Pick a Drawer, any Drawer

Drawers are an organizers dream to keep items containerized and out of sight.  But, drawers can just as easily become a “junk drawer” or a catch-all. And while stuffing things in drawers may get the house tidy when company is headed over; disorganization in drawers doesn’t let them them live up to their full potential as the perfect home for projects, supplies and more.

This is the case in the top drawer of my hutch. I adoringly call it the craft drawer even though it is filled with who knows what. For this 10 Minute Tuesday organizing challenge, pick one drawer in your house that could use a little sprucing up with 10 minutes of focused attention.

Step 1- Before setting your timer, decide the drawer’s intended function.

Our dining table is also our crafting station, so it makes sense for us to keep supplies close at hand. Also, since the drawer I am organizing is narrow, I determined it would best be used to hold the smaller craft supplies we work with most often.

Next, I gathered containers. I had to spend a little time searching for containers that would fit in the shallow drawer. I grabbed some shoe box lids as well as an old checkbook box.

With my vision set and my supplies in place, I started my 10 minute timer. I tossed or recycled any items that we could no longer use and sorted like items with like.

After collecting a large trash pile and arranging the containers in place, I was left with a drawer that screamed happy and functioning compartments. Each category of item is separated in its own compartment to keep supplies from blending together in a jumbled mess. Also by assigning each thing a home, we can quickly and easily find, use and then replace the item when it’s clean up time.

I was able to have the craft drawer organized in only 10 minutes but only because I had areas somewhat in order. Most of the supplies in the drawer were crafting supplies and I had other areas ready to go when I needed to find an item a new home. For example, I moved our current projects (the art-in-progress) from the craft drawer into the magazine file holders on top of the hutch.

I also have another drawer dedicated to paper supplies and craft supplies that we use less often. As part of the 10 minutes of organizing, I added a retired baby wipe container to hold the larger supplies in this drawer.

I am doing a craft with the girls tomorrow just to use the new craft drawer. It is so inviting!

What drawer are you going to tackle in only 10 minutes? Pick a drawer and decide what you want the function to be, collect a few containers and you’ll be ready to start your timer and be on your way! Let me know how it goes!