How to Organize Your Kitchen or Office Junk Drawer

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Tired of the chaos in your junk drawer? (Aren't we all?) New year, new you. Let's empty out the black hole, sort items into categories, toss the unnecessary, and invest in organizers for all your miscellaneous items. With a few simple tricks (and the motivation to make it stick), you can turn your messy kitchen drawer into a purposeful space.

"Revamping the infamous kitchen junk drawer is surprisingly gratifying," agrees Neil Marcus, the in-house interiors expert, COO and Co-Founder of HomeThreads. "With a systematic and creative approach, the kitchen junk drawer can be turned into an organized and efficient area."

First, Empty the Drawer... Completely

• Do this right on your kitchen countertop. You'll need a lot of space.

• Sort items into piles based on their categories. Also, think about what items you use most as you sort through your collection.

• Discard any broken or unused items. The decluttering process for any utility drawer is a major operation.

Then, Clean the Drawer

• Get the dust out. Use a microfiber cloth or a vacuum to remove all the dust and debris that accumulates in this catch-all compartment.

• Adding a drawer liner can make it easier to clean in the future.

Next, Invest in Drawer Organizers or Repurpose Small Containers

• Create sections for specific items, such as office supplies, tools, or miscellaneous trinkets. Yes, a space for your tech cords. Yes, a nest for your twist ties. Yep, a safe space for your extra keys, electrical items, push pins, and cute labels.

• Consider using drawer dividers or small bins for loose items. A nice bamboo tray will do the trick. Use a label maker to mark each section and enhance visibility and accessibility. "Arrange frequently used items towards the front for easy access," reminds Marcus.

• If your drawer is deep, consider a two-tier organizer.

• Commit drawer space to cord storage. Use a cord management system, like the CordBrick, to keep your tech in check.

• Maximize small spaces. Shallow and small drawers are best optimized with the help of narrow compartments in a variety of sizes.

Regularly Declutter to Prevent Future Chaos

"Establish a routine for regular decluttering to prevent it from reverting to a catch-all space," reminds Marcus. Avoid sweeping your countertop into a drawer just to give items a place to live. Instead, be intentional and make sure everything has its place within your new organization system.

With thoughtful organization, your once chaotic, confused catch-all can become a functional drawer and tidy space.