Cabinet Ideas for Every Room

Solve your junk drawer woes

Ah, the junk drawer. Every house has one (or more). In fact, a junk drawer is usually necessary, and what you store in it isn´t "junk". You might keep a few small tools in the kitchen, but don´t need a whole drawer for them. It´s a good catch-all for those small items you like to keep handy, in any room. Unfortunately, it can become disorganized with items such as:

• Glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Tape Measure
• Basic Tools
• Coupons
• Pens and Pencils
• Batteries
• Rubber bands
• Tacks and nails

Here´s some good news: You can not only have an organized ´junk drawer´ in your home, but you can also make it work as an efficient part of your household. Follow these tips and conquer your junk drawer woes.

Organize what you have in the drawer.

Find a clear, flat area, like a large countertop or living room floor. Place a large, unfolded rag or towel on the surface. Bring a wastebasket with you. Dump drawer contents onto the surface, and wipe out the drawer with a cloth. Throw out unnecessary items. Then install a simple organizing device like a tray insert or drawer divider. Voila! You can now separate items into categories and make them easy to get. (Accessories available for Merillat Cabinetry can be purchased online at Shop@Merillat.) Several types of handy organizers from Merillat are ideal for bringing order to any kind of junk drawer:

• Tray Inserts and Drawer Dividers
  These dividers make it easy for you to group small objects. A variety of configurations give you flexibility to neatly store tape, gum, keys, rubber bands, twist-ties and other odd-shaped items.
  
• Tableware Tray Insert
  Not just for silverware! These can be especially useful for pens, pencils, letter openers, eyeglasses and pen lights.
  
• Utility Tray
  Larger than a Tableware Tray, this was designed for holding large cooking utensils, but can store large items like a pliers, screwdriver, medium-size flashlight or candle snuffer.
  
• Spice Tray Insert
  A Spice Tray Insert can be used for more than just spices and herbs. Organize hobby paint, glue bottles, vitamins and other items you want to have handy.
  

Determine if certain items belong elsewhere.

The key to organizing is to designate a place for every item, whether you decide to keep it in the junk drawer or not. "Once everything has a home, you know where to find it and where to put it away," says Stephanie Denton, a professional organizer based in Cincinnati. So, decide: Does the tape stay in the junk drawer, or belong in a desk drawer?

Do an occasional junk drawer check-up. Once a month, quickly check your junk drawer for unneeded or misplaced items, and toss them out, recycle or put them in their proper place.

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