How to Organize a Desk without Drawers

13 Simple Tips for Organizing a Desk without Drawers

Find out how to organize a desk without drawers. These simple desk organizing tips will help keep your desk looking tidy and organized.

Most people who work from home (including me) have limited office space. To maximize the limited space, we tend to go for smaller desks that have no drawers, thus creating storage problems.

So the question is, how do you keep your desk organized and still keep all the necessary things you need for work easily accessible?

Drawers offer vital storage solutions. And the absence of drawers can make your desk seem cluttered and disorganized irrespective of the size of your desk.

Organizing your desk will also help keep your home office organized. And the tips in this article will help transform your desk space, making it neat and organized without drawers.

What Should a Well-Organized Desk Look Like?

A well-organized desk should:

Have a container to hold your pens and other small office items
Have a space for your computer (Desktop PC or Laptop)
Have a small section for filing your papers/documents
Have an open space for writing (a white space)

How to Organize a Desk without Drawers – 13 Creative Desk Organization Tips

The following tips will come in handy to help you get your desk well organized;

#1. Use a Desk Organizer/Paper Tray

You can use a desk organizer to organize your paperwork. I love this desk organizers with different compartments to store different items that can otherwise litter and clutter your desk. A paper tray is also great for filing your documents and helping you tame your paper clutter.

Marbrasse Desk Organizer Rubbermaid Regeneration Letter Tray

#2. Use a Side Desk Organizer

If your desk is not big enough to accommodate a desk organizer, then you may consider getting this side desk organizer. The purpose of such an organizer is to add more space to store or handle everything you have on your desk. The organizer hangs at the side of your desk to store files and stationery.

Oxford Desk Side Hanging Storage Bag

#3. Go Paperless (Use Apps)

You can also choose to go paperless. There is a good reason why everyone wants to go paperless. Paper creates clutter fast, especially if you have a small desk space. You can substitute using paper to organize your thoughts and work by using organization apps.

Some of the notable apps that can help you keep you desk clutter free include Microsoft To-Do, EverNote, DropBox, Trello, Calendly, Google Drive, and Base Camp.

#4. Use a Desk Tray for Your Keyboard

Your mouse and keyboard do not occupy a large space on the desktop but you can still keep them hidden and free extra space using an under the desk pullout keyboard tray.

This tray conveniently stays under the desk, saving valuable workspace. When needed, you slide it out, work, and push it under when not in use. I used to have one of these and really like it as it helped make my desk look tidy.

BONTEC Keyboard Tray Under Desk, Pull Out Keyboard & Mouse Tray

#5. Maintain ‘White Space’

A white space is any unused space on your desk. Desks with white space look clean and neat. You can find items on such a desk easily and quickly.

#6. Add a Monitor Stand

Desktop monitors also take up a lot of space on your desk. To help keep your desk organized and create extra space under the stand to store other items, use a monitor stand. Buy a dual or triple monitor stand when you have more than one PC monitor.

#7. Use Magnetic Strips

Magnetic strips are great for storing small metal items such as scissors, staples, and paper clips. Keep these strips at the side of the desk where they are easily accessible and out of the way.

#8. Tame that Cable Clutter

Poor cable management can make any space look disorganized. There are several ways to keep your cables in check;

Zip Ties

Zip ties are a simple but effective solution here. The cables stay intact once secured using plastic zip ties.

Cable Raceway

A cable raceway keeps all the cables out of sight when you have a small space. Cable raceways come in all kinds and colors. They can also be decorative items.

Cable Management Trays

Most cable management trays are placed under the desk to conceal cables and create a neat working space. They also come in different sizes, styles, and colors.

#9. Hang it Up (Use the Wall)

Not everything should find refuge on the desk’s surface. For instance, your favorite framed photos could occupy a lot of space reserved for items you work with daily. Hang these photos and other pieces of art on the wall to free up space on your desk.

#10. Shelves

Shelves come in handy when storing items that you do not use occasionally. You can display novelty items, awards, favorite toys, and books on these shelves. Some people use shelves to house their excess office equipment (such as printers and stationery) to save space on the desk.

#11. Non Obstructive Desk Lamps

If you love working at night, chances are you have a desktop lamp to bring in the much-needed extra light when jotting down points on paper. Depending on the design, these desktop lights could take up valuable space on your desk.

Look for something that does not inhibit your capacity to work while still serving its intended purpose. You can find different non-obstructive LED desk lamps on Amazon. Some are mountable on the wall, on the edge of the desk, or behind the monitor.

LED Desk Lamp with Clamp

#12. Use Cohesive Colors to Create an Organized Effect

Everyone has a theme and color scheme they love. A good color theme can enhance your desktop space without breaking the bank.

#13. Declutter and Trash

One of the most effective way to keep your desk organized, especially if it has no drawers is by decluttering on a regular basis. Remove anything you don’t use regularly and anything that has served its purpose from the desk.

Keep a small trash basket near your desk to avoid littering your desk with trash. If you love taking beverages and snacks in your office, ensure you trash the packaging as soon as you finish eating/snacking. And be sure to shred documents and other materials before disposal.

Why is it Important to Keep Your Desk Organized?

Less Clutter Reduces Stress – By staying organized, you are also nourishing your mental health.
A Clean Desk Saves Time – You do not spend ages looking for items you need for your work.
A Clean Desk Enhances Creativity – Your mind will be focused on tasks ahead.

Final Thoughts on How to Organize a Desk without Drawers

A desk is an important asset because it holds all the resources you use while working from home. A well-organized desk will enhance productivity. You need to be creative to achieve this level of organization when you have a desk without drawers. This is where all the components and strategies discussed here come into play.

The key objective is keeping the desk clutter-free and every resource you need for work accessible. Most of the organization resources discussed here are affordable and readily available. They easily integrate with your desk and keep everything organized without breaking the bank or looking out of place.