Today we begin DIY/How To month at Apartment Therapy. I do have a couple projects in mind but no definite plans for when to do them. However, maybe this DIY month is just the kick in the pants I need. I am starting small though and my first project is organizing my junk drawer and sharing my process with all of you.
Junk drawers are just that — drawers filled with junk. Odds and ends that are useful but just don't really have a designated home. And, of course with the mere title of junk drawer, it is the first go-to place to put random things with the thought being, "I will organize later". Well, later is here.
As the above pictures indicate, my junk drawer was a mess. I sought out organizing trays on the internet and may go out and purchase one soon — but for now, my goal was just to clean and organize the best I could without one.
Here is list of what I found in my junk drawer:
- my Bloomingdale's charge card (which I immediately put in my wallet)
- 3 working ballpoint pens
- a 2009 weekly organizer
- a regular ruler, a scale ruler, a triangle, and 3 tape measures
- 3 color markers
- 2 highlighters
- a box cutter
- 2 dried up glue sticks
- 2 travel sewing kits
- 3 spools of thread
- 2 boxes of matches from Hong Kong, reminding me of our vacation there making me smile
- a Leatherman
- packet of EmergenC
- a stapler
- a box of staples
- Scotch tape
- cough drops still in package
- unopened memory card for camera
- lens cleaning cloth that came with our camera — unopened
- travel power converter
- a box of incense cones from a Christmas ornament our German friend gave us
- USB cord for camera
- USB cord for IPod (an extra one)
- an extra set of earphones
- tube of Blistex
- laser toy for cat
- return address labels
- $2.79 in change
- Tide to Go pen (love these!)
- a fold up subway map
- spare set of car keys
- Forever stamps
- a shoelace we use as a cat toy
After sorting through my drawer, I threw out some stuff, put some items away, and kept the rest of the items where they were but just made it a whole lot neater. A drawer organizer sure would help keep this drawer from becoming such a mess. Maybe I should also start calling it something other than a junk drawer? I actually put my Bloomie's card back in the drawer when I was done organizing. It is safer there!
For drawer trays and containers ranging in prices from $1 to $30, try the Container Store or Organize.com
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Comments (8)
But then what do you call it??
Now I know what to use the cutlery organizer for that I just found in the neighbours' garbage.
Yep, you need an organizer. Or it will go back to looking like the first photo in a few weeks.
The idea of a junk drawer is banned in my house! I have drawers, bins, crates, etc for everything. I am a fan of using rubber bands, tiny bins and old packaging (think band-aid tins, food jars and tiny boxes jewelry comes in) to corral like items in a larger drawer. You don't have to go buy an expensive organizer. Just make do with what you have! Or even whip up a quick one out of cardboard, cardstock, etc.
i just need the junk drawer to be a junk drawer and leave it at that. It's my one-square-foot of craziness.
Sometimes packaging can be used as a temporary, or just a cheap, substitute for a drawer organizer. Think about those plastic trays that come with crackers or cookies. Or cardboard trays that protect electronics. You might have some lying around. I've been using the old packaging from a shower curtain in my junk drawer for years. So far so good.
I used small old boxes, lids and glass spaghetti sauce & jam jars to help organize my junk drawer...
I was able to get the stuff that was in 2 drawers condensed into a single drawer - and as a bonus, things are now easier to find!
Sure you can organize your junk drawer!
It sounds to be like you have some pretty distinct categories of items there: Office supplies, sewing kit, laundry room and tool box. There's a place for everything...put them in their proper place!