Junk Drawer Organizer DIY: How to Organize a Junk Drawer

February 15, 2019 by Brittany Goldwyn

This post shares my junk drawer organizer DIY completed for under $5! If you’re wondering how to organize a junk drawer, this is a totally customizable DIY based on your drawer and needs. This post contains affiliate links. You can read more about that here.

Junk Drawer Organizer DIY

Hey guys! I’m excited to be joining a big group of awesome bloggers for a year of DIY challenges! It starts today, and February’s theme is “build to organize.” So basically you just build something to help organize something.

My DIY spice drawer organizer went over really well, so I decided to replicate the concept for the “junk drawer” in the kitchen. I hate the term junk drawer because it’s not junk, it’s just a drawer of things that really have no other home. The drawer of misfit things.

It would also be a good excuse to clean it out. I mean who really LIKES it when you open a drawer and stuff goes rolling every which day and you have to dig to find what you want? Weirdos, I guess.

Learn how to make this DIY junk drawer organizer using under $5 worth of wood #organizing #organized #organize #junkdrawer #diy #woodworking

The very generous folks as Beacon Adhesives also sent me a goodie box of different glues to try out (full disclosure, for free), so I thought this would be a great project for that. The glues they sent me were for a variety of different things from fabric to wood and pretty much everything in between, so I know I’ll put them all to good use in the coming months.

Beacon has been big into the hobby and crafting glue market for a while (that’s what the Gem-Tac glue is below), but the rest of the glues are from their new hardware glues line. Really excited to try them out. You can browse all of their glues on the Beacon Adhesives Amazon Store page, and they kindly sent over a little cheat sheet you can use to select the glue that’s best for your project.

SUPPLIES:

3/8″ by 2″ pine
Glue
Bar clamps
Measuring tape and pencil
Miter saw

And here are the steps for my junk drawer organizer DIY.

(Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood. Do not use any tools without proper training, precautions, and supervision from a professional. Read my full terms of use here.)

Step 1: First I grabbed some wood, the same as I used for the spice drawer organizer: 3/8″ by 2″ pine board. The mount you’ll need will depend on the size of your drawer and how many compartments you want to make. I bought two 3′ pieces and called it a day.

Step 2: Next I cut the two side pieces. I measured the inside of the drawer from front to back and deducted about 1/8″ of an inch so I had a bit of wiggle room to get the organizer in. Definitely double check these in your drawer to make sure they fit before you proceed with the organizer.

Step 3: Then I cut a few divider pieces. Two to run horizontally and one to run vertically. I wanted some smaller compartments for this organizer, where as I just wanted lengthwise pieces for the spice drawer.

You can easily switch these spaces up to accomodate what you need to fit and organize in your junk drawer. Take a look at what you have and plan based on that.

And I added another lengthwise piece to add two smaller compartments! Clamps made this process very easy.

I just dabbed some glue on the ends of the pieces, clamped them in place (I mostly just eyeballed it), and waited for them to dry.

Step 4: For the last step, I just slid it in place. It should be snug, but it shouldn’t be really difficult to get it in. That’s why I think it’s really helpful to test the pieces out as you are cutting them. Even a 16th of an inch can make a huge difference.

Then organize!

Share my junk drawer organize DIY and help others learn how to organize their junk drawers!

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Comments

Lindsay Ponta says
February 15, 2019 at

Ahh such a great transformation, and I love how approachable this seems as a building project!
Teri Moore says
February 15, 2019 at

These look so professional! I’m also so comforted to see that I’m not the only person with drawers that could use a little extra help. Ha!
Danielle Pientka says
February 16, 2019 at

Those look great! I just accidentally got a ton of pine boards (in my head I was requesting 2x4s, lol- and the local lumber place loaded it into my car for me) so this would be a great use for them.
Megan says
February 16, 2019 at

So many of my drawers need this organizer. Thank you for the step-by-step tutorial!
Carmen says
February 16, 2019 at

LOVE it! Brittany! so happy to be a part of this blog hop with you 🙂
Eileen says
February 16, 2019 at

Such a great idea! I always try to smush as many plastic containers as I can into drawers – and it still looks so messy. I’ll have to try this 🙂
Kenya says
February 16, 2019 at

I could stand to do this for my oversized utensil drawers. I’m feeling inspired to have at it!
Sherry says
February 16, 2019 at

This drawer organization would make me so happy! It looks great and I really need to do this.
meegan says
February 16, 2019 at

I can always use more organization in our tiny home. This is just what I need for my bathrooms and “junk” drawer. Thanks for the tutorial.
Happy weekend!
Randi says
February 16, 2019 at

This is such a great idea … I love that everything has its spot.
Cindy says
February 16, 2019 at

Great little trick, I’ll have to try that glue! Love the organizer!
Jamie @ Southern Revivals says
February 17, 2019 at

OMG I need like 17 of these! Genius!
Toni | Girl, Just DIY says
February 17, 2019 at

Great project, and your before looks way better than mine LOL. I’m going to have to check my store to see if they have “project boards” what a cool thing. I’m probably going to have to be “inspired” by your project and make a few of these for some drawers in the garage.
Sarah says
February 17, 2019 at

A drawer of misfit things, I definitely have one of those. Love your organizing idea, the drawer looks great!
Christine Cook says
February 18, 2019 at

Oh goodness!! I so need to make one for my junk drawer!! Thanks for the great tutorial!
Jacque says
February 18, 2019 at

Great dividers. If only my junk drawer could look that good!
Anam says
February 19, 2019 at

This looks amazing, I need to use my scrap wood pieces and get to work on organizing my drawers now.
Amy says
February 19, 2019 at

it looks great! an organized mis-fit drawer is the best!
Edward Gamble@thereviewsearch says
February 26, 2019 at

Such an amazing transformation done by you. You did it like an expert. Love your step by step instruction to make this amazing drawer organizer. Thanks for the sharing such a creative project with all of us.
Lisa says
February 26, 2019 at

I have about 5 drawers that I need to build this organizer for! Thanks for sharing your tutorial Brittany!
Vineta says
February 27, 2019 at

OMG, I need to make one of these! Two, actually, because we have so much junk, it’s taken over two drawers!
Christine says
February 28, 2019 at

Holy cow! I desperately need this in my life! Thanks for the blueprint!