We're all guilty of it: 'Junk drawers' are a somewhat inevitable part of every home – that is, apart from Martha Stewart's. In a move that we have only come to expect from the lifestyle guru, she has found a clever alternative to the chaos – and her technique involves only one item.
'Most people have one kitchen drawer loaded with lots of random items, they call it their junk drawer. Do you have one of those? Well, some of those things like tools can be really kept in a nice clean container like this one, which I love,' Stewart says in archival footage via Instagram. Despite being over a decade old, however, Stewart's kitchen storage trick runs true in contemporary homes.
Stewart uses a container from Muji, complete with a sliding feature and transparent sides that make storage easier. It seems her exact model has since been discontinued, but the store still has lots of options that are just as fit for purpose.
'This is the nicest little sliding box organizer. I bought this great container in a store in Japan called Muji,' she says. We scouted Muji's current selection and think these options are closest to the one Stewart uses.
Stewart praises her Muji storage for its transparent sides that make it easier for her to see what's inside. This box is the same. It's made of a transparent acrylic material that is convenient for storage so that you can check in on the items you need quickly.
This storage box is designed to work as a solo piece (perfect for creating an organized 'junk drawer'), but it's also designed to stack perfectly alongside other Muji storage drawers – meaning we can combine different cases to create neatly organized storage units.
Conveniently on sale this Black Friday (when you buy two), this storage solution is the perfect size for any kitchen drawer. Its two tiers mean you can easily categorize certain items to keep your space feeling organized (and easy to maintain).
The contents of your 'junk drawer' depend entirely on the items you use every day, but it doesn't hurt to draw yet more inspiration from Garten.
'Into this drawer, I am going to put some twine, which I know I'm going to need, some emergency candles in case we lose our power, a good pair of kitchen shears, a flashlight in case we lose power or I drop something, and it rolls under the stove, a measuring tape of course, some 3-in-1 oil with a good tight cover, WD40 [available on Amazon], can’t live without that stuff, and Goo Gone [also on Amazon], very important for clean-up, this cutting blade that’s so useful for a lot of handy chores, a Phillips head screwdriver, a regular screwdriver that fits nicely here, needle nose pliers, regular pliers, you could even put a pair of icegrips in here, [that’d] be handy,' Stewart says.
Stewart also adds waterproof matches (for lighting those candles), some electrical tape (for quick repairs), and a hammer.
'See how nicely everything fits in the drawer? You’re not going to have to grovel around. This is a nice, clean, organized thing; it can fit under the sink, and it can fit in any number of places right here in the kitchen. And it’s completely transparent on the sides, too, so I can see what I need without opening the box,' she adds.' A nearly organized toolbox or kitchen drawer like this – it’s a good thing.'
We love the Muji containers (because who can argue with Stewart's endorsement – but her technique is reliable in any other transparent containers. You can shop our handpicked selection below.
There's nothing more organized than clear storage bins, whether we're using them for a 'junk drawer' or not. They're just as perfect in a pantry or fridge (especially for storing veg and other fresh produce) due to their transparency.
These smaller bins are ideal for more compact kitchens where drawer space is at a premium. The narrow shape means they will fit in almost any drawer or cupboard (while their tapered shape also makes stacking them possible).
Who says a 'junk drawer' needs to be inside a drawer? This box, with built-in wheels and handles, brings the concept to new areas of the kitchen (particularly to previously hard-to-reach spaces, such as underneath the sink).
