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Junk drawer: a drawer full of, well, junk. But hold on a second, how did it even get the name junk' drawer? Obviously the stuff that occupies this drawer is not junk to us. If it was, why wouldn't we simply throw it away instead of hoarding it in a random drawer? Perhaps the name should be changed to "A Just in Case" drawer. It makes explaining why we are saving those almost dead, non-matching batteries and miscellaneous keys a little more easier. Starting a junk drawer, or "A Just in Case" drawer, is not a hard feat at all for all of those beginners out there. In fact, it is utterly too easy.

Giving tips or directions on starting a junk drawer seems a little redundant. There is a good chance that you already have something similar to a junk drawer; that is unless you are a Martha Stewart prodigy or something. Maybe it is an old shoe box, or fish bowl, or your Pottery class project from high school. Whatever it may be, if it is holding half used matchbooks, bent thumb tacks, and pen-less pen caps, you my friend, have already successfully started a junk thing.' The conversion from a junk thing' to a junk drawer is simple: take everything and dump it into an empty drawer. I would suggest using a drawer located in the general vicinity of the kitchen, although, you can start one anywhere that feels right.

Opening a junk drawer can be a little overwhelming at times, but it should be treated as a journey. With the motley odds and ends that hang out in this particular drawer, it can be understandable why one would be hesitant to search this drawer to find a couple stamps. However, my junk drawer has become a regular item of use in my house, and I feel that the objects of necessity for a junk drawer should be shared with the world. We are not cleaning out the junk drawer, we are modifying it. Organization is a-whole-other ball game.

First, a hammer. Now don't get a cheap, it's going to break after one use' hammer. Do your junk drawer right; get one of those nice hammers. You know, with the rubber handle that costs like twenty bucks. It might seem crazy to spend that much on a hammer, but it is better than buying a new hammer all the time cause your cheap one breaks before you can get a good grip on it. Plus, a hammer can be used for numerous things: hanging a picture, building a bookcase, breaking up ice for a party, reflex tests, etc. There are endless uses for a good hammer.

A couple of other items that may come in handy are a screwdriver, tape, some nails and/or screws, a bottle opener, a lighter, new batteries, possibly a permanent marker. Really, if you think about it, the essentials for a junk drawer should be the things that you always need but can never find; like many of the things listed above. Although one should not be tempted to stop there. Feel free to throw things like old scraps of paper with phone numbers in there and useless remote controls. Maybe pizza coupons that will never be used and some spare change for sound effects. Don't forget to throw in some random, broken pieces of plastic, pens with no ink, and buttons that are at least a decade old.

There are endless things that can into a junk drawer. If it is junk, but not junk enough to throw away, and has no place' to go, throw it in the drawer of junk. If you stick to a plan like this, your junk drawer will be well developed in no time. Don't be so quick to call it junk though, for a better night's sleep, we can call it "A Just in Case" drawer. Besides, you really might need those thirteen pennies or pizza coupons one day.

Learn more about this author, Kristie Wilkins.
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