I have a small apartment and not much in the way of surface area - no kitchen table and my computer desk does not have drawers. So have made a junk drawer out of a dresser drawer.

Now I've been decluttering like mad and all but I still find that the junk drawer is a necessary thing.

What are your experiences? Is there any such thing as a junk drawer - free home?

I think junk drawers are great, and perfectly neccessary.
To me, the key is to only have a few, and to regularly clean them out.
I think it is a natural part of living to not want to constantly put things back- and also some things take time to find a home.

live guilt free over your junk drawer inmyo.

b

I have never been able to live without a junk drawer! (or several!) I do try to mix it up on a regular basis and actually throw things away or put them where they belong, but it is such an in depth project to clean a junk drawer!:p

I agree junk drawer tend to be a necessary evil. There are just too many little items that don't have a home anywhere but in that drawer. I say keep it and let it be your guilty pleasure. :)

I think that there are two kinds of junk drawers. The throw-anything-in-and-put-away-later kind can be avoided by the disciplined, but the things-that-don't-live-anywhere else is essential.

I have two large sets of plastic drawers in my basement (the 5' tall kind) full of "junk" -- but it is organized junk. Each drawer has a rough category -- "coins and keys", "office supplies", "kids", "furniture parts", "cords and electric", "holiday", etc.

It's conveniently close to my laundry area. When I find quarters, barettes, and pens in the laundry I can just pop them in the right drawer. They are put away and I can find them later. Other things in the drawers, I don't know where else I would keep.

I also have a kitchen drawer where I can keep things like string and glue and and scissors and other things that I want to keep close at hand. I put a pretty basket on the table in my hallway and I can throw all the chaos in there, then walk it around the house once a week depositing things where they go.