It’s frustrating rummaging through the junk drawer to find what is needed.  It’s easy for the junk drawer to become a catchall of all the things.  Items get tossed into the drawer and closed quickly so you don’t have to see it.  That’s basically putting a bandaid on the issue.  With the right organizers and system in place tossing an item into the drawer is still as easy but retrieving it is where the glory happens.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZING YOUR JUNK DRAWER 

Organizing your junk drawer goes beyond just creating an organized drawer. There are several benefits. First, an organized junk drawer saves you time and frustration. No more wasting precious minutes rummaging through a messy pile trying to find a simple item. When everything has a designated place, you can quickly locate what you need and get back to your tasks.

Second, an organized junk drawer promotes efficiency. With a well-arranged space, you can easily see what you have and avoid buying duplicates of items you already own. This not only saves you money but also prevents clutter from piling up in the future.

Last, an organized space can boost your productivity and creativity. When your environment is clutter-free, your mind feels clearer and more focused. You can approach tasks with a sense of calm and clarity, allowing your creative juices to flow freely.

So, by organizing your junk drawer, you are not only improving the physical space but also creating a more conducive environment for your mental well-being.

Now that you understand the importance of having a functional space, let’s delve into the process of transforming your junk drawer.

ASSESSING THE CONTENTS OF YOUR JUNK DRAWER

Before you dive into decluttering, it’s important to assess the contents of your junk drawer.

1. Empty the entire drawer and lay out all the items on a clean surface.
2. Take a moment to evaluate each item and ask yourself if it’s something you truly need or use regularly.
3. Create three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Be honest with yourself and let go of items that serve no purpose or have become outdated.

Remember, the goal is to create a functional space, so only keep items that are essential and frequently used.

Once you have sorted through everything, take a look at the discard pile. Consider recycling or properly disposing of any items that are not suitable for donation or sale.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ORGANIZERS AND CONTAINERS

When choosing organizers and containers for your junk drawer, it’s important to consider the size and shape of your drawer, as well as the types of items you need to store. Opt for containers that fit snugly in your drawer and maximize the available space.

For smaller items like paperclips or rubber bands, consider using small compartmentalized organizers with adjustable dividers. These can help keep similar items together and prevent them from getting mixed up. Additionally, transparent containers or organizers with labels can make it easier to find and retrieve items quickly.

If you have larger items like tape dispensers or calculators, consider using shallow trays or baskets to keep them contained. This will prevent them from getting lost or buried under smaller items.

Clear Bins

The first products I always look at are clear bins.  Clear bins keep things simple and give you a polished look and feel.  This 6-piece set from The Home Edit line at Walmart is an organizer’s dream come true.  It’s very affordable, a quality product, and looks amazing.

We used that set for this junk drawer.  Everything was taken out of the drawer and then sorted.  Next, the organizers went into the drawer and things were backfilled.

Organizing is trial and error, it’s like playing a game of Tetris.  You start with a game plan and make adjustments as needed.

With this drawer, there are a few things that need to be in their own bin:

• Batteries – Keeping them in a smaller bin prevents them from rolling all over the place. Plus, they need to be stored a certain way to prevent electrical conduction. Align them to where the positive side cannot touch the negative side.
• Cords – This cord is a computer charger.  One that is big and bulky.  It needed to have a compartment of its own for easy access.  It would be a jumbled mess trying to get it out every time.  Plus, you would have to put the other one away each time you got the charger, making it a nuisance.

Acacia Wood Drawer Organizers

The trend of moving away from plastic continues to grow, these acacia wood drawer organizers are a perfect solution if plastic isn’t your thing.

They add an element of warmth while keeping items neat and tidy.

We used a combination of different sizes for this drawer.  Many of the items were still in their original packaging and we kept it that way.  Normally, I’m an anti-packaging person because they take up too much space.  In this scenario though, many of the items had directions on the back of them.

The larger bins were used for the bigger packaging items and the smaller bins were used for the items not in packaging and of course batteries.

Bamboo Drawer Organizers With Inserts

The last product that can organize any junk drawer is this bamboo drawer organizing set with custom inserts.  Bamboo, like acacia, continues to grow every year because of its sustainability.  They are good for the environment and can organize any space, a win-win if you ask me.

These are unique compared to your standard drawer organizers because they are not bins, they’re dividers.  Using dividers allows the drawer to be maximized to the fullest.  The custom inserts allow you to create compartments based on the items you have, a truly customized solution.

The one thing I do want to point out with these dividers when organizing is to pay attention to what items go in the back of the drawer.  With these dividers there is a gap between the back of the drawer and where the divider starts.  This means that some items move around if they don’t reach the height of the divider.  It really only pertains to smaller items, think mechanical pencil lead holders or paper clips.  Store those types of items in the front and you won’t have that problem.

We used this product for this junk drawer and created compartments based on the category and size.  Pens, lotion, and tape had smaller compartments while the lighters and sanitizer zones were larger due to their size.

CATEGORIZING AND ARRANGING ITEMS IN YOUR JUNK DRAWER

Now that you have chosen the right organizers and containers, it’s time to categorize and arrange the items in your junk drawer. Start by placing the most frequently used items within easy reach. This could include pens, notepads, or a small pair of scissors.

Next, group similar items together. For example, keep all the writing utensils in one section, sticky notes and notepads in another, and smaller office supplies like paperclips and binder clips in separate compartments.

Consider using dividers or small baskets to create designated zones within your drawer. This will help prevent items from shifting around and becoming disorganized over time. Label each section or container to make it easier to locate specific items.

STEPS TO ORGANIZING YOUR JUNK DRAWER 

1. Clear It Out.  Completely empty out the drawer.  You want to start with a clean space.  Clean it out after everything is out of the drawer.
2. Sort and Toss.  Sort by category and put similar items together.  Categories for a junk drawer can be a challenge because of the variety of items in there.  Toss anything you don’t need.
3. Strategize Your Items.  After you have sorted out your piles, decide what you really need to keep in there.  If you find yourself always searching for something put it in your junk drawer.
4. Measure The Drawer.  Get the length, width, and height of the drawer.  Knowing the height is really important.  As someone who has learned the hard way, not all heights are the same.  Eyeballing doesn’t work.
5. Put Your Items in Organizers.  Drawer organizers work the best.  Create compartments for each category.
6. Arrange Your Items.  Put the organizers back into the drawer to your liking and how you find it to be best functional.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A quick clean out of your junk drawer and implementing a good system will make life easier, more so than you can imagine.  When chaos is cleared it allows us to think clearer, respond positively, and become the best version of ourselves.

Starting small leads to big results.  You’ve only just begun 🙂