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

Final yr, I had a small transforming undertaking that acquired somewhat out of hand. It will definitely led to me transforming my complete kitchen. That’s a narrative for an additional day and one other weblog publish. Nevertheless, I’m actually grateful for among the modifications 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 a number of area. For the primary time, I used to be left with drawers I didn’t have a function 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 grow to be one in every of our most-used drawers (in all probability proper after the silverware and spice drawers). I really like that it’s led to more healthy tech habits too. 

On this publish, 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 Preserve Units Out of the Bed room

First, let’s discuss why having a charging drawer within the kitchen—or one other frequent space—is a game-changer. Particularly with regards to your sleep hygiene and general well being. Many people are responsible of bringing our telephones into the bed room, whether or not it’s to verify social media, reply emails, or (let’s be sincere) scroll by infinite reels. However there are some necessary the reason why this won’t be the healthiest selection.

The Influence of Blue Mild on Sleep

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

By preserving your gadgets out of the bed room, you’ll be able to assist your physique wind down naturally, with out the interference of synthetic gentle. If you happen to’ve ever discovered your self scrolling mindlessly in your telephone earlier than mattress after which having bother falling asleep, you’ve skilled this firsthand. The answer? Preserve your telephones, tablets, and different gadgets in a devoted charging area 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 are able to do. Examples embrace placing a pink gentle filter on the telephone, carrying blue-light blocking glasses. You too can swap to one thing just like the Daylight Laptop (I really like this for journaling and writing at night time). 

Scale back Late-Evening Distractions

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

With a charging drawer, you’ll be able to 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 area, you’ll be much less prone to verify them throughout the night time. This straightforward behavior can enhance your sleep high quality and assist you to be extra current with your loved ones throughout 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 know-how.

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

How I Created My DIY Charging Drawer

Making a charging drawer in my kitchen was a comparatively easy undertaking, and it didn’t require a number of fancy instruments or abilities. I began with a drawer I already had in my kitchen, and with a couple of small changes, turned it right into a purposeful and arranged area 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 somewhat disorganized, so I made a decision to repurpose it for this undertaking. Ideally, the drawer ought to 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 every day actions, however 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 lounge that’s not serving a lot of a function. If the drawer is just too small or shallow, you would possibly need to take into account 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 retailers to cost a number of gadgets without delay. It’s necessary to pick out an influence strip that has an extended sufficient twine to succeed in your nearest outlet. You additionally need one with surge safety to make sure the protection of your gadgets. Ensure that the ability strip is positioned in a method that enables airflow to forestall overheating. To perform this, I re-wired a plug that was exterior going through on the aspect of a cupboard to be inside going through. This left the cupboard beneath largely open. It now shops rubbish luggage and enormous containers for the kitchen. 

You too can add charging cords which are lengthy sufficient to comfortably attain from the ability strip to your gadgets. I like to recommend preserving a wide range 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 strive 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 excellent for this type of undertaking. Additionally they add a pleasant contact of group, preserving every little thing in place and looking out tidy.

Step 4: Manage the Cords and Units

Now comes the enjoyable half: organizing the cords and gadgets. I made positive 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 positive to depart sufficient room for every gadget to relaxation comfortably whereas charging.

For our household, the charging drawer has grow to be the go-to spot for telephones, iPads, and another gadgets that want a cost. Everybody is aware of the place to plug of their gadgets. There’s additionally no have to 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:

• Units 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 verify 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 executed 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 area, we’ve created higher boundaries between know-how and leisure. It’s additionally improved our general well-being.

If you happen to’re in search of a easy technique to make your house extra organized and tech-friendly, I extremely advocate organising a DIY charging drawer. It doesn’t take a lot time, and the advantages are completely value it!

Joyful 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? Go away a remark and tell us!