Organizing a Teen's Nightstand Drawer - DIY Project

Spread the Love

I looked in my daughter's nightstand (affiliate) and was amazed at how disorganized it was. I have seen my share of disorganized spaces, so I wasn't that surprised. So, instead of getting angry, I decided to change the drawer with my daughter. Here's how we organized a teen's nightstand (affiliate).

First, I talked to her about organizing this space and creating compartments for the small things to make it easier to find. Then we visited The Container Store (affiliate) for inspiration.

Jump to:

Key Takeaways
Before
Steps on how to organize a teenager's nightstand
After
Updated 2026: My nightstand
FAQs: Organizing a teen's nightstand

Key Takeaways

The article discusses organizing a teen's nightstand (affiliate) by transforming a cluttered drawer into an organized space.
First, empty the drawer and sort items into keep, toss, recycle, and donate piles.
Use contact paper (affiliate) to refresh the drawer's bottom and then add adjustable drawer dividers (affiliate) for better organization.
The key (affiliate) to maintaining an organized nightstand (affiliate) is creating compartments for different items like pens and markers.
The author shares personal experiences and encourages readers to organize their nightstands (affiliate) as well.

Before

If you have a teenager, as I do, you know they are really busy with friends, schoolwork, and after-school activities. Organizing their room is the last thing on their mind. This is what it looked like before we organized it. Lots of pencils, pens, markers, a speaker, a comb, a brush, and small free stuff she received from a store years ago. Most she didn't even know she had. Half the items in the drawer were not even used.

Steps on how to organize a teenager's nightstand

First, we emptied the drawer. It was just a place where she tossed the items when she was cleaning the top of the nightstand (affiliate). So basically, it was a catch-all junk drawer posing as a nightstand (affiliate) drawer.

Then, sort the items. Pick items into piles: keep, toss, recycle, donate.

As you can see above, the drawer needed some TLC. It was marked up a bit. So we used some contact paper (affiliate) to add to the bottom of the drawer. It covered the marks on the bottom and made it look new again.

contact paper

Buy Now →

(affiliate)

Updated 2026: Unfortunately, these drawer dividers (affiliate) are no longer around. But you can find a variety of other ones. But be sure to measure the drawer height to determine which size to buy. There are many different heights and lengths of adjustable dividers. Check out the adjustable drawer divider options at The Container Store (affiliate).

I recently went to The Container Store (affiliate) and found these drawer divider (affiliate) squares.

After

They worked pretty well. All I did was measure the width and "snap." They broke off nicely and easily, and I interlocked them together.

I didn't want all small squares as shown on the packaging because she had markers, pens, and other longer items that needed to be in the drawer. So I added the thin space on the right side to keep the horizontal dividers stable.

We tend to forget the nightstand organization, especially in a teen's bedroom (affiliate). While this post was written over 10 years ago, I wanted to revisit it and show you how much better it is when the nightstand is organized, and what you can do to make this space more appealing so the child will keep it organized.

Updated 2026: My nightstand

I recently organized my nightstand and figured I should share it here. Feel free to check it out below. I used the standard drawer organizer (affiliate) I previously used in a desk drawer. They worked perfectly.

FAQs: Organizing a teen's nightstand

How do I organize a teenager's nightstand drawer?

Start by emptying the drawer completely, then sort everything into keep, toss, recycle, and donate piles. Once it's empty, add dividers to create compartments for small items like pens, chargers, and lip balm.

What's the best way to fix a marked-up or worn drawer bottom?

Line it with contact paper. It covers scuffs and marks and gives the drawer a fresh, like-new look without needing to replace the furniture.

What size drawer dividers should I buy?

Measure your drawer's height and length first, since dividers come in many different sizes. Adjustable dividers, like the ones from The Container Store, let you customize the layout for items of different lengths.

How do you fit both small and long items in a divided drawer?

Instead of making all-small squares, leave one wider section along the side to hold longer items like markers and pens, while using the smaller compartments for everything else.

Why should teens be involved in organizing their own space?

Involving your teen in the process (rather than doing it for them or getting frustrated) helps them understand the "why" behind organizing and makes them more likely to keep the space tidy afterward.

What do you think? I thought it came out cute. Have you organized your nightstand recently? What is your favorite organizing item? Please share it in the comment section.

Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.