How I Added a DIY Charging Drawer to My Kitchen (& Why)

Final 12 months, I had a small transforming undertaking that received just a little out of hand. It will definitely led to me transforming my complete kitchen. That’s a narrative for one more day and one other weblog submit. Nevertheless, I’m actually grateful for among the adjustments that got here from this rework, particularly our new DIY charging drawer. 

I added much more drawers within the backside cupboards as a result of they’re a lot extra sensible and usable. And by doing so, freed up loads of house. For the primary time, I used to be left with drawers I didn’t have a objective for. I remembered one thing I’d seen years in the past on Pinterest about making a charging drawer or docking drawer. 

This has now turn into one among our most-used drawers (in all probability proper after the silverware and spice drawers). I like that it’s led to more healthy tech habits too. 

On this submit, I’ll stroll you thru how I created a charging drawer with a drawer I already had. I’ll additionally clarify why it’s so necessary to maintain our gadgets out of the bed room. Plus I’ll share how this small change has made a huge impact on our household’s tech habits.

Why It’s Necessary to Maintain Gadgets Out of the Bed room

First, let’s speak about why having a charging drawer within the kitchen—or one other widespread space—is a game-changer. Particularly with regards to your sleep hygiene and total well being. Many people are responsible of bringing our telephones into the bed room, whether or not it’s to examine social media, reply emails, or (let’s be sincere) scroll by way of countless reels. However there are some necessary the reason why this may not be the healthiest alternative.

The Impression of Blue Mild on Sleep

Some of the apparent causes to keep away from having gadgets close to your mattress is the impact of blue mild on sleep. The screens of telephones, tablets, and different digital gadgets emit blue mild. This will intrude with melatonin manufacturing, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Research have proven publicity to blue mild earlier than mattress can delay sleep onset, cut back sleep high quality, and make it tougher to fall right into a deep, restorative sleep.

By preserving your gadgets out of the bed room, you may assist your physique wind down naturally, with out the interference of synthetic mild. If you happen to’ve ever discovered your self scrolling mindlessly in your cellphone earlier than mattress after which having bother falling asleep, you’ve skilled this firsthand. The answer? Maintain your telephones, tablets, and different gadgets in a devoted charging house exterior the bed room. Just like the charging drawer I’ve created.

If you happen to aren’t prepared to do this, there are issues we will do. Examples embrace placing a crimson mild filter on the cellphone, sporting blue-light blocking glasses. You may also swap to one thing just like the Daylight Computer (I like this for journaling and writing at night time). 

Cut back Late-Night time Distractions

One other difficulty with having gadgets close to your mattress is the fixed temptation to examine them. Whether or not it’s an pressing work e-mail, a textual content from a pal, or the newest information replace. This fixed connectivity can result in late-night distractions, leaving you feeling wired and anxious as an alternative of relaxed and prepared for relaxation.

With a charging drawer, you may create a wholesome boundary between your bed room and the skin world. By setting a agency rule that gadgets should be charged within the kitchen or one other designated house, you’ll be much less prone to examine them through the night time. This straightforward behavior can enhance your sleep high quality and show you how to be extra current with your loved ones through the day.

Improved Focus and Connection

When your gadgets are tucked away in a drawer, it’s simpler to concentrate on the current second. For households, this implies extra high quality time spent collectively with out the distractions of texting, gaming, or scrolling. By having a delegated space for charging gadgets, we encourage everybody to be extra intentional about when and the way they use expertise.

Now, let’s speak about how I created this charging drawer and why it’s been such a game-changer in our residence.

How I Created My DIY Charging Drawer

Making a charging drawer in my kitchen was a comparatively easy undertaking, and it didn’t require loads of fancy instruments or abilities. I began with a drawer I already had in my kitchen, and with a number of small changes, turned it right into a purposeful and arranged house for charging gadgets. Right here’s how I did it!

Step 1: Discover the Proper Drawer

I had a drawer in my kitchen that was underused and just a little disorganized, so I made a decision to repurpose it for this undertaking. Ideally, the drawer must be in an area that’s simply accessible to the entire household however not in a high traffic space the place it might be a distraction. Our kitchen labored completely as a result of it’s near our household’s each day actions, nevertheless it’s not the place the place we go to unwind at night time.

You don’t want to purchase a brand new drawer—simply discover one which you have already got in your kitchen, workplace, or front room that’s not serving a lot of a objective. If the drawer is just too small or shallow, you may need to think about swapping it for a deeper one that may accommodate a number of gadgets.

Step 2: Set up a Energy Strip Contained in the Drawer

That is the place the magic occurs! The important thing to creating a charging drawer work is including an influence strip or surge protector contained in the drawer. This lets you plug in all of your gadgets in a single place, preserving every little thing organized and out of sight.

I selected an influence strip that match completely contained in the drawer, with sufficient shops to cost a number of gadgets without delay. It’s necessary to pick an influence strip that has an extended sufficient wire to achieve your nearest outlet. You additionally need one with surge safety to make sure the security of your gadgets. Make certain the ability strip is positioned in a approach that enables airflow to forestall overheating. To perform this, I re-wired a plug that was once exterior dealing with on the aspect of a cupboard to be inside dealing with. This left the cupboard beneath largely open. It now shops rubbish baggage and enormous containers for the kitchen. 

You may also add charging cords which can be lengthy sufficient to comfortably attain from the ability strip to your gadgets. I like to recommend preserving quite a lot of cords for various gadgets—some for iPhones, some for Androids, and others for iPads or tablets.

I did discover energy strips particularly designed for this. However at virtually $300 every, I wished to attempt a DIY choice and am glad I did. 

Step 3: Add a Silicone Mat to Defend the Drawer

As soon as the ability strip was put in, I added a silicone mat to the underside of the drawer. This protects the floor and prevents any gadgets from slipping round. Silicone mats are heat-resistant, non-slip, and simple to wash, making them good for this type of undertaking. In addition they add a pleasant contact of group, preserving every little thing in place and searching tidy.

Step 4: Manage the Cords and Gadgets

Now comes the enjoyable half: organizing the cords and gadgets. I made certain to maintain every little thing neat and accessible. This concerned coiling the cords and utilizing small clips to maintain them from tangling. I additionally made certain to depart sufficient room for every gadget to relaxation comfortably whereas charging.

For our household, the charging drawer has turn into the go-to spot for telephones, iPads, and some other gadgets that want a cost. Everybody is aware of the place to plug of their gadgets. There’s additionally no must seek for chargers or battle over who will get to plug in first.

Our Household’s Charging Routine and Display screen Time Habits

Since we added the charging drawer to our kitchen, it’s actually helped us set up wholesome habits round our gadget use. Right here’s how we use it:

• Gadgets are charged in a single day within the kitchen: We’ve made it a rule that telephones, iPads, and different gadgets should be charged within the drawer in a single day. This ensures nobody is tempted to examine their gadgets late at night time. And we get up with absolutely charged gadgets, prepared for the day forward.
• No screens after darkish: We attempt to keep away from utilizing screens after darkish, particularly within the hour or two main as much as bedtime. With the charging drawer, it’s a lot simpler to maintain gadgets out of attain and out of thoughts throughout this time. This behavior has helped enhance our sleep high quality, particularly for the youngsters.
• Household-wide tech detox: We’ve additionally made it a behavior to maintain screens off throughout household meals. This has made meal time a extra linked expertise. We use this time to catch up, chat about our day, and concentrate on one another with out distractions.

Conclusion: The Advantages of a DIY Charging Drawer

Including a DIY charging drawer to our kitchen has been probably the greatest issues we’ve performed for our household’s tech habits. It’s a easy answer that promotes more healthy sleep, reduces distractions, and encourages extra aware use of our gadgets. By preserving our telephones and tablets in a devoted house, we’ve created higher boundaries between expertise and rest. It’s additionally improved our total well-being.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a easy technique to make your private home extra organized and tech-friendly, I extremely suggest establishing a DIY charging drawer. It doesn’t take a lot time, and the advantages are completely value it!

Comfortable charging, and right here’s to more healthy tech habits for the entire household!

What are your loved ones’s guidelines and habits round gadgets? Depart a remark and tell us!