Why it’s OK to have a junk drawer in your home

Man's junk drawer

I know I surprised a lot of people when I said in my Clear Your Clutter book that it’s fine to have a junk drawer in your home, or even one on each floor of your home if you live in a big house.

The reason is that clutter clearing is not about being obsessively perfect. It’s about handling your belongings in such a way that the energy of your home is vibrant and flowing rather than dull and stagnating. In our busy world, we sometimes need the blessed relief of just opening a drawer and tossing in all those odd things that are littering the place.

So in my book I recommended that you do have a junk drawer, and just follow these three rules:

1) Choose a small drawer
2) Use it sparingly
3) Have regular clear outs

Junk drawer

All junk drawers are not created equal, however. There is often a world of difference between the type of stuff that a woman would throw in a junk drawer and the type of stuff kept by men, as this hilarious “Man drawer” comedy routine by Michael McIntyre shows:

Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd 2015


Related article
How not to have a junk room

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About Karen Kingston

Karen Kingston is a leading expert in clutter clearing, space clearing, feng shui, and healthy homes. Her two international bestselling books have combined sales of over three million copies in 26 languages and have established themselves as "must-read" classics in their fields. Her best-known title, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, is now in its fifth edition. She is best known for her perspective-changing insights and practical solutions that enable more conscious navigation of 21st-century living.
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7 Responses to Why it’s OK to have a junk drawer in your home

  1. In my book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, I define four categories of clutter:
    ~ Things you do not use or love
    ~ Things that are untidy or disorganized
    ~ Too many things in too small a space
    ~ Anything unfinished

    I have been trying to “finish unfinished projects”!!! Thank U!

  2. “I tend to like to “cluster objects and items”; so what is the difference between “Clustering and Clutter?”

    1. In my book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, I define four categories of clutter:
      ~ Things you do not use or love
      ~ Things that are untidy or disorganized
      ~ Too many things in too small a space
      ~ Anything unfinished

      Any of these types of clutter can occur in clusters!

  3. I bought quite a few “plastic storage units”; and this helps a lot; however I was thinking about transitioning to all Wooden storage; like wooden chests; wooden bureaus; desks; wooden tables; Wood really brings a nice atmosphere into my studio apt.! Good day!

  4. yeah; a very funny comedian: “the manly junk drawer”: actually I agree with Karen: a junk drawer can be a handy place; however concerning “batteries: If you mix old batteries or used batteries with new batteries; the old batteries will actually weaken the new batteries; So; old or used batteries are one item you might not want in junk drawer; same theory for old TV’s attract fungus etc.
    THANKS KAREN AND HAPPY EASTER HOLIDAYS! Anne, Conn. USA

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