). Sounds a little silly, but it works, and once you know where these drawers are, you can quite easily find what you need, even if you are not familiar with her kitchen. Other like-with-like categories might include tools, paper goods, and electronics and power cords.
- Complete a task. The second way of sorting is to corral everything you need to complete a task from start to finish. In one drawer in my home, for instance, I have envelopes, stamps, pens, checks and an address book. You might want a drawer near the front door to keep your keys, wallet, cell phone, sunglasses and other personal items.
Here is a good example of a well-tended tool drawer. It contains useful, everyday tools — tape, twine, scissors and screwdrivers. This is not the place for arcane tools and specialized equipment used only once or twice each year. Which brings us to the next point.
4. Know what doesn’t belong. In addition to your small-stuff drawers, it’s helpful to have another location for small items that you rarely use. While your measuring tape and box cutters may deserve a spot in a small-stuff drawer, those random screws do not.
An over-the-door shoe organizer hung inside a utility closet makes an ideal spot for stowing random items that do not belong in a small-stuff drawer.
An over-the-door shoe organizer hung inside a utility closet makes an ideal spot for stowing random items that do not belong in a small-stuff drawer.
5. Always label loose parts. If there were only one tip I could ensure that you take away from this, it would be this: Never put a loose part away without labeling it. An easy way to do this is to pop the item in a zip-top bag, place a piece of masking tape on it and write what it is on the tape using a Sharpie. This way when you go to get rid of your old speakers, you can quickly find all of the cords that go with them and get rid of those, too. I started doing this recently, and it has changed my (organizing) life.
6. Keep it where you use it. Are your kids always doing art projects in the kitchen? Keep a drawer for arts and crafts supplies there, instead of down the hall. When items are stored in the room where they are used, they are far more likely to be returned to the right place.
7. Find the right container for the job. Not everything needs to lie flat in a drawer. If your drawers are deep enough, consider standing some items upright in simple glass jars.
Experiment with upcycled containers — egg cartons are good for sorting tiny items, and jam jars work wonderfully for paper clips.
Experiment with upcycled containers — egg cartons are good for sorting tiny items, and jam jars work wonderfully for paper clips.
8. Think outside the drawer. Not everything needs to be in a drawer. Papers are better off in flat boxes (labeled, of course) or files. Baskets with drawer inserts placed inside have the advantage of being portable, so you can bring them right where you need them.
Do you have a junk drawer or a small-stuff drawer? Neat or not, please share a photo in the Comments!
Get It Done: Whip That Junk Drawer Into Shape
Do you have a junk drawer or a small-stuff drawer? Neat or not, please share a photo in the Comments!
Get It Done: Whip That Junk Drawer Into Shape
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What a great read the comments were! Fortunately I was able to organise potential junk within made-to-measure shelving units inside a large hall cupboard. So I have a box for tools... with nails/screws sorted into recycled plastic herb jars..., a box for First Aid, a box for decorating stuff incl left over paint decanted into glass jars (and labelled with the colour swatch), a box for miscellaneous items like electrical goods, batteries, etc etc. I keep certain items 'out' that are used regularly such as sellotape, Pritt stick, tape measure, mini spirit level, my steel tape measure, scissors, plus a torch for emergencies! Even the boxes are stacked with those I access most often, uppermost. Happy with my system. Easy to find anything and easy to put stuff away after use which is key imo! So I don't have a junk drawer!!
This is timely... A delightful video series by DENISE LINN... Have just listened to No:2 this evening and learnt a lot... Why am I hanging onto clothes I used to wear 15 years ago, for eg!!! To access you may have to sign up to emails from Hay House but you could always unsubscribe later!! Hope this link works anyhow...
http://www.learn.hayhouseu.com/certifiedcluttercoach-video2-roomforlifeyouwant?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_course_linn_ccc_rl_2018_US&utm_source=19219868_ccc
Thank you for featuring our 2-tiered drawer option! There are lots of way's you can customize your drawers to fit your needs and keep your self organized. Here are a few more ideas for anyone looking for inspiration...
2-Tiered drawer WITH dividers!
Go stainless steel! Easily snap together and create your own custom solution.
Sort Knives, utensils and your spices in one!
Use dividers to map out your space
Mandi @ Dura