There are areas in every home where the motto “out of sight, out of mind” quickly seems to take over. If you’ve lived in a place long enough, these spots start to pop up everywhere — in the bedroom, in the bathroom, and in the kitchen — and drawers, in particular, are the quickest to become messy and cluttered.

Clutter doesn’t just make it hard to find what you need. Studies have shown that clutter can cause stress and make it hard to focus, all the more reason to get organized. Getting those drawers back in order may feel like a monumental task, but there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. By following this guide with four easy steps and plenty of drawer organization ideas, you’ll learn how to organize drawers in no time. It’s time to finally bid farewell to the junk drawer.

What clothes should go in drawers?

Lighter items such as t-shirts, underwear, and socks work best in drawers, while heavier clothing like sweaters and pants should be hung in the closet.

Should you roll or fold clothes in drawers?

Experts recommend rolling clothes since that takes up less space and prevents wrinkles. It also makes it easier to see your clothes and find the ones you want to wear.

How do you declutter junk drawers?

Yes, even professional organizers have a junk drawer! It’s inevitable, given there are always miscellaneous items lying around. It’s probably the last place you want to tackle as you clean and organize, but starting here will give you a good gauge of what knick-knacks, tools, and paperwork may need a new home.

Is it good to line drawers?

Liners help keep drawers clean and protect the inside of your furniture, but can also add some decorative flair. Pick a color or design that accents your decor to make it feel unique.

An Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Organizing Drawers

1. Empty out the drawers

The best way to organize drawers is to start from scratch. Trying to organize drawers with belongings still in them is simply not as effective. By emptying them first, you can see everything clearly, which makes the next steps easier. Removing what’s inside allows you to clean them and remove any dirt or dust. Use a handheld vacuum or the hose attachments on your vacuum to suck up what has accumulated in the drawer, then wipe down the interior with a cleaning spray and microfiber cloth. If you find any stains, use baking soda and a brush to remove them.

2. Sort and declutter

Now that all your items are out in the open, it’s time to sort. This is a good time to determine what you really use and need. As you sort, look for damaged or broken items that can be fixed, recycled, or thrown away.

The process of decluttering your possessions can be a tough one. Ask yourself these questions to help you decide what you truly need:

Have you used it in the last six months?
Do you plan to use it in the near future? Remember that some items, such as clothing, are seasonal and can be cycled in and out of drawers as needed.
Would you buy this again? If not, it’s time to let it go.
Would you keep the item if you were moving? If the answer is no, it’s not worth keeping.

You might find multiples of a particular item, whether it’s spatulas in the kitchen or hair ties in the bathroom. Consider these questions:

Do you have other objects that serve the same purpose? Determine which is most useful and keep those items.
How many of the items do you need to keep in your household?

Consider the space that you have. Don’t keep so much that the drawers immediately fill up — just keep the ones that you know you will use. Finally, create a pile of items that can be sold at a garage sale, online, or donated to a local charity. (Find donation pickup options near you.)

3. Designate space for the newly-organized items

Another key to organized drawers is making sure everything that’s being kept has a home. For example, if you have a drawer in your kitchen full of utensils, silverware, mail, and miscellaneous junk, consider moving the latter two. They might be better suited in your office or a drawer in a cabinet.

Similarly, your dresser drawers may have clothing that takes up a good deal of room and can be hung rather than folded to give you back some valuable drawer space for other belongings. Seasonal clothing can be stored out of the way under your bed or on a closet shelf and switched out as needed. The goal is to make sure that all your possessions are in a spot that you can easily return them to.

4. Look for drawer organization ideas

Ready to get all your items organized? You’ll probably need some accessories. Containers, dividers, and trays can help, as can a thought-out storage plan. To get drawers ready for your newly-organized items, use a drawer divider to create sections. Drawer liners also protect the drawers and your belongings while helping minimize dust. A liner without holes is a good, non-slip option that will prevent any dirt from getting to the drawer underneath, and it’s super easy to clean if needed.

Bedroom Drawer Organization Ideas

If budget is tight, shoe boxes and cereal boxes are a great way to create containers to help organize dresser drawers. You can cover the boxes with wrapping paper or contact paper to match your decor and add some personality. Storing clothes is made easy with wardrobe cubes, which are perfect for small items like socks and underwear. If you’re looking for something larger for shirts or shorts, larger and deeper storage boxes are available, too.

Stacking folded clothes in drawers makes it hard to get to what’s at the bottom of the stack. Use the Marie Kondo folding method to make filing clothes easier rather than stacking them. Items like t-shirts can also be rolled and stored vertically to maximize space and make it easy to see what’s in your organized drawers.

For a more in-depth look at using the Konmari method for clothing, read The Konmari Closet Method: How to Get Started.

Bathroom Drawer Organization Ideas

The bathroom can be a room that has limited space as well as limited storage. Look for organizers that stack to maximize drawer space. Just remember to measure your drawers first to know what size you need. To store small items like jewelry or hair ties on a budget, use egg cartons or ice cube trays, which are great for containing smaller items.

Another challenge of organizing bathroom drawers is keeping all the various bottles corralled. If the drawers are tall enough to stand up the lotion bottles, nail polish, or hair products, use bins or drawer dividers to keep them in place as you open and close your drawer.

Kitchen Drawer Organization Ideas

It’s completely possible to organize kitchen drawers on a budget. If it’s too pricey to buy a bunch of containers, using the bottom of cereal boxes to store silverware and utensils works perfectly. It’s also a great way to store spices and keep them from rolling around in a drawer. Place tools you use the most in a drawer that’s convenient to access and keep like items — such as food storage containers or water bottles — together.

Drawers may be out of sight and out of mind, but they don’t have to be a disorganized mess. Do you have tips for keeping drawers organized? Share photos and tips with us on social media at @lifestorage.

Updated 3/27/20 & 7/17/23 from a post originally published 12/15/15.