How to Declutter & Organize Your Junk Drawer

We all have a junk drawer or two in our homes - usually they’re found in the kitchen, but maybe you have one in your office or even in your bedroom (I’m looking at you, nightstand!). This is the drawer we use to collect all of all the random things that don’t quite have a home but may (or may not) be needed, or the drawer that holds all of the things are regularly used but a singular enough that they don’t fit in another designated space. A junk drawer is necessary and it’s useful - and even more so when it’s functional and organized.

The Process

Here are a few simple steps to taking back control and bringing order to a junk drawer.

Step One: Take it all out

This is always step one when organizing. You can’t organize what you can’t see. Create a clear space to empty the drawer's contents onto one surface. Use a folding table or the floor if your counters are cluttered or lack space.

Step Two: Categorize

It’s easiest to categorize as you’re taking items out. Sort items into piles. For example: writing utensils, mailing supplies, scissors, fasteners (paper clips, rubber bands, etc). Visualizing what kinds of categories you have and how much space each category needs is important for figuring out which containers or system is best to put in place in the drawer. As you’re taking things out, create one pile to be designated as trash and another for items that need to be moved to another place. Don’t stop and throw things away or put things away while you’re taking everything out, or you will get distracted. Just make a pile and take care of it at the end of this step.

Step Three: Create a System

If you already have drawer organizers, you can start by filling them up with your categories. If you need drawer organizers, measure your drawer and order organizers that will fit into the drawer to maximize all of the space and work with the categories you have. For example, if you keep scissors in your junk drawer, make sure to order a drawer organizer that is the right length for your scissors to fit into. Multipacks of organizers aren’t always the best solution because you’ll end up with many extras you don’t need, or you won’t get the right sizes for what you’re keeping in the space. The best way to order organizers is simply by measuring and ordering what fits best in your drawer in the sizes you need.

Step Four: Label

You might think that you don’t need labels in your junk drawer, but if other people in your home also use this drawer daily, you need labels to maintain your new system. Labels not only help you find things, but they help everyone know where to put things back. Without them, your new system will likely become messy and maybe even undone. If you don’t have a label maker, you can print labels and tape them to bins or use adhesive labels you can write on.