Drawers are a great organizing tool – they allow us to hide away items that we use often in an easy-to-reach and convenient-to-retrieve spot. However, drawers are easily abused. The “junk drawer” is a good example of this. What often begins as a collection of frequently used items can quickly turn into an out of control dumping ground!
As a professional organizer, I have witnessed many drawers that function really well, and those that don’t. Here is my list of some great uses – and misuses – of drawers.
DO:
Tupperware absolutely wants to be in a drawer. If you suffer from Tupperware madness, consider doing a “lid to container” match up, toss the odd pieces and then place the Tupperware in a drawer. Stack uniform containers together and store the lids vertically inside a letter organizer.
Vitamins. If you have lots of vitamins, a drawer is a great spot for them. A smaller container in the drawer to divide them up and contain them is helpful. Write the type of vitamin on the lid with sharpie so that you can easily identify what you need from above. Larger beauty items such as hair products, perfume and lotions are also great in a drawer.
Spices are great in a drawer. You can see all the labels and access them easily. Plus it frees up valuable pantry space for other things. Be sure to toss old spices when you are making the shift to a drawer. For product reviews of spice racks, check out our blog post: Spice up your Life: Product Review.
DON’T:
Many people put dishtowels in a drawer. Since dishtowels are relatively easy to keep neat and folded, they can simply go into a cupboard if you want to free up a kitchen drawer for Tupperware or spices. This also allows you to purge dishtowels – many people have more than they need.
Aprons don’t belong in a drawer either – you will never see them! Instead, hang them vertically inside a pantry on the wall or on the back of a door.
Your hairdryer and other beauty tools. These are bulky and awkward, and can take up valuable drawer space. Instead, affix a command hook to the side of the cupboard below the sink and hang them there. Voila!
Final Tip: Drawers are always considered “prime real estate”. As you examine the current contents of your drawers, consider what you have inside. Do you use it frequently or only occasionally? Consider whether that item deserves to live in such a great access spot. Then think about whether that item could stay organized if it was moved to a shelf or a cupboard in a bin. Sometimes utilizing drawers correctly is just a matter of considering what you have, what you use, and making some minor edits.
Great to think about what works well in a drawer and what doesn’t, and also to think about what space you have. For instance, I often suggest clients pull measuring cups out of kitchen drawers because they are so big and often get stuck. I suggest they be hung or dropped into a tupperware in a deep drawer or on a shelf.
That’s a great idea, Seana! I agree completely that its all about what works well within the space you have. Love the idea of hanging the measuring cups.