5 tidy tips: how to organise a chest of drawers

When you make a small effort to keep the inside of your chest of drawers neat and orderly, everyday routines can become a little more pleasant. Here are a few ideas for how to organise a chest of drawers, so that you can always find exactly the clothes and accessories that you need – rather than waste time rummaging around.

Five white SKUBB boxes of clothes accessories, four in the open top drawer of a white MALM chest of drawers, one on top.

1. Give each drawer its own job or category

You can simplify your storage by deciding on a specific role for each of the drawers. For example, you might put only items of a certain colour in each one. Or, you could arrange the chest of drawers by type of clothing or activity. Simply look at what you have and how you dress to figure out what works best.

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

2. Put in practical, powerful clothes boxes

Inside a drawer, you can add clothes boxes or organisers to keep items ordered neatly and so avoid a messy jumble. You can use as few or as many as you need. To rearrange, replace or remove the contents of a drawer whenever you need to also becomes a whole lot easier.

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

3. Go for rolling, folding and standing instead of stacking

For the best use of drawer space, you can roll up or fold your clothes and accessories then stand them side by side. This way, items are easier to see and grab than if you simply stack them one on top of the other. Rolled-up clothes are also a handy way to divide a drawer between you and a child or partner.

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

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4. Spotlight (and separate) your accessories with small organisers

With trays or small boxes for jewellery and accessories, the inside of your chest of drawers can be as pretty as it is practical. Contained and kept in place this way, you’ll always know where to find your little accoutrements – and, just as importantly, where to put them back again later.

Sunglasses and jewellery items inside a dark grey RAGGISAR tray that’s in in the top drawer of a TONSTAD chest with 6 drawers.

5. Know where it is, even if it’s not something you wear

How to organise a chest of drawers that holds other miscellaneous items? Drawer inserts and sturdy storage boxes – with or without lids – are perfect for bringing order to sunglasses, toys, USB cables and other must-haves. A drawer organised in such a way becomes a helpful home for your odds and ends.

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 limits on what’s inside

You needn’t clog up your drawer space with absolutely everything you own. A chest of drawers will feel much calmer if you can find a better spot for your bulky and off-season clothes. Perhaps you can hang them up in the wardrobe or place under the bed in a storage case.

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