A Beginner's Guide to Finding the Best Desk Organizer

23 Jun.,2025

 

A Beginner's Guide to Finding the Best Desk Organizer

A Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Best Desk Organizer

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If you’re anything like me, keeping your desk organized is a challenge. It’s inevitable that miscellaneous items end up on your desk throughout the day. Documents pile up, new office supplies arrive, but the old ones end up in a drawer or corner of a desk, and the cycle begins.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Best Desk Organizer

Where you work affects how you work. Whether you’re working from your home office, or in a cubicle at your 9 to 5, there are interruptions and distractions that cause you to forget to put things away.

In your office, the desk is your control center. How well it’s organized can set the tone and productivity of your day. Even with the best desk organizer around, we recommend various organizational strategies to defend against distractions.

Why It's Important 

Research shows that we spend nearly 40% of the year sitting at our desk. Determining how to organize your desk is crucial to living a productive and stress free life. Trust me, I understand how daunting the process seems, but once you’ve invested the time and resources the benefits are endless. Your desk is an essential part of your work, which means figuring out how to keep your desk organized is essential to your professional success. If you still aren’t convinced, learn more about why it’s important to organize your workspace and the benefits of a tidy desk. 

How To Find the Ultimate Desk Organizer

Before you invest any time or money into organizing your desk, ask yourself the following questions:
  • What kind of supplies do you need to get work done?
  • How much open space is on top of your desk?
  • How much weight can your desk support?
  • Where is the best place to store these items on your desk?
  • Should they be stored on your desk at all?
  • What is the current style of your desk or office?
  • What’s your budget?
Consider how visible you want your supplies to be. Cube storage is open so you can see and easily access supplies, while drawer storage lets you hide items that may not be required on a daily basis. Check out our in-depth guide that  provides category-specific  purchasing advice to ensure you only purchase reliable office supplies and equipment. 

Features and Benefits to Consider

We all have different lifestyles and limitations that are typically dictated by the kind of work we do.  Similarly, your desk should support the various day-to-day tasks we do and the supplies needed to complete each task.  

There is not one individual desk organizer that rules them all.  To find the best desk organizer that fits your unique needs, consider the following key elements before you buy anything.

Design

Size

Weight

Compartments

  • Items being stored can help determine desk organizer design 
  • Consider how much desktop space you have and need to work
  • Size and material affects the weight
  • This is a good place to start assessing what is currently on your desk
  • Books and files may require upright storage design
  • Organizers should not monopolize the precious workspace
  • Plastic is easier to move around
  • Small compartments are ideal for little items
  • Smaller items can fit in other storage spaces such as shelves, drawers, and compartments
  • Small organizers may not meet your storage needs
  • Metal and wood  support heavier objects like books
  • Shelves store books and larger items better

An organized desk allows you to find what you need, when you need it, without adding unnecessary stress into the mix. Spend too much time searching for misplaced things or missing information? Here are some of the best desk organizers in the market that will help transform your desk by getting rid of the desk, along with the stress. 

Types of Desk Organizers 

Looking at your desk, do you think some items need to be out in the open or stocked away in a drawer? Unnecessary items on your desk can easily distract you and take up too much surface space. 

Piles of sticky notes, personal items, documents you no longer need or read, all need to be regularly evaluated based on their relevance. Get rid of Put away anything that doesn’t have an immediate use. Office supplies are an essential part of most people’s workday. Find the best desk organizer that offers proper storage and has a designated space for each item. 

1. On Desk Organizers

Keep all your supplies within reach with these organizers that are designed specifically for a desktop. These organizers are made of lightweight, affordable material which offers the most for your money and versatility in how you can use them on your desktop.  Most on-desk organizers come with multiple compartments that offer various storage options that you can use to maximize the small, desk space it takes up. Do you need somewhere to put your paperwork, files and notebooks? What about the smaller stuff, like paper clips and bulletin board pins?  This type of organizer is a tried-and-true way to declutter your desk which means there are many to choose from. Be sure to evaluate the supplies you use everyday to determine which organizer best fits your needs. Pros:
  • Sturdy
  • Space saver, small footprint
  • Comes fully assembled
  • 4 rubber grips to protect desktop surface
  • Lifetime warranty available
  • Lightweight
  • 6 compartments
  • Affordable
Cons:
  • Can’t hold standard size papers/file folders (8.5 x 11)
  • No holder 
Keep all the supplies you need within reach with this classic, black steel mesh organizer that offers multiple storage options with a total of nine compartments. The top tray can be moved around which allows you to stack your items to save space or move it to a more convenient spot.  Pros:
  • Somewhat customizable (top tray is not attached)
  • Sturdy
  • Affordable
  • 9 compartments
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons:
  • Difficult assembly
  • Plastic hardware not as durable 
Pros:
  • Versatile (magnetic base, rearrangeable compartments)
  • Universal holder 
  • Simple design
  • Easy “assembly” (remove trays from packing and snap-on)
  • Supports most office supplies 
  • Minimalist style (small footprint and simple design)
  • Quality material
  • Easy to clean
Cons:
  • Only holds office supplies (no paper/folder space)
  • Individual compartments not sold separately
  • No charging feature
Pros:
  • 3 tiers, 4 compartments
  • Small footprint
  • Solid drawers  hide items
Cons:
  • Can’t hold standard size papers/file folders (8.5 x 11)
  • No grips to prevent sliding
  • Drawer insert/thread issues

2. Desk Drawer Organizers

You likely have office supplies that you don’t use on a daily basis. If you don’t use an item everyday then it doesn’t need to be stored on the sacred surface of your desktop. Desk drawer organizers are ideal for infrequently used items like staples, extra post it notes, binder clips, or writing tools used on special occasions like signing documents.  It’s crucial to keep an open area on your desk for getting things done that require an adequate chunk of your working real estate. So embrace the white space by utilizing your drawers to organize the supplies you don’t need day-to-day.  Pros: 
  • Versatile 
  • Durable
  • 5 compartments
  • Easy to clean
  • Water-resistant coating
  • Eco-friendly
Cons:
  • Not 100% bamboo wood
  • No grips on bottom
Pros:
  • Adjustable tray dividers
  • Easy to clean
  • No assembly required
Cons:
  • Limited to drawer

3. DIY Desk Organizers

If your creativity is calling or you're on a budget, try these DIY desk organizer ideas. Most of what you need can be found around the house with little to no financial investment. Keeping your desk organized doesn’t have to be expensive and can actually be fun. 

4. Multifunctional Organizers - think beyond the desk

The surface area of your desk is precious so if something needs to be there, then as the saying goes, kill two birds with one stone. Declutter the visual environment of your desk by getting rid of hanging cords by hiding them under your desk while reducing stress caused by tangled wires/trying to figure out what plugs into where. Take advantage of vertical space with hanging organizers to make sure everything stays in place and can be easily accessed. Use a monitor stand to support your computer screens, printers and laptops while storing things in the space underneath, that would normally go to waste. 

Best Desktop Organizer Overall 

An organized workspace doesn’t magically create more time in the day, but it helps you get more done because you know where everything is, aren’t overwhelmed by visual distractions, and can focus on the task at hand. Plus, when your desk is organized it gives you a positive mindset that can enhance your enthusiasm throughout the workday. 

The Modern Magnetic Bamboo Desk Organizer ranks as the best overall desk organizer for me. It comes with different compartments that make sense for the items that need to be on your desk. I am constantly rearranging my desk layout based on what I need to get things done. 

This versatile organizer comes with a universal holder, and yes that includes your pop socket and/or card holder that’s attached to your case. The magnetic compartments can be easily switched around to ensure close access to supplies of the highest priority. This organizer provides storage for most office items worth storing on your desk. 

This minimalist design has a small footprint and blends well with most modern office styles. It may not be the cheapest desk organizer, but it’s a worthy investment made of high quality bamboo wood material with a lifetime warranty.

This organizer checks all of my boxes meaning it suits every office one of my personal office needs. Carefully consider what your needs are, what supplies are needed to complete each task, both in relation to the physical space available. 

Written by The Office Oasis December 7,

15 Work Desk Organization Ideas to Increase Productivity - ClickUp

Desk organization has always been difficult for many of us that work from home or at an office.

For example, when I was a journalist, I stacked old newspapers, printed pages, and layout designs all over my large desk and a conference table.

My preferred method was to stack all of the paper, brochures, and old notes in a file cabinet next to my desk and then not look at it for a really long time.

Good luck finding my to-do list or finding a file at a moment’s notice.

Here’s the good news: there’s a better way to keep your desk organized (15 of them to be precise)!

Here are our 15 desk organization tips and tricks to help you stay on top of work and find anything at a moment’s notice.

15 Desk Organization Ideas & Tips

1. Keep open desk space

Keep the area immediately next to your computer, free of any clutter. This way, you can review papers or documents right away without clearing any desk or office space.

And don’t keep things here too long.

Review, edit, approve, and move them along.

Sort of like a Kanban workflow!

This is another area where organization apps and project management software are great resources to have. In many tools like ClickUp, you can review and attach documents right there, keeping your digital space organized as well.

Interested in trying out a Kanban style workflow? Check out ClickUp’s Simple Kanban Board Template!

2. Keep your desktop computer in front of you

Keeping your desktop or laptop in front of you helps you stay focused.

However, it should also be comfortable, so ensure that the monitor stands in a way that you can sit facing it with your back up straight. Give yourself enough room, about 1.5 feet in front of you.

And what about computer cords?

Keep those behind your desk and try computer wire ties to keep those cords and chargers at bay.

You can always put up a desktop organizer, too, if you like.

3. Put the things you use most near your dominant hand

Having your most frequently used items nearby can help prevent unnecessary movements that may lead to discomfort or fatigue. For instance, repeatedly reaching for an item across the desk can cause shoulder and neck pain over time, leading to reduced productivity and discomfort.

Quick Tip: Use your wall space. If you don’t have a lot of storage space in your office area or a small desk, the solution might be a floating shelf. However, if you don’t have any free wall space buy a stackable desk tray.

4. Keep only what you need on your desk

Keeping only what you need on your desk is an excellent way to stay organized and productive. A cluttered workspace can be distracting and make it difficult to focus on the task at hand. By keeping only essential items within arm’s reach, you’ll create a cleaner, more streamlined workspace that allows you to concentrate better.

5. Color code your files

Yes, keep the urgent and essential stuff.

But you can take an extra step and separate them into different sections with colored file holders, file organizers, or sorters. ????

Let’s say:

  • Red is for marketing
  • Green is for sales
  • Blue is for creative/design
  • Yellow is for reports, and so on.

This way, you’ll quickly recognize a color when you need a particular item.

Apply this same level of color-coordination to your virtual office with ClickUp! Try using ClickUp’s Priority Matrix Template to organize your tasks with different colors and priorities.

6. Group similar items together

Unless you’re an artist who uses acrylic paints, brushes, and lots of other supplies, all of your office supplies can probably fit in one drawer.

Just keep one office drawer for your office supplies that are multifunctional.

And it’s okay if your scissors go in there, along with your sticky notes, push pins, and favorite Washi tape.

Now, you can use your other drawers for other things, like those wires you never forgot to throw away or maybe even a designated junk food drawer. ????

In ClickUp, you can incorporate grouping into your virtual office too!

Want more information on Desk Organization Solutions? Feel free to contact us.

Use our Organized Project Hierarchy to group related tasks and put things where they belong.

Bonus: Space planning software! 

7. Ditch the sticky notes

Are you the person who lines their whole monitor with sticky notes and then calls everything “important”?

As far as office organization ideas go, that’s probably not the best route to take.

Not only could one of those notes fall off and end up in the trash can, pinning so many notes on your monitor looks tacky and cluttered.

You’d be better off getting notifications in your project management or productivity platform where they’d be safe away from the dangers of the office vacuum.

Save those sticky notes for only the most urgent tasks or that last crazy idea that you don’t want to forget over lunch.

Remember, stick notes are for urgent reminders only. They are not a to-do list.

Want to find out more office organization options? Check out the 30 best tools to help you immediately.

8. Limit personal items

Limiting personal items like pictures and knick-knacks on your desk can be incredibly helpful for staying organized and productive. While it may be tempting to decorate your workspace with personal items, excessive clutter can quickly become a distraction, and take away from the functionality of your desk.

9. Control your notifications

Notification overload is a real thing. Though it may only happen digitally, it can still affect your mindset at your desk.

If you put your cell away in a drawer or off to the side in a holder, you won’t be as distracted.

Alternatively, opt for tools like ClickUp that let you customize your notifications!

The smart notifications let you decide what kind of actions trigger notifications. Whether it’s a new Comment, Task created, Status change, ClickUp can send notifications for whatever you want.

10. Only keep relevant and urgent documents on your desk

Remember how I started this article talking about all that paper?

How much of that was necessary?

How much of it was extremely urgent?

Not all of it, that’s for sure.

Once I reviewed a document, I should have tossed it out or filed it away for more long-term safekeeping.

Dreaming of a paperless office? Take a look at these 11 tips to make it a reality.

11. Use your books or take them home

At one place I worked, we had a book club where team members would read different books each month and then share them.

We also exchanged books quite often, and I even brought in a few from home.

This was great in theory until I started stacking them up high on a shelf. ????

I used them for reference only occasionally and not frequently enough to keep them around.

If you don’t want to part with your books, get yourself a bookshelf or a shelving unit for them instead of scattering them on your desk.

Feeling creative? Try DIY bookends to keep the books where they should be.

12. Clean up before you go

One great habit is to clear your workspace before you go.

Try to clean up every day, so you get a fresh start the next day. And de-clutter the entire workspace or home office every week or month.

As for your virtual desk space in ClickUp, you can be just as productive!Make sure to clear out your notifications in your Inbox before you sign off.

This way you get a fresh start every day!

13. Create a schedule to re-evaluate

Schedule time in your day to take down those now-meaningless sticky notes and think again about how you’re actually using your system.

A Recurring Task to remind you of this is perfect for this!

You can also ClickUp’s Schedule Template to schedule your events and keep track of everything.

14. Move clutter into an organized closet

Cluttered workspaces can lead to distractions, stress, and decreased productivity. By moving unnecessary items off your desk and into a closet or storage space, you’ll create a cleaner, more focused workspace that can help you stay on task and get more done.

You might find that simply having a designated space for storing items helps you feel less overwhelmed by clutter, leading to a greater sense of calm and control in your work environment.

15. Hide electrical wires

Hiding electrical wires is a helpful strategy for staying organized at your desk and increasing your productivity. Exposed cords and wires can create a visually cluttered workspace, leading to distractions and a sense of disorganization.

Additionally, having cords tangled and exposed can pose a safety risk, as it increases the likelihood of tripping or tangling them.

See How Desk Organization Can Maximize your Productivity

You can use these organizational ideas to stay focused, productive and avoid a cluttered desk and mind.

Not to mention, your desk organization affects your ability to contribute at work. Your work environment has a trickle-down effect on your projects, tasks, and your team collaboration.

And when you’re free from clutter, you’re free to create.

It helps you put away distractions and create a great writing environment, work on the next big idea, or build something new.

Cleaning your desk can be the best thing you ever do. Whether you’re a student or professional, use these tips to up-level

So one day, when you find yourself bored at work, make sure to clean your desk!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Three Tier Desk Organizer.