Starting out every workday with a neat and tidy desk will help keep your mind on track and focused on the task at hand. Not only will it make your space look more appealing, but it'll also free your mind from distraction and motivate you to get your work done. When you're staring down at a giant mess, taking care of your work can seem impossible. Fortunately, getting the best work desk and keeping your desk organized isn't the insurmountable task it might appear to be at first glance. As long as you're willing to be thorough and steadfast, keeping an organized desk is actually pretty straightforward-and more importantly, well worth it in the long run. In fact, if you're looking for home office layout ideas, specifically for a small office layout then we've got you covered.
An organized work environment has a lot more than just visual appeal, it’s also about function. Follow these 7 helpful small desk organization ideas to make your work less of a chore and get through your workday more efficiently:
Create A Personalized Space
Make sure to create a space that feels like your own and is customized to your personal work needs. When thinking about ways to organize your desk, we believe that aesthetic is just as important as functionality. Personalizing your space is not only about bringing in photos, plants or decor items that make you happy, but it’s also about having everything you need for your workday right in front of you. We understand how important personalizing your space is, so we created our Jorn desk collection to be highly customizable. From wood finish and unique shelving options to the number of monitor stands, you can customize your desk to make sure it is just right for you! We offer over 280 surface color and print options, so there is something for everyone, and you can go as bold or as subtle as you’d like!
Also, you don't need to rely solely on your desk itself to keep your home office space organized. Nearby floating shelves, custom consoles, cubbies, and baskets can keep the clutter off your desk so you have plenty of room to work while being smart about your storage space options.
Keep a To-do List
If you're still a fan of putting pen to paper, make sure you keep a notepad or post-its handy to map out a daily to-do list. You can also add a chalkboard or whiteboard to your workspace to jot down daily or weekly notes and then wipe 'em away at your own convenience. This is a great way to make sure you are completing your daily work, plus it always feels good to cross off all the tasks from your list before signing off for the night!
Turn Clutter into Decor
If you've been having a hard time getting things done at work, take a look around you. Is your work space a mess? In addition to being visually unpleasing, having a disorganized desk can make it harder for you to focus and process information. If you can’t help but keep things on your desk, then tidy up your books, notepads, and supplies by arranging them in a desk tray. If you have notes, business cards, or go-to cheat sheets laying around you can tack them up on the wall, a pegboard, or hang them on a whiteboard to create a fun yet practical display. You can even DIY a desk organization system to hold your to-do list, pens, and notebooks. If you treat such "clutter" as decor and display it in an organized manner that looks good, you can make your workspace look nice, while being functional at the same time.
Coordinate by Color
Keeping function and style in mind, color-coordinating your office and work supplies in matching bins, folders, or baskets is one of the most fun ways to organize your desk space. Yes, you can always keep the urgent and important stuff on the top of the pile, but we'd recommend taking the extra step to separate them into different sections as well. Let’s say red equals sales, green is for reports, blue is for marketing, yellow is for creative, and so on. This is also a great way to sort tasks by their level of importance. That way you’ll quickly recognize a color when you need a particular item and you’ll be able to locate what you need more efficiently.
Use Drawer Dividers
Make sure to keep the inside of your desk organized, too. If you find that your desk drawers are overstuffed and cluttered, you can remove everything and reorganize with a drawer divider to make sure you can quickly locate what you need. Your drawers should make you feel a sense of calm, as opposed to stressed out. You can conquer your desk drawer junk with an assortment of acrylic organizers and desk accessories to store pens, sticky notes, flash drives, and additional office supplies within their own dividers. If each drawer has a purpose, it'll make it harder for you to just open up a drawer and throw in a random object, which can snowball fast. Designating drawers for specific supplies and using dividers are a great way to make sure you’re closing that drawer just as fast as you’re opening it. This simple change can go a very long way!
Organize Cords and Cables
If you’re all about a clean and tidy look, you’ll want to be conscious about wires, chargers and storage prior to selecting a desk setup. Keeping a clean desk and staying organized can have a great impact on your daily work successes, so opt for a desk with some organizational features built into the piece! We know how important this is, so we designed the Jorn Desk to not only look nice but to be practical, too. Each surface features an inconspicuous media hole to keep your cords in check and your laptop powered. The built-in shelf provides additional storage to support your daily grid (and favorite office supplies) and is designed set back near the center so as to not obstruct your WFH kinetics.
If having a built-in cord-wrangling feature isn’t an option, there are plenty of ways to get creative! You can use velcro strips to keep the cords together, clear tape to make cords flush with your desk surface, or even hide them completely by using a cable box.
Clean up Your Computer Desktop
Ways to organize your desk can go deeper than just the physical space. Keeping your computer desktop clean can be just as important as your physical desktop. We spend such a significant amount of time on our computers, whether it be in email, design programs, reports or spreadsheets, so even if your physical desk is spic and span, a messy desktop can leave you feeling just as overwhelmed. You can create folders on your desktop and within your accounts to keep files and emails organized to ensure you’re able to make the most of your workday, every day.
Desk organization affects your ability to contribute and perform at work. Your messy desk is not going to help you get things done, but it will rather serve as a distraction that keeps you from doing the best work possible. One great habit is to clear your workspace of any desk clutter before you sign off for the night. No one is perfect and things will certainly get out of place throughout the workday, but it’s important to clean up every day so you have a fresh start and a clear mind for the next day. Your work environment has an effect on your productivity, tasks, collaborations and your overall performance so following these useful desk organization tips is a great way to ensure you are clear of clutter, and free to create!