Whether big or small, a desk is more functional when it’s organized. Desk organizers can help you create a system for sorting your supplies for an efficient routine at work. You can keep items that are in constant use within easy reach and make your desk functional and attractive at the same time.
In this article, we've prepared a buying guide fact-checked by interior designer Jennifer Salamat to help you choose the right kind of desk organizer for your desk. You can also browse through our list of the 10 most recommended products available online. Read more below!
Quick List - Top Desk Organizers
Jennifer Salamat is a Singapore-based Interior Designer currently working as a Lead Designer in an international company that manufactures furniture hardware. She shares the same passion for transforming ideas into beautiful, functional home design solutions. She is a dedicated individual who has been involved in planning and designing interior settings for residential and commercial spaces.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
The right kind of organizer for your space would be the one that would best fit the items you need to store. Thankfully, these days, there are so many options out there to address almost every kind of storage need. Below are the most common types of organizers you'll find in the market.
A multi-compartment organizer is your best bet for organizing small items and office supplies. There are different sections with varied sizes and depths so it can serve as an all-in-one container for pens, scissors, rulers, glue, calculator, notebooks and more. It's an all-in-one solution for the items you use the most daily.
If you have a small desk, you might want to try out keyboard desk trays instead. These are horizontal organizers which you can place on top of your keyboard and has several pockets for commonly used items such as stapler, tape erasers, pens, and more. This is ideal for small desks that are mainly occupied by a computer and barely have any space for other office supplies.
Pen holders are great for displaying your favorite writing instruments. You can also use them to store your collection of sticky notes, highlighters, and USB flash drives. Pen holders are slimmer and come in an assortment of designs.
Using tray dividers for desk drawers is a tried-and-tested technique in organizing. These organizational solutions will help you sort smaller items such as paper and binder clips, rubber bands, and thumbtacks, as well as your extra markers and pencils.
By utilizing the storage space in your drawers, you’ll prevent cluttering your work area with items that you don’t necessarily use every day. Also, by using trays, you can get rid of the bulky box or packaging that will otherwise take too much space in your desk.
For homeschooling, you might want to consider a small bookshelf and bookends for your desk. These will give you easy access to textbooks, learning modules, and other activity worksheets. You can also display your favorite storybooks and reference books you often use.
Meanwhile, file organizers are best for sorting mails, documents, and paper supplies. You can opt for a wall-mounted file organizer to maximize the vertical space above your desk or go for a slim magazine holder to align folders, envelopes, and other stationery supplies.
Think outside the box! Consider containers meant for organizing other household items. For example, if your desk doesn’t have built-in drawers, consider an acrylic makeup drawer organizer. This is typically used for cosmetic products but will work just as well for office supplies. Clear drawers are available in many sizes and number of layers, so you can customize your storage as you wish.
Cable organizers, on the other hand, help you take control of unwanted and messy cords on your desk. You can designate a corner in your desk and turn it into a charging station. A cable organizer can adhere to any surfaceーplastic, wood, glass, or metal.
Check the dimensions of the organizer to make sure that it is big enough for your office or school essentials. Also, look for sample pictures on the e-commerce site so you can better visualize its size and assess if it would fit in your space.
When it comes to material, most organizers are made of clear plastic. These are durable, quick to clean, and most importantly, you can easily see what’s inside. Other kinds of organizers are made of wood, metal or stainless steel, and ceramic. Find the right one that is stable, matches your décor, and has smooth edges to avoid finger injury or cuts.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wooden Desktop Organizer | ![]() | A Complete and Multifunctional Organizer for Small and Large Items | |
2 | OLS Acrylic Drawer Organizer | ![]() | Mix-and-Match Trays for an Uncluttered Drawer | |
3 | 5-Tier File Rack | ![]() | Keep Your Letters, Documents, and Stationery Supplies in Order | |
4 | Keyboard Storage Rack | ![]() | Get an Extra Shelf Above Your Keyboard | |
5 | Orico Cable Organizer | ![]() | No More Messy Wires and Cables | |
6 | Transparent Stationery Storage Box | ![]() | All-in-One Organizer for Your Office and School Supplies | |
7 | Locaupin Under Table Drawer Tray | ![]() | A Handy Solution for Desks Without Drawers | |
8 | Large Capacity Desktop Organizer | ![]() | An Affordable yet Versatile Organizer | |
9 | Bookshelf Desktop Storage | ![]() | A Simple and Adjustable Shelf for Books, Modules, and Files | |
10 | Papemelroti Today Let's Be Grateful Pen Holder | ![]() | Perk Up Your Mood With an Inspirational Design |
This multi-compartment unit has everything you could want in a desktop organizer. It has compartments for books and file folders, as well as shelving for office supplies, sheets of paper, and pensーall in one compact package that does not take up too much space.
Another nifty feature is the built-in tissue box holder, which is something you won't normally find in most desk organizers. The wooden aesthetic is also perfect if you're a member of Team Kahoy or if you simply want a warm and natural accent on your desk. However, it also comes in white if you prefer a clean white aesthetic.
Customizing the organizational setup in your drawers is easy with these acrylic organizers from OLS. Typically used in different settings, from the kitchen to the bathroom, they are absolutely versatile and suitable for storing your office supplies as well.
These trays come in five sizes ranging from SS to XL, so you're sure to find one that fits your items. You can also mix and match them to make the most of your drawer space. They are made of non-toxic and eco-friendly PET material and come in a clear color that makes it easy to spot what you need to find.
This file organizer is perfect for sorting documents, letters, and other paper supplies. It has five layers, so you can arrange your files by category. For example, you can use one layer for incoming documents, and another layer for the outgoing folders.
The trays slide in and out smoothly if you want easier access. And because it's made of sturdy and scratch-resistant black metal mesh, it will surely last you a long time. The downside is that it does occupy a lot of real estate on your desk, so it's most suitable for larger desks.
This desk tray allows you to add an extra shelf space by putting it over the keyboard or in front of your monitor. This is ideal for smaller desks that are largely occupied by computers or laptops. It is made of durable plastic and is available in different colors to match your room décor or table theme.
It features different niches or pockets for office supplies, notepads, and your mobile phone. This tray provides easy access to your daily work or homeschool essentials. Then, when you're done typing, you can simply slide the keyboard beneath the tray to have ample space for paperwork and reading.
This handy cord organizer features 7 slots that are suitable for most types of cables. Now you can take control of messy wires like power cords, charging cables, USB cords, headphones, audio lines, network cables, and computer mouse lines.
Made of silicone and coming in a slim design, it's an unobtrusive way to keep your desk looking neat and uncluttered. It also has a seamless double-sided adhesive that is strong and long-lasting and adheres well to plastic, wood, glass, and metal surfaces.
This organizer has 7 sections with different heights, so you can use it for all kinds of office and school essentials. You’ll get 2 pockets for small items like paper clips and elastics, 1 medium pocket for tapes or notepads, 3 tall pockets for pens, a pair of scissors and a ruler, and a wide compartment at the back for a notebook.
Its unique feature is a built-in tape dispenser to complete your supplies station. It is made of sturdy, see-through acrylic that makes it easy to view the contents inside. This product is truly a smart storage solution for the items you use most every day!
If your desk is one of those basic types that don't come with drawers, don't despair! You can hack your way to smart storage, thanks to this hidden sliding container that you can glue and screw to the bottom of your desk as an instant drawer. Since it won't occupy any space on your desk, it leaves you with more room for writing or typing.
It's made of durable plastic that can bear heavy loads and is available in small and large, so you can choose which size best fits your storage needs. The large tray is wide enough for storing paper and stationery, while the small tray is perfect for pens and office supplies.
This organizer is designed in such a way that there's a space for almost every small office tool you can think of. It has open compartments of varying heights to fit pens, highlighters, staplers, and other common items you might need for work. It also has two small drawers that are perfect for keeping more sensitive items such as USB flash drives protected from dust.
The bottom compartment is great for holding sticky notes and for propping up your mobile phone, too. It's made of plastic and comes in white, so it's sure to blend in seamlessly no matter what your room decor and desk setup are. Best of all, you can get this super useful organizer for less than Php 100!
This bookshelf offers many ways to display the books and files you often use on top of your desk. Since you assemble it yourself, you can arrange the two main sections in ways that work for you. There are compartments to store your books horizontally as well as vertically.
Aside from the wide spaces for books, there are also small sections where you can display your collectibles or favorite items for a more personalized look. The shelf is also made of particle board and comes in a simple design and light wood finish that would go well with most desk setups.
If you're into handcrafted items, this pen holder by Papemelroti might be a charming addition to your desk. It features an original design with an inspirational message. Use it to display your favorite writing instruments, rulers, and scissors for an uncluttered desktop.
Aside from that, it's made of recycled wood, so it's a great pick if you prefer eco-friendly and responsibly-sourced products. And of course, the cute artwork and motivational quotes on it are perfect for some extra motivation while you work!
Don't forget to also group your items into their respective segments and preferably label the boxes, or you'll end up spending time rummaging through them instead.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
As with any space you want to organize, the first step is to keep only what you need. Once you've trimmed your stash down, a desk organizer then provides compartments for sorting your supplies and arranging them in a functional manner. You can also color code your files and keep only urgent documents on your desk to further minimize clutter.
Keeping your desk organized will help you focus on the task at hand and save you precious time because you won't need to spend minutes looking for items you need. It also frees up important "real estate" on your desk so you can have more working space. Plus, research has shown that minimizing clutter improves motivation, calms the brain down, and reduces stress levels.
Aside from your computer, you should have the office supplies you use most in clear view on your desk. Examples of these are paper clips, pens, pads or paper, staplers, and other such functional items. You can also personalize your desk with items like a coffee mug, a small plant, or framed photos.
You don’t need to have a separate room or a large space to create a home office. You just need to find the right furniture and a well-planned set of organizers to help you achieve a functional work or study nook. Click the article links below to see our recommended study tables, laptops, and other work from home items.
Author: Ayeza E. Mangulabnan
Re-editor: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: |Wooden Desktop Organizer
No. 2: OLS|Acrylic Drawer Organizer
No. 3: |5-Tier File Rack
No. 4: |Keyboard Storage Rack
No. 5: Orico |Cable Organizer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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