Why Your Junk Drawer Needs a Super Fat-Busting Diet

drawerI have spoken before about rethinking the need for a junk drawer, but today I want to address perhaps the most important thing you can put in any drawer: open space.

For most of us, it feels unnatural to leave some open space in a drawer, but ask yourself this. Is the purpose of your drawers to hide away as much stuff as possible or to easily find what you want, when you want it? If you chose the first purpose, I can’t help you. You will probably never have enough drawer space. If, however, you chose the second purpose, then I urge you to leave some open space in your drawers.

Open space is not a waste of space. On the contrary, it is your drawer’s most valuable player. Open space means that you don’t have multiple layers, that conceal. Open space means that you can easily see and access what you have. Open space means that your drawers open easily, because they are not packed tight.

Use drawers to set limits. In the photo above, the drawer is dedicated to just back-up writing implements (and just one pair of scissors.) This is plenty. If I get more writing implements, I get rid of them, rather than waste space, stuffing them into another drawer. In a utensil drawer, you might consider keeping duplicate spatulas as back-ups in the basement or getting rid of them entirely. If the spatula is large and awkward and you use it all the time, then maybe it makes more sense stored in a container by the stove.

The point is, it pays to think carefully about what you really need in your drawer and to cut out the fat. Open space is far more valuable than excess stuff.

Do you have any drawers that need a super fat-busting diet?