The following is a guest post from regular contributor, Kalyn at Creative Savings.
Messy drawers are a big pet peeve of mine, and though I wish I could say I’ve discovered the secret to keeping them completely organized, nothing could be further from the truth. No matter how hard I try to keep those drawers under control, clutter has a not-so-funny way of multiplying and destroying all my efforts!
I finally decided it was time to organize those messy drawers yet again, and thought some pretty organizing trays might be just the thing to help them last a little bit longer this time around. But since money has been super tight lately, I knew I needed to get pretty creative with my supplies.
Using only what I found around the house, I was able to tackle my most messiest drawers and have them function exactly the way I needed them to.
They might not be the prettiest, color coordinated drawers you’ve ever seen, but they work, and they’re organized…for now, at least!
Here are three “hacks”, that helped do the trick:
1. Clear Out the Clutter
I know this isn’t necessarily an item to help organize those messy drawers, but without some massive decluttering, you’re just organizing junk that you really don’t need. Let’s get all those non-necessities out of there first!
Start by emptying out your entire drawer, clean it out with a dry dust rag, or paper towel with cleaning spray, and really assess each item before they go back inside that drawer.
Here are some questions to ask:
- Do I need this item at all?
- Can I sell this item at a garage sale, or does it belong in the trash?
- How do I need this drawer to function?
- Is this the right place for that item?
Keep a bag or medium-sized container nearby to hold every item that you want to save, but won’t necessarily go back inside the drawer you’re working on. This makes it super easy to carry that container around your house until you’ve found the perfect place for each item to belong.
2. Get Creative with Containers
Even if you don’t have any real useful containers around the house, I say you do. It’s all about stretching our imagination to find containers that might not be containers just yet. They just need a little creative manipulation!
Here’s are some examples:
- Bottoms of cereal boxes {Cover in contact paper to make them pretty!}
- Cardboard packaging from everyday items you’ve bought at the store
- Empty personal check boxes
- Small gift boxes
- Stationary and gift tins
- Small bowls
You probably have most, if not all of these stored somewhere, but if not, keep your eyes open for sturdy boxes or tins that would make great organizing gadgets. I have a box of boxes not only for this purpose, but also because they make great gifting containers of all shapes and sizes!
3. Sort and Separate with Office Supplies
Sometimes containers just aren’t good enough, meaning I like a little extra organization that containers can’t necessarily provide. This is when I start looking around for office supplies, such as rubber bands, pretty paperclips, and binder clips. I’ll even raid the kitchen for some small sandwich or storage bags too!
These are great for combining like items together, such as pens and markers, stickers, business cards, cords etc, just so they aren’t loose and floating around, even if you’ve already placed them inside a container.
You can always take organization a step further too, and use post-it notes, sticky labels, and tape to create a more advanced system to maintain that clutter, although sometimes, I find we can over-organize rather than just get the job done, but I’ll leave that discussion for another post!
Are you ready to tackle your first messy drawer?
Gather all your creative containers and supplies, then get to work on one drawer at a time so it’s not too overwhelming.
Depending on how often you use the drawer, you might have to do a quarterly or annual clean-out, but since you’ve done most the legwork already, it shouldn’t get too out of control before then……right?
What supplies do you use to organize messy drawers?
Kalyn Brooke is a full-time writer and blogger at CreativeSavingsBlog.com, where she gives a fresh perspective on frugal living, and the kick-in-the-pants you need to create a budget from scratch. She lives in beautiful Southwest Florida with her news-photographer husband and the most adorable bunny you’ve ever seen. She loves making to-do lists, reading good books, eating chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and pursuing big dreams….all carefully planned out, of course.
Hayley says
This speaks to my inner virgo! I also love the idea of making cardboard boxes prettier, it’s like a craft inside of an organization project.
Kalyn Brooke | Creative Savings says
I definitely never thought of it that way….but you’re right!
Lorna says
I kitted out my office at work this way when I had an employer who was reluctant to pay for things to organise the work space. It’s amazing how far a couple of rolls of colour co-or donated gift paper can go!
Sessa Daily says
Definitely worth considering other packaging material. I never like to throw away pretty boxes but they just accumulate into clutter. Might see if I can sort them into my drawers like this, thanks for the idea!
Margaret L says
I loved to cover good cardboard boxes with Contact paper long before I met my late husband! And at age 64, I’m still doing it! Finding affordable Contact paper has been my ever on-going challenge! Oh, Contact paper, come here now… Anyway, I use the contact paper covered boxes for everything a girl could want! I store my cross-stitch patterns in them! My UFO’s (UnFinished Objects), and really love to pack miscellaneous things in them for travel. You can put them in the trunk and save cost of some bags, but then, as a thrift-store addict, I’ve got lots of bags to choose from also! It’s really been fun! Now, in my older years and I’m thinking about de-cluttering, it’s great to know I can give away and still have plenty!
brenda says
it is so nice to read another person using what is around the house. it saves the landfill a little bit and every time I think I am going to do this properly and ck out what is available I fall back on my boxes. thanks for legitimizing this practice.
Angela Paulsen says
Velveeta boxes go perfect in the drawer! Snack size ziploc baggies are handy to gather small things, as are baby food jars!
Jayleen says
I love this! Friends make fun of me because I’m always saving containers and boxes that stuff comes in. I have a stash to go to when needed. Hey … it works! We also reuse jars!
LittleRaven says
The only thing that does not work is the rubberband around the sharpies. Just put them in a box too, cause when in a hurry you will be annoyed by the band and you will just throw it back in the drawer. Not handy at all. I love cereal boxes nice and sturdy,good for lots of things. I very seldom buy containers
Caroline S. says
Great post! Thanks for sharing! I actually don’t really have a desk myself, but office supplies is the most unorganized section of my belongings I’ve been struggling to organize! I just have so many pens, color pencils, markers, post-its, and random things like paperclips, thumb tacks. It gets overwhelming somehow to deal with all the smaller things than the larger things like my closet! Hoping these little tips help me out. Maybe I’ll put them in a box as if it is a drawer.