Welcome to the fourth post in my series about how to decide whether or not you need organizing products. Click here if you missed the intro. Today, I feature drawer organizers and the multiple ways you can use them in multiple spaces. They’re not just for drawers!
You want to wait until the 6th step of organizing before you purchase organizing supplies. I have my free mini 7-step guide for you here!
Let’s jump into where and how to use drawer organizers in your spaces!
ORIGINAL FUNCTION
The purpose of a drawer organizer or divider is to corral smaller items within a drawer in order to allow a single drawer to hold multiple categories of items.
WHAT NOT TO DO
A common mistake when deciding to use drawer dividers is thinking that you must play Tetris and have a drawer divider for every section of your drawer. Drawer dividers just need to be used for the smaller items you need to corral. Then, you can use the open spaces for larger items. In this utensil drawer, if you look closely, there is not a bin at the top and bottom of this drawer. Though, the same bins can fit in each of those sections, they aren’t needed. I like to use non-slip drawer liners to keep everything in place.
BEST WAYS TO USE
Drawer dividers have unlimited uses. The key to maximizing the best use of them is to either label the bottom or the side of each section. Labeled drawer dividers are ideal for shared spaces so that everyone knows where to put back the stapler. They can be the perfect size for standard medicine cabinets! Click here for my bathroom organization post. I have been using drawer organizers in our medicine cabinets for over a decade. In my first apartment, we had the tiniest sink, so I put our toothbrushes and toothpaste in a drawer organizer and inside of the medicine cabinet. Drawer organizers are also great for corralling small items, like tea bags and spices, within cabinets when you don’t have enough drawer space. They are easy to grab in and out of cabinets.
UNCONVENTIONAL USES
You never have to use an organizing product for what it’s labeled for. In the office drawer above, I use kitchen drawer organizers from Ikea (click here if you missed my post on how to organize a shared office). In this supplement and tea cabinet, fridge bins from the Dollar Tree, which can be used as drawer dividers, are used within the cabinet. Flatware storage trays can be used to organize office supplies and makeup or any other items you desire. Ice cube trays can be great for organizing extra tiny things like earrings. You can stack drawer organizers on top of each other to help maximize the storage of small items in deep drawers. You can use them to maximize storage in a small desk by using them in the negative space behind the keyboard tray (click here for my small office organization post). The clear plastic, multi-compartment containers (pictured above holding my essential oils) from the Dollar Tree are designed to be used on surfaces, like desktops and vanities, but they are small enough to fit into drawers that they become perfect for containing individual items within your drawers (click here if you missed my nightstand organization post).
HOW TO DECIDE IF YOU NEED DRAWER ORGANIZERS
First, look at your spaces and decide what is the purpose of each space. For example, if you are piling pens and pencils and office supplies in the kitchen because that is where you use them, you can decide if a drawer or cabinet in the kitchen would be the best place to store your office supplies. Then, you will purge the items you aren’t using and sort your items by category. First, you should put your items away without drawer dividers. This dresser drawer contains everything perfectly without drawer dividers (click here for my wardrobe organization post). I have a folding technique (click here for my folding techniques post) which helps keep the camis from unraveling when the drawer is opened and closed. Then, if you find your items will get jumbled as the drawer is opened and closed, or your loved ones will not put items away without a labeled drawer divider, measure your space, and decide how many and what size organizers you will need.
HOW TO SAVE MONEY
First, as always, don’t purchase more bins than you need. Again, you will pare down your items to what you need before you purchase any organizing products. For some affordable options, the Dollar Tree is the BEST! They have so many options that all you have to do is go to their website and their storage and organization section and find their selections there. I showed 26 great options in the video. So, feel free to pause on any that look like a good fit for your spaces. You can order in bulk online (don’t forget to purge first before purchasing pins) or visit your local Dollar Tree. If you find a location does not carry what you are looking for, the staff can call the other locations for you or you can give them a call directly. I also really love Ikea, Walmart, 99 Cents Only Store (they do not have their products online), Big Lots, Target, and Amazon for affordable options which I am linking here:
Ikea:
STÖDJA Flatware tray, white (small)
STÖDJA Flatware tray, white (large)
Walmart:
White Options
Madesmart OPP Two Tray Drawer Organizer, White (These are great for office supplies and junk drawers)
Mainstays Ms 2pk Rectangle Mini Bin
Mainstays Narrow Mini Storage Bin Trays, White, 3pk (Besides drawers, these are awesome for spices within cabinets or toiletries within medicine cabinets)
Mainstays Square Mini Bin Storage Trays, White, 3pk
Mainstays Rectangular Mini Bin Storage Trays, White, 2pk
Clear Option
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Clear-Bin-Organizer-2-Pack-4-x-4-x-2/529429342
Big Lots:
Dial White 5-Piece Organizer Set
Target:
US Acrylic Line (This line is purchasable in multiple sets, so they are best for those who have “The Collector” organizing style)
Interlocking Drawer Organizer Set – White – Room Essentials™
Mesh Drawer Organizer Silver – Made by Design™
6 Comparent Drawer Organizer – Room Essentials™
3 Compartment Drawer Organizer Tray – Room Essentials™
Desk Drawer Organizer White – Room Essentials™
The Container Store:
As usual, The Container Store has the best selection of options so you are likely to find organizers that fit your spaces. The links below are all sorted by price from low to high.
Amazon:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Drawer Dividers (found here):
Don’t forget to grab your FREE organizing resources here so that you can know if the use of drawer organizers will be good solutions for your spaces. I have a lot more organizing products coming up, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the notification bell, so you can know the moment my next video is up and never miss another organizing video.
Happy Organizing!
Author of “How to Organize Any Space in 7 Simplified Steps“