44 Before & After: An Organized Nightstand Drawer

We all have that one drawer. The one that becomes a dumping ground with an endless pit of random items. It happens to the best of us!

Most of the drawers around our home are set up in a way that they self maintain, but there are a couple that demand attention more often; our junk drawer in our kitchen, and apparently, my nightstand drawer both top that list.

I clean out the junk drawer every month or so, because even with dividers, random items that don't have an instant home, end up in that very popular drawer. Being in such a high traffic area that we all utilize, I am pretty good about tackling it frequently to keep some semblance of order.

109 An Organized Entryway Drawer

Add this project to the quick and easy and under 15 minute list.  Those are the best right?

You are about to see proof that even though I heart organizing, we are far from perfect over here....

Yikes right?  That is the top drawer of our entry shoe storage unit.

And it once looked like this inside....

But, over the past few years, it has become a quick place to toss random items in a hurry.  I knew the main reason was laziness, the second reason was the lack of drawer dividers for all the itty bits that we like to keep in the drawer.  I have always believed that drawer dividers keep drawers cleaner, since you have less of a choice to just "stuff" something somewhere.  They make you stop and think, "Does this really belong in here?"

So, I emptied the drawer to start from scratch, put everything back where it really should have gone and selected the items that made the most sense for our entry drawer.

See those great pink little buckets?  Found those at Target in the dollar section - two for $1 baby!

They would be my new drawer dividers!  Cheap and cute!  And my way of bringing pink into the house in any way that I can....

I could have just filled the tubs with the contents waiting for their new home, however, I wanted to go the extra mile and add some labels to the insides, just so there is never any question in the future what belongs and what doesn't.

To keep the organizers from sliding around inside of the drawer, I just snipped a small bit of a rug pad to put down under the bins.

Visions like this make me week in the knees....

And here they are all filled up with their goodies.

My sunglasses, batteries, spare keys, hand sanitizer, and a tape measure {since we are always grabbing for one}.  Daily essentials.

To make room for the rest of the belongings, I just slid the organizers to the back of the drawer, and placed in the larger items that I like to stash in there as well. 

Sooooo much better!  And so easy!  Fingers crossed it sticks this time!

This project came out of nowhere just because I couldn't take it any longer.  A couple of minutes while watching Sunday football and I was left grinning ear to ear.

Anyone take on a last minute project this weekend also?  Or find an amazing storage solution in the dollar section or at the dollar store?

17 Got 15? Nothing "Junky" about this challenge!

Last week I pushed out a little mini-challenge and you all have really been rockin' out those drawers!  Thank YOU so much to everyone who has been linking up their awesomeness to share with us this week!

Oh my, have you been back to look at all the linked up inspiration?  So much fun!  Here are a couple of the drawers you will see....

Common theme amongst all these incredibly organized and functional drawers?  I would say, containerization.  There are days when I think that a junk drawer is just a dumping ground and it shouldn't exist because everything needs a place.  But the junk drawer IS THE PLACE for misc. items that really have no where else to go!  But, junk drawers can also quickly get out of hand, unless dividers and containers are brought in.

Containerizing keeps items in categories so they will be easier to find!  Plus, it reduces them from rolling around into the drawer and meshing into a giant pile of mess!  Lastly, it makes it more challenging to just dump every random thing into the drawer when containers are in the way!  That's a good thing!

I see everyone got really creative with their containers.  Mesh baskets, leftover boxes, bowls and yogurt cups.  It shows it doesn't necessarily matter WHAT you use, anything can become a container!  Love the no moola makeovers!

So I promised to share in this excitement and tackle my own drawer as well!

I started with this, which already had a drawer divider {from Ikea}, I just wasn't using it correctly....

I pulled everything out and dumped it on the counter.

Then, I lined the drawer just like I did here for the utensil drawers.

And I sorted through all the items on the counter.... How many screwdrivers do we really need?

It's hard to tell, but there are categories going on here.....

Baggies of misc. hardware, command hooks and magnet clips galore, Scentsy scents, random useless items... you name it, that's what the drawer is for right?

Here is the important part.  I realized that the drawer was becoming a dumping ground for some items that already had real homes.... back to their homes they went.  Like screwdrivers and misc hardware, which had bins in the garage.

This paired down a lot of the items, the rest either went into the garbage or back into the drawer.

Ahhhh, much better!

Starting in the back, the Scentsy packages got snipped down a little to fit standing up and still be able to close the drawer:

All of the Command Hooks and other hooks and clips all were categorized together in another compartment:

The Mr. got his own compartment:

And so did I!

Some hardware I am planning on using soon, got to stay, along with a tape measure and one phillip screwdriver and on flat head. 

And that's it!  Final Before and After?

  

SO much better!  And in under 15 minutes!  Leaving lots of time for a good happy dance around the kitchen.  I always say, it's the little things!

Link up party ends today, I can't wait to dig through more and more inspiration!

What do you think?  Oodles of greatness going on right?  Who else is motivated to hop onto this 15 minute challenge?  Those that are done, how easy was it?  What items have you been finding that has surprised you?  A winning lottery ticket or a lost piece of jewelry?  Let's chat!

9 October Featured Space: Kitchen - Got 15? Linen Love

Got an extra 15 minutes laying around?  If you do, a quicky organizing project for the weekend could be to tackle or create a linen drawer in the cocina!

Super simple stuff here my loves!

1.  Roll table runners:

2:  Fold cloth napkins:

3.  Toss napkin rings into an easy access dish:

4:  Call it a done deal and have a fabulous weekend!

Who's in?!

35 Got 15?: No Nonsense Nightstand!

I am back with another "Got 15?" post, in which I assign a quick organizing challenge that can be completed in 15 minutes or less!! Today we are going to chat all about getting your nightstand/night table in tip top organized shape, inside and out!

I recently just tackled this project and it's totally doable!  And I mean doable in less than 15 spare minutes.  Wanna know how?  Ready, Set, Go!

1.  Remove.  Empty all contents from your drawer{s} and nightstand top.
2.  Assess.  What do you really need/use out of everything you removed?  What's getting love and what's not?
3.  Purge.  Ensure your nightstand isn't giving you nightmares.  Keep it simple and organized, toss outdated or unused products/items.  It's not fun to get all flustered right before bed because you can't find something.  Go to sleep smiling!
4.  Re-Assemble!  Put back all the remaining goods!  And then open and close the drawer{s} a couple hundred times, smiling at your successful accomplishment!

Here's a couple of things I personally thought of when deciding what to keep in my nightstand.

I thought all about my nightly routine.  How do I plan on spending my time in my room before I go to sleep or while I am sleeping?  I typically like to read a book or magazine, and don't really care to get back out of bed once I am nice and cozy.  So, for me, I chose to keep my facial cleansing wipes and night cream at arms reach.

I also kept some nourishing body and foot lotion near by.  This is so the hubs has no excuse to give me an oh so splendid foot-rub after a long busy day!  {wink wink - you gals all know I have to lotion and rub my own feet when they are tired, but I can dream right?}

And what's in the pink lidded bin?  I tossed in some aspirin bottles just in case I get a late night or early morning headache or body ache.

I also decided I am definitely not a fan of waking up with dry lips, so right before sleepy time and right when I awaken, I moisturize my kissers with some lip balm.

Which sits upon my current nightly reading material.

And last but not least, I corralled my night masks in a cheapo plastic basket, so they aren't just floatin' around.

So to recap.  Essential items only.

• Facial Cleansing Wipes and Creams
• Lotion
• Lip Balm
• Aspirin
• Reading Material
• Eye Masks

Anything more than that and I am sure it would cause nightly rummaging, which I totally don't have time for.

What we all tend to keep inside the drawers is typically the less aesthetically pleasing stuff, which is tucked away so there is no need to worry about making it "pretty".  Inside the drawers, function is all that really matters.  However, selecting what goes on top of the nightstand has a lot more impact on the overall feeling of the room.

I tried to stick with items that not only "look good to me" but what also "makes sense to me" as well.

Like my cell phone.  I do have a charging station in my living room that the hubs and I use throughout the day or on weekends, however, I am a tad phone obsessed {it really doesn't leave my side}.  I have a fear of missing out on something or an important call, so I found myself taking my phone to my bedside each night.  Why not give the phone a nice charge and a place to call home while it's there?  This charging station was a Target clearance find for under $7, and really has made my phone's life a lot happier.

And the small decorative bowl is my easy solution to corralling all of the jewels and hairbands I remove before I shut out the lights.

Of course lighting is key for my nightly reads, so I choose to have a lamp bedside.  And I chose to add a more decorative alarm clock to keep with the overall feeling I was going for in the room, vs. the standard digital style.

With some pops of color in a colorless room, in the form of some pretty pink flowers in a pretty white vase, I called the nightstand complete!

So again, when choosing what to place on display, it's simple.  Go with your heart, keep out what you cherish, but also don't overdo it or loose the things that function for you to get a good nights rest.  Keep out things like stacks of books, flowers, a water carafe or small framed photographs.

As I always overly say "Easy Peasy" or "Easy as Pie"!  Whichever way you choose to say it, it's EASY to make your nighttime routine EASY!

I dare you!  Triple dog dare you.  Take on this task and then send me pics of the results.  I would heart to see how you achieve bliss in 15 minutes or less!

Anyone else tackle their bedside table as of late?  What is one night time item you absolutely could never live without? {Keep it PG ladies!}  Any additional tips for keeping your nightstand, absolutely nightstandtasic?