Even your junk drawer needs some breathing room. Try these simple steps to make it a space that serves you well.
Every space has a love-hate relationship with the junk drawer. We love it because it’s an easy home for anything and everything; we hate it because it’s a pocket of chaos where we lose things (our sanity) more than we find them. But it’s time to sort things out and turn your junk drawer into something you can be proud of. Let’s make it quick and easy – no pressure, no overthinking. Set a timer. And let’s get going!
- Pull everything out: Yes, the whole drawer. Lay it all out on the floor or on the table to see what you are working with.
- Declutter, quickly: Can’t remember what it does, how it works, or why you even have it? Perfect – it’s time to set it free. You only have to keep things that you love or things you constantly use and need. Everything else can be shown its way out, at least from the junk drawer.
- Rethink the junk: What sort of knick-knacks do you always search for in your junk drawer? Answering this can help you decide what things must go back in. Sometimes things just need a better home – somewhere that feels more obvious to you. Like, is the junk drawer really the best place for extra tape, or would you check the stationery drawer first? Ask yourself similar questions about all the items you have at hand and rehome them if necessary.
- Wipe it clean: Pull the drawer out and clean it thoroughly. Put in a pretty drawer liner to spruce things up. Your junk drawer deserves some aesthetics too!
- Organize: Resist the urge to simply stuff all the things back into the drawer. Group your stuff into categories – in a way that makes sense to you. Of course, drawer organizers are a great idea. But small containers or cardboard boxes can work just as well in keeping things organized. You could take it a step further and label them too so everyone at home knows better than to junk up the drawer again!
Done. Take a breath and pause the timer – it didn’t take nearly as long as you feared, did it? That’s it. You just tamed the wildest drawer in your home! With every sorted drawer, you’re closer to a calmer home, so sit back and enjoy a cup of tea!
Further Reading
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