How to Maximize the Storage Potential of Every Drawer in Your Home

It's an open-and-shut case: Keeping all the drawers throughout your home organized with the essentials you rely on each day is a household non-negotiable. The trouble is that these hidden compartments quickly become "out of sight, out of mind." This can translate into one too many junk drawers and ensuing chaos when trying to find whatever it is you're looking for, be it cotton balls, a spatula, or art supplies.

When you make these storage spots work harder for you, your office, kitchen, and bathroom go from frustrating to fantastically functional. We consulted experts about their best advice on how to organize drawers so the endless rummaging can finally come to an end.

Edit Drawer Items Often

One of the best ways to keep chaos to a minimum is to meditate on the phrase "less is more." Get rid of anything that's not serving you—like paper scraps, old receipts, leaky batteries, and that weird rubber band you keep tossing back into the pile.

"You shouldn’t have to dig into the depths of your bathroom drawer to find your floss. Be honest with yourself about what adds value to you and the function of your space," says Holli Humber, a professional organizer and the founder of Holli K Co.

Prioritize Important Items for Desk Drawers

"Keep necessary items on the desk, and treat the drawers as a drop zone for papers and important documents that you will need in the future," says Ryan Eisland, a professional organizer from Home Sort. "Additionally, we suggest scanning and discarding most paperwork and/or doing an annual clear-out of receipts, bills, and other paper items to ensure the items in your drawers are current and only the most important things."

Add Drawer Inserts

Everyone, even the tidiest person, has a rogue drawer crammed with random household stuff. Now, you can turn the catchall into a brilliant kit for domestic MacGyvering. This is a great solution for organizing teeny items that tend to get lost in the shuffle, like nails, batteries, and beyond.

"Drawer inserts make the space look tidy and make finding items a breeze," Eisland says. "First, sort your items outside of the drawer and separate like-items together. Size and place the inserts based on need, wipe down the drawer, then put the items into their designated spaces."

Keep Cords in Clear Bins or Containers

Sifting through look-alike thumb drives, cables, and cords all tangled in a drawer can leave you—and your stuff—tied in knots. To organize phone and computer accessories, pop them into clear plastic containers, like repurposed glass jars. Label them, and then you can easily toss whatever you need in your bag on the way out the door.

Leverage Docking Drawers

If your drawer is in built-in cabinetry, use an easy-install docking drawer outlet kit to plug devices into. If it's in a desk, skip the kit—just drill a hole in the back of the drawer. You can also insert a felt-lined tray as a soft landing pad for backup batteries and cameras.

Streamline Your Medicine Cabinet

If your medicine cabinet is narrow or nonexistent, an apothecary-inspired drawer stocked with first-aid supplies can save the day. For a uniform look, stick with a single material, such as shallow acrylic bins or cream-colored jars and compartments. You can create a similarly cohesive setup with glass dishes and votive holders or any vessels in the same color.

Line them up and decant your essentials, so it's obvious at a glance if inventory is low, and you're at the ready for ouchies, itchy throats, and any mini-emergency.

Utilize Flatware Trays in the Bathroom

The foolproof recipe for an orderly vanity: Transfer sectioned flatware and utensil trays from the kitchen to the bathroom to instantly streamline your get-ready routine. Elegant and quick to clean, marble styles are unfazed by spills and smears, but metal and wooden ones work well, too.

The narrower slots intended for cutlery can hold makeup and grooming tools; the larger compartments accommodate hairbrushes, leave-in treatments, and tress accessories. And if an insert doesn't completely fill the width of the drawer, not a problem: The narrow niche is perfect for stashing slim styling tools, like the flat iron at the bottom right.

Line Your Drawers

This drawer organizing tip is more about the aesthetics, but it'll make you happy to see a fully lined drawer every time you open it up. We recommend choosing a traditional drawer liner with a rubberized backing that provides a no-slip grip. The style can be neutral—like cream or black—or you can opt for a subtle print that adds a little dimension.

Incorporate Beautiful Trays for Jewelry

There are lots of hidden gems in your jewelry box, but if you don't see them, then you're less apt to wear them. Bring bling front and center with your favorite small dishes in complementary colors. To anchor them securely, line a drawer with a fuzzy fabric like felt or velvet or place a small ball of museum putty under each one. Arrange like items with like, so when an outfit calls for a gold bracelet or hoop earrings, you can grab, get your glimmer on, and go.

Nest Your Items When You Can

Excavating cookware from the depths of a kitchen drawer can bring you to the brink of a tantrum. When possible, nest pots, stacks of plates, and sets of mixing bowls to keep everything orderly. By stacking, you'll save lots of space, too! Keep this tip in mind when buying new items for your kitchen.