Just about every house has a junk drawer. It’s the space to keep all the little things that don’t really have another good location. It can also be used for small items that you use all the time and want to have quick access to. No matter what your specific junk drawer looks like, there are a few things about it you’ll want to think about.
One of the biggest considerations is how to organize a junk drawer, and that includes what you’re keeping in it, how to declutter it for maximum efficiency, and how to organize the remaining items. Here’s how to get started, so you can make your junk drawer a valuable, useful, and helpful part of your space.
What Should You Keep in Your Junk Drawer?
Generally, junk drawers are places for random collections of items that don’t have another logical “home.” That could be everything from scotch tape to extra batteries and from chip clips to pencils. There’s no hard and fast rule about what to keep in a junk drawer, though, so it’s up to you.
Consider the kinds of things you use most often or that you’re always having to stop and look for. Also, think about what you have to go to another room to get and how frequently that happens. For example, if you have a great home office where all your supplies are kept, but you have to go in there multiple times a week to get a pen to write things on your shopping list, it makes sense to keep a pen or two in your junk drawer, where they’re closer at hand.
You might also consider items like scissors, paper clips, an extra phone charger, spare keys, a tape measure, and an extra pair of reading glasses. You can choose what to keep and what doesn’t need to be there based on the kinds of items you frequently use. Junk drawers can be very individual, and there’s no right or wrong answer to what to keep in them.
What is the Best Way to Declutter a Junk Drawer?
One of the things you really need to avoid with a junk drawer is clutter. If you can’t find the items you need because there are too many other things in the way, having those needed items in the junk drawer isn’t really helpful. The best way to declutter a junk drawer is to take everything out of it. Then look through all the items and make an honest assessment of how often you use them.
If you have a lot of things in the junk drawer that never get used or that really belong somewhere else, relocating them can make it a lot easier to find the items you need next time you look in the drawer. Items that are hardly ever used should also be moved elsewhere.
How Can You Organize a Junk Drawer?
After you’ve decluttered your junk drawer, it’s time to organize the items that are left. Grouping things together is a good start to do that. You also want to choose the best organizers for the type and size of the items you have in the drawer and use dividers to keep things separated.
You can buy drawer organizers that meet your needs or make them yourself so you get the right fit and proper spacing to keep everything neat and tidy. Then you’ll be able to find what you need quickly and efficiently the next time you’re looking for something in the junk drawer.
