Beyond the Junk Drawer But Before the Garage
Ever gone to find a battery or screwdriver from the junk drawer and the drawer is completely overstuffed? Do you find that handy household bits are routinely left around the house? Stuff left out on surfaces is an indicator that either there isn’t a dedicated home for it or the space they are supposedto live in isn’t sufficient.
What do you do?
Sometimes the proverbial “junk drawer” isn’t big enough to accommodate all the handy items you like to keep nearby. It does make sense to keep a certain amount of what we call “light utility” items close by in the house rather than having to schlep out to the garage every time you need a piece of string.
The usual light utility suspects include:
- String and light rope
- Packing tape painters tape, masking tape
- Adhesives/Glues/Glue Gun
- Batteries
- Bike repair
- Electronics cables/parts/Chargers
- Furniture sliders and floor protectors
- Locks and keys
- Picture hanging supplies
- Light work gloves
- Rags
- Lightbulbs
If you find you’re dedicating multiple kitchen drawers; too much valuable real estate with this kind of stuff, it can be worth an investment in a system beyond the drawer.
Good options are:
- Tall rolling drawer unit. It can be stored in a laundry room, a closet or a pantry.
- Stackable drawers that sit on shelves
- Clear lidded boxes on shelves or in cabinets
Labeling makes all the difference!
If you can, it’s always better to subdivide drawers and label. We have a “Miscellaneous Household” drawer where we keep both floor protection and picture hanging supplies (fishing line, crown moulding hooks, rubber chair leg tips and felt pads). Sometimes “Miscellaneous” works just fine; there will always be a certain amount of leftover items that aren’t enough to make a full category grouping in a bin or drawer.
This is an IRIS brand rolling cart – sold at Target and online
This wood-composite cabinet can also be found at Target or Michaels
These clear stackable shoe and sweater drawers from the Container Store also work well for household items
The most important principle here is to consciously create a home for the things you store that fits the reality of what you own. Be realistic. If you have more stuff than fits in a drawer, redefine the storage. It doesn’t work to make a tiny kitchen drawer do the work of a large tool chest.
Go ahead and try it! Set aside an hour, gather the tools and household bits, categorize and redefine your storage. Take charge and make it work for you!
