Every home in Taos — from the grand haciendas off the Rim Road to the quirky adobe casitas tucked behind La Loma — has one universal truth:
You have that drawer.
The Drawer of Chaos.
The Bermuda Triangle of Your House.
The Place Where Good Intentions Go to Die.
And listen, I see inside hundreds of homes a year. I know your secrets. I know everyone has one. Even the hyper-organized essential-oil lady in Ranchos who alphabetizes her spices has a drawer filled with rogue batteries, expired coupons from 2014, and a mysterious metal thing that surely belonged to a grill you don’t own anymore.
Let’s break down the core categories of Taos Junk Drawers:
1. The Mountain Survivalist Drawer
Mostly found in homes near Arroyo Seco or up the Canyon.
Contains:
– Headlamps
– Bear bell you used once
– That emergency whistle you bought after your “spiritual hike that went a little too deep”
– Three pocketknives
– Chapstick with a pinecone stuck to it
2. The “Creative Taos Soul” Drawer
Primarily found in artist homes.
Contains:
– Half-burned sage bundles
– Random beads
– Paintbrush you swear you’ll clean one day
– A journal with two angry entries from 2019
– A missing earring that MAY be turquoise but also may be plastic
3. The “I’m Trying to Be a Real Adult” Drawer
Found in newer builds, townhomes, or anyone who has watched at least one season of Marie Kondo.
Contains:
– Insurance forms you never filed
– A binder clip colony
– Keys to something important (no one knows what)
– A pen that sort of writes if you scribble on a receipt first
4. The “Generational Chaos” Drawer
This is the drawer that came with your parents, your grandparents, and your unresolved issues.
Contains:
– Old scissors that don’t cut anything
– A lifetime supply of rubber bands
– A tape measure that retracts like it’s trying to attack you
– Restaurant menus from places that closed a decade ago
Here's the thing: When I walk through your home to prep for photos, I expect these drawers. I love these drawers. These drawers are proof of humanity, real life, and the part of your story that doesn’t get posted on Instagram.
But here’s the plot twist:
Decluttering isn’t about shame — it’s about space.
Space for buyers to see potential.
Space for you to breathe.
Space for your own life to expand a little.
And when we do a pre-listing refresh together — me with my staging basket, you with your “why do I own four tape measures?” face — we’re not just tidying.
We’re choosing which version of your story gets told.
Selling a home in Taos is never just a transaction.
It’s a transition.
Out of the drawer era… and into the next one.
And yes, your new house will have a junk drawer too.
Don’t fight it.
It’s tradition.
