Domakihub How to Organize a Junk Drawer (and Keep It That Way)
Five clear steps to turn chaos into a drawer that actually works.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Every home has one — the drawer that catches spare keys, dead batteries, half-used tape rolls, and random screws from furniture assembled years ago. In Greek homes and holiday rentals alike, a chaotic junk drawer slows you down at exactly the moment you need something fast. The video above shows the process visually; this guide breaks it into five repeatable steps you can complete in under an hour.
Why junk drawers spiral out of control
A junk drawer fails not because of laziness but because it has no defined categories. Without zones, every small item that has no obvious home migrates there, and the drawer becomes a black hole rather than a utility hub.
In holiday rentals and hotel apartments this problem is amplified: guests and cleaning staff both contribute items, and no single person takes ownership. A structured drawer with clear zones solves the problem for everyone who uses the space.
What to keep — and what to remove first
Before you organize anything, accept that a junk drawer is a legitimate household tool. The goal is not to eliminate it but to give it purpose. Useful candidates: a torch, spare batteries (AA/AAA), a multi-tool or small screwdriver, sticky tape, rubber bands, a pen and notepad, a spare key, and a packet of paracetamol.
Items that do not belong: old receipts, expired coupons, dried-out pens, mystery keys, broken gadgets, and single-use chargers for devices you no longer own. These are the real culprits. Remove them before you touch a single organiser tray.
Five steps to a drawer that stays organized
- 1
Empty the drawer completely
Pull everything out onto a table or countertop. Do not sort while you empty — just get it all out so you can see the full scope. Wipe the inside of the drawer with a damp cloth while it is empty; grime and dust build up fast in kitchen and hallway drawers.
- 2
Sort into keep, relocate, and discard piles
Work quickly and honestly. Anything broken or expired goes straight to discard. Items that belong in another room (medicine cabinet, toolbox, stationery drawer) go to relocate — put them there immediately, not later. Only the items you genuinely need within arm's reach belong in the keep pile.
- 3
Group the keepers into categories
Common categories for a functional junk drawer: fasteners and small tools, writing supplies, tapes and adhesives, batteries and small electronics, and spare keys. Group physically before you buy any organisers — the groupings tell you what sizes of tray you actually need.
- 4
Add a drawer divider or tray insert
A simple plastic or bamboo divider set (available at any Greek supermarket or houseware shop) is enough. Fit the dividers to your groups, not the other way round. For a rental property, a single shallow tray labelled with a sticky note is often more guest-friendly than many small compartments.
- 5
Do a 60-second reset every month
Set a reminder on your phone for the last Sunday of every month. Open the drawer, remove anything that crept in during the month, and return items to their zones. This single habit prevents the drawer from reverting to chaos and is the step most people skip — and then wonder why the system failed.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted handyman pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- How many items should a junk drawer hold?
- A good rule of thumb is that every item should be visible without moving anything else. If you have to dig, the drawer is over capacity. For most households this means between 20 and 40 items across five or six categories.
- What is the best type of drawer organiser to buy?
- Adjustable bamboo or plastic divider sets with removable inserts work for most drawer sizes. Avoid fixed-compartment trays until you have confirmed your category sizes — bought blind, they rarely fit. Stackable small boxes from a euro-store work just as well and cost almost nothing.
- Should a holiday rental have a junk drawer at all?
- Yes — guests need access to basics like tape, a pen, scissors, and a torch without having to ask. Keep the drawer simple (six items maximum), label it clearly in Greek and English, and include a laminated card listing what is inside. Check and restock it between every turnover.