When a kitchen drawer sticks because a jumble of small things has shifted to the back, cardboard dividers are a good fix to try before buying an organizer. This beginner-friendly project takes about 30 minutes and uses cardboard from a cereal or shipping box, scissors, a ruler, and masking tape. It works best when you measure the drawer with the items you actually keep in it.
Measure before cutting
Empty the drawer and measure its inside length, width, and height; leave a little clearance so the dividers slide in easily. Sort the contents into the groups you want to keep together, then decide how many sections will be useful rather than dividing every inch. Cut cardboard strips to the drawer’s height, trimming their lengths to fit across the sections.
Make an interlocking grid
Lay the strips across one another to mark where they meet, then cut a slot halfway down each strip at those marks. Slide the slots together to make a grid, checking that the strips sit level and the grid fits inside the drawer. If a strip wobbles, shorten it slightly or tape its ends to the drawer sides.
Let the drawer guide you
Put the largest or most-used items in first, then adjust a divider if a compartment feels too tight. Save a small open section for the odds and ends that don’t fit neatly into a category. The useful measure of success is simple: you can put things away without rearranging the whole drawer.