Clever Desk Organizing Ideas

Tips and ideas showing how to declutter and organize your desk – both the desktop and drawers.

Every year around this time, the first thing I like to do once I get back to my daily routine is organize my desk.

Actually two desks. One is in my studioffice where I take care of all things for the blog.

The other is in my kitchen and I call it my kitchen desk. It is not an actual desk, but a section of my kitchen counter where I keep a desk organizer on the counter and a drawer under it for storing pens, rubber bands, paper clips, stamps, stapler, etc.

If my desks are unorganized, then so am I. Not a good way to start the new year.

This year I want to really purge what I no longer need. For the past few weeks I have been gathering cleaning and organizing ideas to inspire me get my desks back in order with a fresh appeal.

I love all things related to “desk” and office supplies. New pens, notepads and file folders excite me and am sharing my go-to desk cleaning and organizing ideas I have done in the past that have worked for me.

How to Start to Organize Your Desk

A messy desk is an invitation to chaos! A clean desk, on the other hand, helps you focus and become more productive.

1. Say goodbye to the junk. Throw. Shred. Recycle. Cleaning begins with getting rid of what you don’t need.
2. Organize, declutter, and de-stress. A cluttered desk creates anxiety. And that doesn’t help when you’re in the midst of a busy workday.
3. Clean and polish the desktop, every drawer and all the items you put back.
4. Make it an event. Involve your family or colleagues. Have a “cleanest desk” competition. Post pictures of your desk on social media.
5. Once the contents are edited and the desk is clean, move on to organizing the contents.

Desk Organizing Ideas

The way I organize my desk is pretty much how I do everything… affordably and in my own style. Here are a few ideas to get your mind thinking of ways you can organize and add your own style to your desktop and drawers.

Line Your Desk Drawer

How to Line a Drawer – Adding a pop of your favorite color or interesting pattern here and there in unexpected places is sure to inspire and can brighten your mood on a bad day at the office.

• Use book pages, scrapbook paper, maps or any decorative paper you have. Use decoupage medium to adhere and seal. If using gift wrap, use thicker paper, very thin paper gift wrap paper may wrinkle.

How to Organize Your Desk Drawers

Buying or making desk drawer dividers is the best way to ensure that the contents of your desk drawers stay organized.

You know the saying… a place for everything and everything in its place.

Instant Desk Drawer Dividers Using Baskets

Organizing the contents of a desk drawer using baskets is easy to do, no tools or DIY skills needed.

Square and rectangular baskets found at yard sales and thrift stores can be placed together like a jigsaw puzzle in a drawer.  Even though they are all different sizes and styles – they are all square or rectangular and fit together nicely – no space is lost.

• Look for small, low-sided baskets that are no higher than the depth of your drawer.

Small Cardboard Box Desk Drawer Dividers

Now is a good time, after receiving holiday gifts to easily come across small low sided cardboard boxes. These fit together just like square and rectangular baskets in a drawer.

• You can leave the boxes plain, or line them with scrapbook paper to make them designer-like. How to Make Drawer Dividers Using Small Boxes

DIY Wood Dividers

If you have a few basic DIY skills and tools, you can make and custom fit wood dividers for your desk drawers. How to Make Wood Drawer Dividers

Organize Your Computer Desk – Top

And if the only desk you have is an online desktop on your computer, then it counts too.

• Drag those files into a nice, neat folder or into the trash can! Over the weekend, I did this and even gave myself enough time to finally purge my overflowing. mostly junk filled inbox.
• Add This to Your Computer: Free Desktop Background Screen Organizer that you can customize.

Update Worn Items With Paint

This outdated fruit motif desk organizer was found at a thrift shop. With a few coats of paint and a coat of dark wax, it is chic again.

Customize Ready-Made Desk Organizers

If you still prefer the old-school way when it comes to keeping contact names and numbers handy on your desk, you may enjoy customizing a Rolodex. They are getting hard to find, but you can still buy them online. How to Customize a Plain Desktop Rolodex

Stylish Desktop Notepads

While searching for fresh ideas to make my desk not only more organized, but prettier, I found a super simple idea to give my note taking a bit more style.

Turn basic legal pads into stylish notepads that will add fun color to your desk top.

• Measure and cut a strip of patterned scrapbook paper, then attach it to the top binding of the notepad with a glue stick.

A clean and well-organized desk can give you the energy to tackle more work and get you rolling on taking on decluttering larger areas in your home, like a closet, kitchen cabinet and then an entire room.

More Home Organizing Ideas

• 3-Tier Bathroom Counter Makeup Organizer
• Ribbon Storage Ideas
• Easy Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas
• Organizing: Small Closet Makeover