From Chaos to Calm: Transforming My Nightstand Drawer
From Chaos to Calm: Transforming My Nightstand Drawer
We all have that one drawer—the one that becomes a catch-all for random items. It’s a universal struggle! Even the best of us are guilty of letting it happen.
While most drawers in our home stay relatively organized with a bit of maintenance, there are a couple that seem to demand constant attention: the kitchen junk drawer, and, unfortunately, my nightstand drawer, which has been an ongoing issue for a while.
I tend to clear out the junk drawer every month or so because, despite dividers, random bits and pieces end up there—things that don’t have a proper home. It’s located in such a high-traffic spot that I’m pretty good at keeping it in check.
But my nightstand drawer… that’s a different story. I usually only see it late at night or during a quick tidy-up, and, truth be told, it had become a disaster zone. It was time to face the clutter once and for all.
Like many of these spur-of-the-moment organizing projects, it was prompted by that “I can’t stand this anymore!” feeling. I typically just tackle the problem and never think to take a before-and-after picture. After all, it’s just a drawer, right? But every time I see someone else’s organized drawer or an impressive before-and-after, it fires me up. So, this time I grabbed my phone, snapped a quick picture of the “before,” and decided I’d share the process. I’m encouraging all of you to do the same! It doesn’t have to be your nightstand drawer—just any drawer! Let’s do this together.
A Drawer Full of Randomness
Here’s what I found when I opened it: candles, linen sprays, essential oils, cold and sinus medicines, drawer hardware, jewelry, prescriptions, hair accessories, creams, throat lozenges… pretty much everything except the kitchen sink. No judgment here—I had simply tossed things in without thinking.
Step 1: Sort and Organize
The first step was to sort through the mess. I grabbed two random baskets—one for “Keep” and one for “Transfer”—to separate what belonged and what didn’t. The “Keep” pile would stay in the drawer, while the rest would be returned to their rightful places.
The Difference Is Night and Day!
Once sorted, I gave the drawer itself a good cleaning and noticed that the old velvet-like liner was looking pretty grimy. So, I took some foam core boards and cut them to fit the drawer. Then I wrapped them in a scrap of light blue linen fabric. This was a small touch, but I felt it gave the drawer a refreshed look without much effort. It was a simple upgrade that made a huge difference.
Next, I dug through my stash of organizers and found dividers and a small bowl that seemed perfect for the job. With these tools, I set about organizing the drawer so that it would stay functional and tidy moving forward.
The “After” Transformation
The top drawer now holds everything in its place:
- A back organizer for all my morning and nightly meds and supplements
- A small bowl for my sleep mask and silk scrunchie
- A larger divider for my remote, sleep spray, glasses, and hand lotion
- Essential oils, lip balm, earplugs, my night guard, and daily jewelry
It’s like a completely different drawer now—and it only took about 20 minutes! With just a few simple steps, I transformed a chaotic mess into a calm, organized space.
The Takeaway: Small Changes, Big Impact
This transformation might seem small, but it made a huge difference in my daily life. Plus, now that it’s organized, I’m much more mindful of what I toss back in there.
Now, I challenge you to tackle a drawer, too! Start with something small and simple. It really is all about taking those little steps toward a more organized, peaceful space. You’ll be amazed at how a small change can make such a big impact on your day-to-day life.
