We all have at least one junk drawer that serves as a catch-all for things that really don’t belong anywhere else. Sooner or later, however, items get so mixed up and messy that we can never find what we’re looking for. Don’t just accept the disorganization. Take the junk out of the junk drawer with these easy, affordable and creative storage ideas!
Teacups and Saucers
PHOTO 1: #183347418 / gettyimages.com
Teacups and saucers aren’t just for afternoon tea – they’re perfect storage solutions. Not only do they fit inside your drawers, they’re the right size for small items and they look pretty to boot. Attach double-sided tape or small pieces of Velcro to the bottom of each cup or saucer to keep them in place and prevent them from sliding whenever you open or close the drawer. Use them to store paperclips, jewelry, stamps or other small, easy-to-lose objects.
Empty Tissue Box
Don’t throw out that tissue box after allergy season. Empty tissue boxes are a perfect fit for drawers: short enough to fit inside and wide enough to store larger items. They work well for plastic grocery bags – you can just pull one out whenever you need it. You can also use them to hold rags and cleaning wipes, as well as spare batteries and pen lights for easy access if the power goes out. Cover the box in wrapping paper to give it some style.
Ice Cube Trays
Chipped, leaking and past-their-prime ice cube trays are another simple and affordable solution for your junk drawer. The individual molds are great for small items such as push pins and loose change. If you have a junk drawer in your garage, use an ice cube tray to keep nails, steel rings and chain links all in one place.
Medicine Bottles
Once you’ve emptied out your vitamins and medicine bottles, don’t toss them in the recycle bin. Carefully peel off the labels, then spruce them up with scrapbook paper or paint. Then you can use them to organize rubber bands, pencil lead or bandages. Place the bottles in a box or secure the bottoms with double-sided tape to keep them from rolling around the drawer.
Toilet Paper Rolls
The dreaded tangled mass of cords and wires is everyone’s worst junk drawer nightmare. Prevent this problem by using the cardboard rolls from toilet paper or paper towels. Simply fold your cords as you normally would, and then push them inside the roll to keep them in place. It’s easy and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Add a bit of color to the rolls by covering them with washi tape or scrapbook paper. You can also encourage the kids to decorate them with paint. Don’t forget to label them using permanent markers for convenience.
Plastic Food Containers
Plastic food containers keep bigger items neat and orderly. Chargers, notepads and pens can easily fit in most containers, and the clear plastic lets you quickly see what’s inside. You can also label them with stickers or masking tape.
Once you’ve tamed your junk drawer, make it a habit to put items back in their respective storage containers. Believe me – two minutes of your time will go a long way!
Jennifer Lutz is the home décor expert at www.christmastreemarket.com. A master of decluttering, Jennifer is shares valuable knowledge on seasonal decor, check out her tips for a summer-themed home here: http://blog.christmastreemarket.com/2014/06/5-tips-for-a-summer-friendly-home/.
I love the tiolet roll idea! Too bad I don’t have a giant roll I can use for those long extension cords.
How about a gift wrap roll? Cut in half maybe.
Love these tips. Never thought about reusing an old ice cube tray
This is really a nice Ideas i like you thought and i never thought about using the toilet paper and Ice cube in such a way
Great suggestions. I can really use the recycled pill bottles that I have a lot of.
I am doing this since my childhood..
now im very happy that i learnt some creative ways to tame that junks
Glad these ideas are helpful! What I love is that these are all items you can find in your own house so you can organize without spending a ton of $$$. Happy organizing!
these are some great ideas… and I like the idea of being able to reuse things I would normally have to toss.
Really Nice post and Great suggestions. I can really use the recycled pill bottles that I have a lot of. Thnx for sharing this, its a great idea 🙂
You have some grear ideas!! I have 2 junk drawers, junk baskets and junk containers. I really need to heed your organization advice. Thank you!!
I love the idea for reusing tissue boxes. We reuse them but never thought of the junk drawer. They are a perfect fit! Right now we use them in the car for holding grocery bags.
Thanks for these really excellent and inexpensive solutions. I use ice cube trays to keep my earrings separated into pairs. I don’t cover or paint pill bottles because I like to see what’s inside, like paper clips or safety pins.
They are great tips, especially the tissue box one. I also have a great tip, plastic milk and juice bottles are great for storage anywhere. Wash and remove labels. Cut below the handle all the way around, you can make it any height. Place in drawers. The handle part can be used as a scoop replaceing the cap to seal it, or even a funnel