10 Items You Can Use To Organize Your Junk Drawers

Even the most organized among us have a space where clutter collects, and that space is usually the junk drawer. Batteries, pens, coupons, gum, and keys all seem to find their way into this drawer without an organized system, making it hard to find anything easily. According to The Spruce, it's the little things that don't have a home elsewhere that are then deemed junk drawer material. 

It's not doomed to be a chaos collector, however. With some decluttering, thoughtfulness, and strategic products, this space can become as organized as any other area of your home. The idea is to only store what you need, keep similar items grouped together, and tidy up on a regular basis. A minute or so per week is all you'll need.

Sorting stuff by type is made simple by using items to keep them contained. There are plenty of inexpensive things you can find around your home already to do this, such as Tupperware containers that have lost their lids, or small boxes like the kind that jewelry comes in. There are also plenty of products you can find in stores or online that are made specifically to keep drawers as organized as possible. Making a small investment into matching, high-quality organizers may motivate you to keep up with the system long after you create it. Ahead, you'll find 10 items that will work for any desired aesthetic or function.

Bamboo organizers are becoming increasingly popular due to their reputation as an environmentally-friendly material. They also tend to be high-quality and more durable than many other organizers, allowing them to last longer and be worthy of the investment. They come in either individual-sized boxes or as a whole unit with compartments.

They also come in a variety of colors including white, black, and gray so they can match the inside color of any drawer. Use these if you want a more high-end look inside of your junk drawer and for something that's long-lasting.

Clear containers are another trendy option, allowing you to see exactly what's on the inside. Acrylic is more expensive than regular plastic, but it is also much more durable. The edges of small acrylic inserts are sturdy, and they will never fade in transparency from light exposure. 

Acrylic is also very easy to clean so if anything you may have in the junk drawer spills, you simply need to wipe with a wet cloth. Like bamboo organizers, they can be found as a single unit, or as individual containers to maximize your options.

If your junk drawer is on the deeper side, you might want to think about maximizing the use of that depth. A two-tier sliding tray organizer can do that easily. Use the top half to store either the smaller, more shallow things or what you reach for more often. The bottom compartment can hold bulkier or less often used items that can still be accessed with just a quick slide of the top tray.

Just because something isn't seen or out in the open, doesn't mean it needs to be boring. If you love color, find something in your favorite shade to keep your junk drawer tidy. When you reach into it, it'll not only brighten your mood, but you also may find it more motivating to maintain the organization. Even better, it can incentivize kids to put things back where they belong if they think it's a fun space that speaks to their creative side.

Customizable dividers, whether they come in bamboo or plastic, are the perfect mix between individual boxes and a compartmentalized tray. There are kits designed to make it easy to DIY your ideal system and allow for adjustments that may be needed. Essentially, they're not permanent, but they also won't slide around like individual inserts can. 

One tip to simplify the process of determining the layout of your junk drawer is to place the items where you want them, and then arrange the dividers to fit around your things.

A long-time staple of desk drawers, mesh organizers can work just as well in your junk drawer. Since they're made of metal, they're sturdy and they'll stay in good condition for some time. Many are equipped with padding on the bottom corners to protect the inside surface of the drawer. The ventilated mesh pattern allows for airflow, but can also allow dust and dirt to fall through the cracks, so it's important to remove them every once in a while to get it clean underneath.

While often reserved for dresser drawers, there's no reason you can't use fabric organizers in your junk drawer. The outside of these individual boxes or divided trays is often made with fiberboard covered in fabric, which makes them sturdy and solid. The soft bottom, however, is perfect to protect against scratching or other damage to fragile items such as sunglasses. They certainly elevate this space from a run-of-the-mill junk drawer to a sweet spot to store your miscellaneous items.

Having an organizer that can adjust to your drawer and your things can really simplify things. Expandable drawer trays, most often found in bamboo or in clear plastic, can extend to max capacity whenever needed. They can also be shortened to create smaller compartments, make room for something bulky, or shift to fit into a narrower drawer. Their biggest advantage is having a custom-like function without having to create the system yourself.

The junk drawer tends to be a hotspot for household chargers, headphones, and a multitude of random cords. It may not be enough to simply confine them to a compartment and call it a day. Reduce the bulkiness and risk of tangles by wrapping them with cable ties, silicone bands, or even a plain strip of Velcro. If you often confuse cords or want to differentiate which one belongs to which family member, look for cord bundlers with an added spot to label the type or a name.

Batteries are another household object often relegated to the designated junk drawer. It's smart to keep them all together in order to keep track of your inventory and know when it's time to buy more. You can use a specific container, with or without a lid, that is meant to properly hold batteries in their place –  simply add it into the junk drawer alongside everything else. Many of these now come with battery testers, which is a useful feature, as long as they're not too bulky to fit inside your drawer.