The Joy of a Tidy Drawer: How Small Spaces Are The Start Of Something Big
In a world that glorifies dramatic home makeovers — eye-popping renovations, Instagram-worthy closets, and minimalist spaces that feel almost too perfect — we often overlook the quiet triumph of something small: a tidy and organized drawer.
It might not make headlines or go viral. No one’s likely to compliment it during a dinner party. But the feeling you get when you open a drawer and see only what you use, love, and need? That’s joy. And it matters far more than most people realize.
As a professional home organizer and certified KonMari consultant, I’ve worked in homes of all shapes and sizes. And across every home, one truth remains: transformation doesn’t start with new expensive matching bins or a fancy labeling system. It starts with clarity and intention. And more often than not, with something as humble as a drawer.
We often think of clutter as just a visual issue — too much stuff, not enough space. But clutter is rarely just about the “stuff.” It’s deeply emotional. We hold onto things for many reasons: fear (“What if I need this someday?”), guilt (“Someone gave this to me”), and nostalgia (“This reminds me of who I used to be”).
Those emotions are completely valid. And they’re often tucked away right alongside the clutter — in junk drawers, closets, storage bins, or boxes we haven’t opened in years.
The KonMari Method doesn’t ask you to be ruthless. It invites you to be mindful. To connect with each item, and more importantly, with your current self. When we ask, “Does this spark joy?” we’re really asking: Does this support the life I want to live now? Not the one I used to live. Not the one I’m afraid I won’t achieve. The one that matters today.
That’s why starting small — with a single drawer — is not just practical, it’s powerful.
It may seem like just a drawer, but it’s often a microcosm of our larger emotional landscape. When we empty it out and really look at what’s inside, we often discover more than outdated receipts or tangled cables. We encounter versions of ourselves. The gift we never used. The pen from a job we left. The key we can’t remember the lock for.
Tidying a drawer isn’t just about neatness. It’s about facing those emotions with grace. When we say “thank you” to an item before letting it go — a KonMari cornerstone — we’re acknowledging its place in our story, while also giving ourselves permission to move on or move past.
I once worked with a client who only wanted to work on her bedroom prior to a small renovation. We started with her dresser – the top drawers of which didn’t contain one piece of clothing. They were filled with random items: expired gift cards, broken jewellery, a notepad from a past job, unopened mail. We went through each item together. Some made her smile. Others made her pause. By the end, we had removed what no longer served her and returned only what felt purposeful. She looked at the finished drawer and said, “It’s like I cleared space in my mind, not just a drawer, and I found stuff I had been looking for.”
That’s the real power of small spaces. They are the touchpoints of our everyday life — the places we reach into over and over again without thinking. If they’re cluttered and chaotic, we absorb that energy unconsciously. But if they’re orderly, calm, and filled only with things that serve us, they quietly support us through the day. We spend less time searching, less time stressing, and more time being present.
So if you're feeling overwhelmed by your home, don’t wait for a three-day weekend or a burst of motivation. Don’t start with the hardest place or the biggest pile. Start small. Start with one drawer.
Empty it completely. Hold each item. Ask yourself if it still supports who you are — or who you're becoming. Keep what does. Thank and release what doesn't. Then arrange it with intention. Take a moment to appreciate the shift. That small, finished drawer is not just a decluttering win — it's a promise to yourself that you can continue to create order.
And once you’ve felt the clarity that even one organized drawer can bring, you might be surprised how much more you're ready to tackle. That client who hired me to help with her bedroom? She loved the transformation so much, that we took on the entire house! You’d be surprised how often that happens – the drawer, pantry or closet is the gateway to a whole home tidy.
Ready to experience the big joy of small transformations? I’d love to support you. Visit www.simplesanctuaryhomeorganization.com to learn more about my services or to schedule a free discovery call and consultation.