5 tips to organise a chest of drawers

A smart, efficient drawer organiser is the key to a calmer home, especially in a compact Malaysian living space. When you take the time to organise the inside of your chest of drawers, you'll never have to waste time rummaging around again. Here are 5 quick tips on how to organise your dresser and help you maximise every inch of drawer space, so you can always find exactly what you need.

1. Give each drawer a clear role

Learn how to organise drawers in your bedroom by assigning a specific role or category to each one. This stops items from migrating and becoming a mess. Look at your typical dressing routine: Do you need a chest drawer just for gym gear? One for work shirts? Or one dedicated only to pyjamas and lounge clothes? Define the role based on how you dress to save you time every day.

A white VIHALS chest with 4 drawers seen from above, showing all the drawers open and holding different types of clothing.

2. Introduce practical organiser boxes

Clothes and compartment boxes are one of the best ways to organise clothes in your drawers. Using clothes organisers inside your drawers keeps items from becoming a jumbled heap. They act as mini-partitions, making it easy to swap out seasonal clothes and ensuring your neatly folded items are protected and separated, which helps with airflow in our climate.

A white VIHALS chest of 4 drawers has the second drawer open with fabric boxes inside, neatly holding clothes and belts.

3. Roll, fold, and stand method for clothes

Ditch the old way to organise a dresser by stacking clothes, which hides items at the bottom and restricts space. Instead, adopt the vertical folding cloth technique (also known as KonMari style). By folding items like t-shirts, towels, and underwear and standing them side-by-side, you can immediately see everything at a glance. This method is the ultimate space-saver and promotes better airflow, a bonus in high humidity.

A white VIHALS chest with 4 drawers with the top drawer open showing 5 white SKUBB boxes holding rolled and folded clothing.

4. Spotlight your accessories

Small trays or accessories boxes are perfect for organising smaller items. Use the top drawer to keep everyday essentials like watches, belts, cufflinks, and delicate jewellery, or even things like small batik scarves or head coverings. Having a specific spot ensures you always know where to find and, just as importantly, where to put back your favourite pieces after a long day.

A white KOMPLEMENT drawer with glass front in the bedroom

5. Drawers for miscellaneous must-haves

Sometimes you might wonder what to put in each dresser drawer. Good news, your chest of drawers doesn’t have to be just for clothes. Use sturdy boxes and drawer inserts to organise those miscellaneous items that tend to clutter up your home. It’s the perfect spot for modern odds and ends like USB cables, power banks, chargers, remotes, or even important documents you want within easy reach. A well-organised miscellaneous drawer can truly be a lifesaver!

A white PLATSA wardrobe with 6 doors and 3 drawers has one drawer open showing beige NOJIG boxes holding various items.

Boxes to help you cut down on clutter

Whatever clothes and accessories you want to organise, the IKEA range includes a wide range of storage boxes to suit.

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STUK Box with compartments, white, 20x34x10 cm

Set smart limits on what’s inside

When you organise your dresser, don't clog it up with every single item you own! A chest of drawers should house your daily essentials. For bulky items like travel jackets or special occasion wear that you only use once a year, find a better home. You can hang them neatly in your wardrobe or use space-saving storage boxes placed under your bed, maximising the often-unused space beneath.

An open sliding door of a white KLEPPSTAD wardrobe reveals clothing in a STUK storage with 7 compartments and on hangers.

Two HEMMAFIXARE storage cases in fabric striped/white/grey on a bed, the larger case is open to show folded clothes inside.

The glow of a well-organised home

Keeping your home organised doesn’t have to be complicated. With simple dresser organisation ideas like boxes, drawer inserts, and a place for every item, even daily clothes, festive wear and everyday essentials like remotes and chargers can stay neatly in order. Over time, these small habits do more than reduce clutter and bring a sense of calm, comfort, and a subtle glow to your home, reflecting the pride and care that make a Malaysian home truly welcoming.