An organized desk is an invitation to do your most productive work. Clutter is a stressor. Shuffling piles of paper to find the stapler or digging through a box of paper clips to reach the thumbtacks is a frustrating time waster. Apply desk organization strategies to create an orderly workstation.

1. Use Wall Space

Take advantage of the wall above the desk or around a cubicle. Hang organizers on the wall to add functional desk space. Tack a to-do list on a corkboard. A wall organizer may hold mason jars, into which you can toss miscellaneous supplies, like paper clips and pens.

Buying new storage compartments is unnecessary when you can create your own hanging storage bins. Upcycle empty disinfectant containers by hanging them on knobs attached to a strip of wood. Unhang the filled bins from the wall to use elsewhere, if needed.

A pegboard backdrop can be efficiently used. While hanging décor gives your desk space unique personality, also mix in wire baskets, shelves and cup holders for maximum organization of supplies. Sitting neatly above the desk or along the cubicle wall, the pegboard is within easy reach.

Wall space is also shelf space. So any extra space behind your computer can easily be used for little office decorations, artwork, or plants that can't be mounted on the wall. Simply hammer in the brackets, place the shelf on top and you're good to go!

2. Create an Organization Station

It's important to have enough space on your desk for your laptop, mouse, monitor and keyboard. Again, use the wall space to incorporate additional productivity, adding a cork board with a to do list, calendar with mason jars right next to it to use as pen and marker holders.

3. Color Coordinate Your Supplies

This may not apply to everyone's work space, but for those who love to sew, knit or crochet for instance, materials can be easily color coordinated for easy find. Simply arrange them by color in a drawer or basket where they can be easily found and used for convenience. They will also make your working space much more colorful!

4. Mix in Supplies with Decorations

Whoever said you couldn't mix productivity with decorations? So you can have your pictures, plants and lights mixed in with your pens, clock and books. This is also another modern look of many office spaces and cubicles today. Organized office supplies can also be used as decoration!

5. Write on Chalkboard Tape

Avid notetakers will find chalkboard tape extremely useful. Chalkboard tape is a removable, peel and stick tape that can be cut into any sized shapes. Users can write on its chalkboard surface with a dry erase marker and wipe away once new ideas need to be jotted down.

6. Add Storage Under the Desk

The area under the desk can serve a number of storage needs. Tuck a storage caddy beneath the desk, along its legs, for added storage space. Add a small bookshelf or storage cabinet if space permits. Every inch counts when it comes to maximizing office space!

7. Create a Pegboard Bookshelf

Using a simple elastic band, tie the ends to the edges of a pegboard. Place magazines and books within the elastic bands for easy viewability and reach. A pegboard bookshelf is a great alternative to a traditional, heavy bookshelf. Plus, being flat, it hardly takes up valuable office space.

8. Keep All Accessories to One Side

Depending on the size and set up of your working space, you may not have that much room for accessories. But the first priority should always be having enough room for your supplies, like your computer, keyboard, and maybe some pens and a lamp. But keeping your accessories to one side instead of having them strewn in front of you might be a better idea. you'll have to play around with the setup.

9. Utilize DIY Organizers

Make it personal with DIY organizers, where you can fit all your supplies into little compartments of a standing organizer on your desks. These work especially if you prefer not to use mason jars or shelves, but have a lot of standing desk items.

10. Install Your Own Keyboard Tray

Many desks may not already come with one, but you can definitely install your own keyboard tray if there's room under your desk. That way you'll have more room to put down some paperwork as you work. Also consider putting the mouse and mouse pad down there if they fit.

11. Establish and Follow a "One In, One Out Rule"

Again, for those with less space, such as apartment-dwellers, less is more. So if you see something online that you just got to have, follow a one in, one out rule and figure out what you will be replacing it with before you hit that "buy" button. Even if you decide there's nothing you want to remove, you'll be saving yourself money by not adding another item to your desk space.

12. Use Drawer Dividers

On the other hand, if you have a larger desk with drawers, you've got some extra space for office supplies. But little things like paper clips, staples, pens, highlighters and business cards can all wind up in a giant mess and clutter up the drawer space. But simply adding a few drawer dividers to hold the little things in place can make everything a whole lot easier, especially when you're searching for what you need.

13. Declutter Cords

Electrical cords are a necessity, but the resulting mess is not. Position a cable box near the desk to keep the tangle of cords out of view, while allowing them to serve their purpose. Binder clips can also be used to keep the cords organized and out of sight.

Another trick to organize each of the monitor, light, telephone and miscellaneous cords is to label each of them with different colored tape. Write “phone,” “computer,” or “lamp” on each piece of tape and adhere. This clever hack will help distinguish your electrical cords from those of a colleague.

14. Roll in a Rolling Cart

Position a rolling cart next to your desk for additional storage space. Fill the rolling cart with jars or bottles, into which may be placed supplies, like pens, markers or paper clips. When your work takes you to an adjacent office, simply roll the portable cart to its next destination.

15. Mount a Coat Rack

An alternate use for a coat rack is to hang technology, like headphones, cables and cords. Mount the coat rack on the wall above the desk for easy reach. Add intrigue to a drab workspace by choosing a trendy coat rack featuring a colorful, contemporary design.

16. Try Kitchen Organizers

Rather than stick to conventional office organization bins, venture into using bathroom and kitchen organizers at your office desk. Storage bins cheaply purchased from retail stores’ kitchen and bathroom aisles can lend cost-effective convenience and practicality to the office realm.

Silicone cupcake liners, for instance, can be used to hold small office supplies, like paper clips and push pins. Colorful and eye-catching, silicone cupcake liners add a burst of color to the desk environment, while keeping the office supplies tastefully organized.

Likewise, recycle coffee pods for use as office desk organizers. The little plastic cups hold a variety of small supplies, from staples to safety pins. Diminutive in size, the cleaned K-cups can be placed throughout the desk to keep a range of office supplies at your fingertips.

17. Attach Clamp-on Lights

Extra lighting is a must-have in the office. But floor and desk lamps take up valuable real estate. Instead, opt to clamp lights to the edge of the desk. The clamping feature will take up less space, while providing sufficient lighting—so that you can get your best work done.

A well-organized office desk has been known to reduce stress levels in personnel. The presence of clutter overwhelms the brain, triggering a stress response. Desk organization tends to diminish this stress and gives office employees a feeling of being in control.

Plus, efficiency noticeably increases in staff who work at organized office desks. These personnel simply do not waste energy searching for supplies or paperwork amidst unnecessary clutter. An organized workstation also gives a positive impression to higher-ups and other colleagues.

Office Renovation Assistance

Setting up a desk space so that it is organized is easily done right after an office renovation. Employees have a clean slate with which to work. But office managers will need help to shift office furniture in preparation for a renovation—which is where Chicago Office Movers comes in.

Chicago Office Movers crews are experienced and dedicated to making an office renovation or remodel happen seamlessly. We pack and label boxes, disassemble all types of furniture and move large equipment to a storage area so that the remodeling can take place.

Once the remodeling is complete, our office movers will assemble new furniture or appliances and help with installation. We take care of the heavy lifting, so that your employees can take care of organizing their new space. Unpacking small items is also a responsibility we undertake.

When you are planning an office renovation or remodel, consult Chicago Office Movers. Given the current coronavirus health crisis, we take all precautionary measures to protect our customers and crews.

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Call our friendly representatives at 312-244-2246 for a free estimate to get started.