Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

10 great – and easy – desk organization ideas

By

For most people, a disorganized desk makes for a less productive workday. Spending your day searching for the documents you need amid of pile of paper and clutter is not the best use of your time. And working at a desk that’s cluttered and overloaded is not the way to inspire you to maximize your work productivity. 

Your work-from-home desk is often your second office, and making it as organized as possible will make you more productive, improve the aesthetics of your space, and let you focus on taking care of business. We’ll help you keep your desk uncluttered with this great organizational guide.   

Recommended Videos

Basic rules of at-home desk organization 

  • Designate: Designate a place for everything and keep the most often-used items—pens, notepads, appointment calendars, etc. within easy reach. You’ll spend less time searching for necessities and more time being your most productive self.
  • Downsize: Limiting the number of items you keep on your desk is the number one way to help prevent clutter. Have a “no paper scrap” policy for your desk and enter notes and deadlines directly into your planner or phone every day.
  • Sort: Categorize files into “active” or “inactive” status. Active files should be readily available on your desk, shelf space, or adjacent rolling cart. Inactive files should be placed in filing cabinets or labeled storage boxes. 
  • Utilize: There’s workspace available beyond the desk, and you should be taking advantage of all of it. Add organizing products to the back of the office door or wall space above your desk to increase storage and free up space on your desk. 
Home office with gray wall
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Our top 10 work-from-home desk organizing ideas

Now that you have the rules to getting organized, we’re giving you the tools to get it done with our very best desk organization ideas!

  1. Hang a shelf
    Expanding your workspace is as easy as 1-2-3. Just place a shelf above your desk, and you’ve created a special place for holding everyday files, showcasing a work award or two, or displaying a treasured family photo while leaving your desk space free of added clutter. Create storage levels with multiple shelves or wall mounted storage cubes, keeping frequently used items on lower, easier-access shelves.
  1. Install desk drawer dividers
    Conquer drawer clutter with an assortment of acrylic or wire mesh organizers. They are the perfect place for keeping sticky notes, highlighters, flash drives, and stacks of business cards in their own designated compartments.
  1. Put up a corkboard
    Bulletin boards aren’t just for students; they can actually be a great organizing resource for your home office, too. Pin important projects, phone numbers, and deadline reminders within easy view. Tacks allow for easy swapping out of pinned items as needed.
  1. Expand your workspace
    Place a rolling cart next to your desk for added storage and surface area. For a seamless flow between desk and cart, select a rolling cart of similar height, and use the cart top for holding extra office supplies while keeping your desktop cleaner.
  1. Maximize the space under your desk
    If the space under your desk can accommodate it, add a small chest of drawers or filing cabinets beneath. You’ll add extra (and almost invisible) storage without taking up additional floor space. 
  1. Add a cable box to keep cords organized
    Unsightly wires from your computer, printer, and cell phone? A cable box will corral all your office wires together without killing the minimalist vibe of your newly-organized desk space.
  1. Rethink your lighting
    Desk lamps, and even floor lamps, take up valuable home office space. Try adding a clip-on lamp at the side or above your desk — it provides directional lighting while keeping your desk free.
  1. Add a multi-level document holder
    Keep paper files within easy reach while maintaining order by placing paper documents into designated trays or shelving units placed on the corner of your desk or mounted to the wall above your desk. 
  1. Solve the printer dilemma
    Hide your printer in a drawer or cabinet with a rollout option and an electric panel-friendly back. It will free up desk space while keeping your home office looking less cluttered. 
  1. Create a temporary home for important paperwork
    Add labeled wall files to sort paperwork until ready to file. Not only will you keep your desk free of stacked papers, but you’ll know where every invoice, receipt, and correspondence is before it’s been dealt with and filed away. 
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Recycle, reuse, reorganize!

One last thing—you don’t always need to purchase home office organizing items. There are plenty of items around the house that can be repurposed for desk organizing.

  • Coffee mugs make perfect pen, pencil, and highlighter containers
  • Mason jars can hold rubber bands, staples, or rulers
  • Utensil drawer organizers can move from kitchen to home office to keep desk drawers tidy, too
  • Ice cube trays placed inside a desk drawer can hold paper clips, binder clips, thumbtacks, and other small items

With a little effort—and a few creative touches—you’ll be able to get your office space neat, organized, and ready to kick your workday into overdrive. Say goodbye to career-stifling disorganization and hello to a clutter-free, stress-free work environment that will help you improve productivity and open up your road to success!

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Kim Renta
Kim Renta
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kim has written for Bloomingdales, Movado, and various e-commerce wine sites. When she's not writing about wine and…
10 simple yard cleanup tips that will make your life easier
Restore your neglected yard to its former glory with these essential cleanup tasks
Single-family home with curved walkway and large tree in front yard

Is your once-lovely outdoor space starting to become an eyesore? If your yard has been neglected, it's probably time for some heavy yardwork and landscaping to restore to its former glory. But trying to get your yard, trees, bushes, and beautiful garden space back into shape after a long bout of neglect may seem overwhelming. That's why we've broken down the task into 10 simple yard cleanup tips that will get your lawn and your outdoor space looking pristine once again.

What does a yard cleanup consist of?
Not sure where to start with your yard cleanup? There may be a ton of debris from storms, and there are probably a lot of mangled trees, weeds, and dying spots of grass that need some TLC. But the whole process is pretty straightforward and generally consists of three overall phases:

Read more
If your apples are next to these fruits and veggies, you’re ruining your produce
Here's how to store apples properly and keep the rest of your produce safe
Bowl of fruit on a counter

While apples are a signature fall food, they are also among the most popular fruits all year long. They're nutritious, long-lasting, and typically pretty cheap compared to other fresh produce. As delicious as they are, apples can, unfortunately, harm any produce they're stored next to. To keep all your fruits and veggies as fresh as possible, you need to know how to store apples and which fruits and veggies to keep far away from them.

Why do apples ruin other fruits and veggies?
As apples ripen, they release a hydrocarbon gas called ethylene. The riper the apple becomes, the more gas it produces. Unfortunately, ethylene can harm produce, speeding up the ripening process of the fruits and veggies it comes into contact with.

Read more
How to fold a fitted sheet with no aggravation
Folding a fitted sheet is easier than you think
neatly folded and stacked linens

Folding fitted sheets might seem like a daunting task, but mastering this skill can save you from wrinkled and messy bedding while also keeping your linen closet neat and tidy. Learning how to fold a fitted sheet is a valuable life skill that can make your daily chores more manageable and your home more organized.

Step-by-step directions
In this guide, we will take you through a step-by-step process that will finally leave you with neatly folded fitted sheets every time.
1. Lay the fitted sheet on a flat surface
To begin, find a flat surface where you can spread out your fitted sheet. This could be your bed, a kitchen table, or a handy folding area in your lovely laundry room. The key is to ensure you have enough space to work with the sheet comfortably. Lay the fitted sheet with the elastic side facing up, as this will make the folding process much smoother.
2. Gather the corners together
The next step is to gather the corners of the fitted sheet together. Start by slipping your hands into the back of the sheet's long side corners. Then, give the sheet a good shake to straighten it out. Slowly move each hand down the short edge until you reach the next corner. Once you've reached a corner, pick it up and tuck it into the other two corners you previously worked with. The goal is to have all the corner seams fully inside each other, creating a neat bundle in your hands.
3. Make a rectangle with your sheet
Now that you have all the corners together, move your right hand over your left hand, so all the corners are on your left hand. You will be left with two straight edges. Lay the sheet back on your flat surface with the elastic still facing up. Take a moment to smooth out any wrinkles or folds to ensure your sheet forms a clean rectangle.
4. Do the three-way folds
With your sheet in the shape of a rectangle, it's time to perform the three-way folds. Start by folding one-third of the sheet over toward the center. Then, fold the other third over the first fold. You should now have a narrower rectangle. Finally, fold the narrow rectangle into thirds once again. This will result in a compact square of easy-to-store linen sets.

Read more