:strip_icc()/Organized-desk-office-supplies-102148148-2db86810329942a68a623066406a474d.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "23 Easy Desk Organization Ideas")
Whether you work from home full time, commute to an office, or work a hybrid schedule, keeping an organized desk is essential. Clutter piles distract, making you lose focus, time, or possibly, important paperwork. Even in a digital world, your supplies need to be easily accessible so you’re prepared for that last-minute Zoom call your boss puts on the calendar.
According to the Harvard Business Review, disarray in the workspace often increases stress, hinders concentration, and leads to procrastination tactics. Juggling work and household management is a task in and of itself, so why not make it as easy for yourself as possible? Implement the following desk organization ideas to stay on top of clutter and create a healthier work-life balance.
Tidy Your Desk Daily
One of the top everyday organizing tips experts suggest is to make your bed each morning. Not only does your entire bedroom look tidier, but making the bed sets a tone of productivity. Give your desk the same treatment by tidying it at the end of every workday. Clear all unnecessary clutter or trash and put supplies and notes away in their respective places before logging off. That way, you’ll start each day with a clean slate.
Elevate Electronic Storage
With each passing year, it seems we need more electronics to get our jobs done. Rather than fighting it, embrace tech with clever ways to organize things better. Employ under-desk storage for bulky items like printers and modems. Use a phone or tablet stand to keep your devices upright and within reach. Corral your cords and cables to prevent a mess of wires in and around your desk.
Prop Up Your Monitor
Adam Albright
A raised computer monitor or laptop is good for your posture as it levels the screen with your eyes. Many risers are also equipped with storage. Tuck your keyboard and mouse underneath it when not in use. Use small cubbies or drawers to stow away supplies or stack notepads.
Put Up a Pegboard
If you’re a visual person, a pegboard might be your best bet for an organized desk. Keep your workspace tidy by hanging all your supplies using customizable hooks. For larger items, such as notebooks and pads, attach a small shelf and store items between bookends. For writing supplies, hang a couple of buckets along the bottom within arm’s reach.
Tailor Office Storage
Add built-in shelving above or move a bookcase near your desk to maximize space. If multiple people share the space, ensure the surface area is large enough to accommodate at least two chairs and designate different zones or cubbies for each person. Use surrounding walls for file organizers that can be easily labeled so everyone knows where to find their important paperwork.
Maximize Your Space
Edmund Barr
Turn an unused corner into a hardworking command center with ample desk space and file drawers. Then, add upper cabinets with a mix of closed cabinets and open shelves for your most-used supplies. Tuck bins into underused corners; they’ll be easy to reach but removed from your primary work surface.
Corral Clutter
John Bessler
Here’s a simple way to keep things off your desk but still easily accessible. Contain similar items in baskets, bins, or boxes and label them so there’s no question about where something is located. Binders can be stored in one and office supplies in another. A desk with open shelves is the perfect place for containers.
Roll Into Your Office
If you don’t have space for a desk and opt to work at the kitchen or dining room table, look for portable desk organization ideas. Set up a three-tier rolling cart with your office supplies and bring it to the table while you are working. When you’re off the clock, slide it out of sight so you’re organized for the next day.
Keep Things Contained
David Tsay
Add a tray with individual compartments for paper clips, pencils, and rubber bands. This keeps small, loose items contained in one corner of your desktop or desk drawer. Meanwhile, the open containers let you grab what you need with ease and return supplies to their rightful spots.
Make It Your Own
There’s no reason to resign yourself to a traditional desk if it’s not your style. Repurpose old furniture—such as a hutch or antique desk—to serve as your workspace. Refinish it to give the piece new life, and paint it in your favorite color. If you love it, you might want to keep the desk more organized.
Opt for Furniture with Storage
Choose desks or coordinating furniture pieces that offer generous storage. Consider a desk with shallow drawers for supplies, a bench with a built-in file cabinet, or a printer stand with a cabinet to store paper. The more storage options you give yourself, the more likely it is that your desktop will remain clear—as long as you make it a habit to put things away at the end of the day.
Keep Things Clear
Jay Wilde
Clear organizers are a popular desk storage choice for a reason. The transparent sides take the guesswork out of what’s in them. Use a couple of clear jars or cubes to corral pens, stamps, and whatever else you need at your fingertips.
Embrace Simplicity
Michael Partenio
A single craft table might be all you need to get work done. Add a few clear containers for writing instruments and a memo board or two on the wall above to pin reminders. There’s no reason to complicate your desk area if you’re a minimalist by nature.
Limit Your Files
Paperless filing systems are the norm and for good reason. However, most of us still have at least a few pieces of paper, even if it’s just the mail floating around. If you have no need for a filing cabinet in or near your desk, opt for an organizer that sits on top. Choose a vertical style to make labels easy to read.
Integrate Into Your Home
If your desk is in a high-traffic area of the house, such as the living room or kitchen, coordinate organizers, supplies, and even your office chair to blend in with your home’s aesthetic. Then, get into the habit of clearing your desk at the end of every workday—even if just to designated cubbies or drawers. That way, you can relax in your off hours without visual clutter lingering in plain sight.
Store Stuff High and Away
Jay Wilde
Use or install overhead cabinets to keep your desk clear of clutter, big or small. Closable cabinets with cubbies offer places to store things you rarely use but still want within reach. This can include important paperwork or a printer that you only take out and use a few times per year.
Scale the Wall
Create a desk with storage in a small office by using a track or shelving system. The beauty of this method is that it is fully customizable. You can arrange the shelves however you want, adjust the desk height for standing or sitting, and add shelves as necessary. Plus, by using the wall, you’ll maximize vertical space and can easily clear the desk of oft-used items while keeping them within reach.
Avoid the Dreaded Junk Drawer
Without any organizers to separate supplies, desk drawers can become messy junk drawers in the blink of an eye. Use spring-loaded dividers if the drawers are deep enough or shallow organizing inserts to separate staples from scissors. Use labels inside the drawers if needed so you’ll never forget where to find (or place) any of your office supplies.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Shop for a desktop organizer specifically configured to hold the objects you require on a regular basis. Stow paper clips and postal stamps in tiny drawers, and put sticky notes front and center. Give reading glasses a temporary home while keeping day planners and journals in sight.
Plan Intentionally
Marty Baldwin
Inventory what you need to store for work or household management before settling on a desk. This will ensure you have adequate space for stowing your stuff (preferably with some room to grow). For example, this drop-front secretary hutch offers an easy desk space to work on when open but stealthily organizes supplies when closed.
Add Function to Your Aesthetic
Werner Straube
Just because it’s all about work doesn’t mean your desk organization has to be boring. Add style and purpose by hanging a rustic board above it with attached baskets. Use the baskets to store supplies and stationery and keep your desk space tidier.
Compartmentalize Drawers and Cabinets
Add cubbies and containers to cabinets and drawers to make organization easy. Take careful measurements of your desk drawer, and then look for desk organizing ideas that fit that specific depth, width, and height. Consider an expandable organizing tray if you have an exceptionally wide drawer. Then, use the separate compartments and cubbies to sort your supplies by type. If everything has a designated home, you can prevent pileups on top of your desk.
Save Some Space
Jay Wilde
If you’re using a corner of the dining room, guest bedroom, or similar space to serve as your home office, a large desk might not be feasible. Instead, look for a wall-mounted fold-down desk that serves two purposes. It gives you a desktop surface only when needed and can conceal clutter by storing your supplies 24/7.
When it comes to desk organization ideas, preparation is the name of the game. Set yourself up for success by designating a home for all your necessary work tools—like your laptop, headphones, and writing supplies. Look for aesthetically pleasing, practical cubbies, baskets, and shelves to corral the things you need only occasionally. Above all, make sure you can work comfortably and easily clear the space when your workday is complete.
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