When it comes to organizing our homes, we often just think about what will fit into each storage space and leave it at that.
But because you can't see what's inside your closet at a glance, these home storage ideas can quickly get out of hand and become cluttered as you cram items in to get them out of sight. The only way to solve this? Extend your organization ideas to them, too.
We decided to speak to some of our favorite home organizers to find out what people with organized drawers have in common and learn from the best.
Things that everyone with an organized drawer must have
The way you organize drawers in your home may vary depending on what room they're in. For example, organizing your kitchen may require more sturdy or specialized organizing supplies than organizing a dresser drawer.
That being said, there are plenty of habits you can transfer between storage, and these are the five must-haves for keeping your home in perfect condition.
1. Compartmentalized Storage
(Image courtesy of Life Kitchens)
Whether you're sorting through deep drawers or shallow storage, people with organized drawers always use organizers to separate items, says Julia Jackson, professional organizer and owner of Your Harmonized Home. There are a few ways to do this: Julia recommends using store-bought bins and containers to keep your drawers neat and tidy and looking great.
“Get the right boxes or containers. They don't have to be fancy, but keep the containers small and keep similar items together. Use clear adhesive underneath each box to stop them moving around in the drawer,” she recommends. Try this trick of measuring your drawer organisers before you go shopping to ensure everything will fit and you're not wasting space.
Simplehouseware Expandable Kitchen Drawer Dish Organizer
15pcs Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Set, Vtopmart 4 Sizes Multipurpose Bathroom and Vanity Trays
Spaceaid Bamboo Kitchen Organizer Drawer Dividers Expandable (17-22″) 17″L x 0.6″W x 2.6″H
If you're looking to declutter your home without spending a lot of money, or cut down on your plastic use, James Lott, Jr., CEO and founder of The Super Organizer, suggests recycling containers around the house instead.
“For example, when a big-name brand butter container is empty, I wash it and use it to store small items,” he tells me. “Big-name gelato brands have these great, sturdy plastic containers. I use the container for electrical cords, push pins, paper clips, etc. I ordered IHop pancakes through a delivery service, and when I was done, I put the container in a drawer for my screwdriver and scissors. You're helping the environment, saving money, and staying organized.”
2. One drawer for each category of items
(Image courtesy of Future)
If they have the space, people with organized drawers usually try to keep only one category of items per drawer to streamline storage, says Robyn Reynolds, certified professional organizer and owner of Organzie2Harmonize . This type of organization system is perfect for tasks like clearing out kitchen drawers or organizing a home office, she adds.
“In terms of systems, organize your drawers with similar items. In the kitchen, have one or more drawers for utensils and one as a junk drawer. The same goes for office or desk drawers. The organizers in each drawer should either hold the same type of item or serve the same purpose.
“For example, in the kitchen, put serving utensils together, spatulas together, wine corks together, measuring spoons together, etc. In the office, put pens together, then pencils, markers, notepads together, etc.”
3. Planning for organization
(Image credit: Igishevamaria via Getty Images)
It's not enough to organize once and be done with it. People with organized drawers usually have a good organization plan that they review regularly, says Robin Reynolds, a certified professional organizer. “Start by spending 10 to 15 minutes sorting through what you don't need, then organize the rest. If you have the time and space, work your way through more drawers. Seeing progress will motivate you to keep going.”
4. They have patience
(Image courtesy of Katie Markle)
Social media would have you believe that decluttering your home can be done in a day, but in reality, that's not the case. People with organized drawers have the patience to understand that it takes time to gather all the best organizational supplies and find the system that works best for them.
“The thought of organizing a drawer can seem daunting, so the key to overcoming this hurdle is to start small – really, really small. If this feels daunting, don't try to organize every drawer in your room in a day or weekend. Instead, set a goal of organizing one drawer a day,” suggests professional organizing expert Julia Jackson.
“Then, schedule regular maintenance to keep your drawers organized,” she adds. “Once you've got it all organized, it'll be easier to keep them neat and tidy. Clear out the clutter once a week or once a month to keep things neat and tidy.”
5. Clean out your drawers
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
An organized drawer isn't just about keeping clutter to a minimum – it's also important that the drawer is clean. Even if the items you put in it, like laundry or office supplies, are clean, drawers have the pesky habit of getting dirty quickly.
As you organize your drawers, consider using a microfiber cloth sprayed with an all-purpose spray or a small vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris to keep things neat and organized and in tip-top condition.
Black + Decker Dustbuster, handheld vacuum cleaner
FAQ
Why should you use a drawer organizer?
While using drawer organisers may seem pointless or a waste of space, drawer dividers keep items together and easy to find, prevent items from getting lost or falling to the back of the drawer, and make your drawers more practical by allowing you to stack items to utilise the back of the drawer.
Are drawers a better choice for storage than shelves?
Generally speaking, drawers are more convenient for storage than shelves. Whether it's in the kitchen or organizing clothes, drawers not only hide clutter and keep it from overloading the rest of the space, but also help you store clutter and keep it from spilling out into the rest of the space. They also help keep items clean by keeping them free of dust and oil.
“The main benefits of organized drawers are peace of mind, less stress, and more time,” concludes certified professional organizer Robin Reynolds. “Organized drawers make it easy to see what you need, when you need it. You stress less because you know exactly where it is, and you spend less time searching for things and more time having free time.”