1
Looking for a closet near you
Kevin J. Miyazaki
Roxy Owens of Society Social installed this writing desk between two closets in the guest bedroom of her 2023 Whole Home. Any extra supplies can be stored in the closet to avoid overfilling the drawers. It's a great option for a temporary space where the desk doubles as a vanity.
2
Turning fixtures into wall art
Rachel Whiting
Inspiration boards are great for displaying photos and documents, but you can also use push pins to hang small items like scissors, so they're always within reach without taking up valuable desktop space.
3
Utilize every nook and cranny
Stephen Karlish
Designer Stephanie Sabe created a special space for jotting down family recipes for House Beautiful's 2021 “Whole Home” edition. This quiet nook for sipping coffee and jotting down to-dos features a farm-table-inspired desk with a large writing surface and space to prop up cookbooks.
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Four
Pull up a chair and sit down
Photo by Trevor Tondro
In the home of interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks, a small stool under his desk holds extra books and planners, helping to keep his desk neat and tidy, while a lamp and storage compartment keep any task at hand.
Five
Using a Peg Rail
Rachel Whiting
A practical Shaker-style peg rail can be used for many purposes, including keeping your desk tidy. In this Scandinavian-style office, beautiful wicker baskets containing desk accessories hang in a visible position. The rail is cut into the wall paneling and painted to match, so it feels like an original detail.
6
Multiply the grid
Rachel Whiting
The metal wire grid can be used not only as a display board but also as a rack for magazines and books, which can help you keep your desk surface neat and increase your productivity.
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7
Traveling by Credenza
Tess Neustadt
If you like the look of a minimalist desk without built-in storage, consider adding a sideboard or storage cabinet behind your desk to keep everything you need for work close by while keeping your desktop clutter-free. In Bobby Berk's Los Angeles home office, creative director Brady Tolbert sourced a midcentury sideboard on Craigslist to keep cluttered papers out of sight.
8
Group Desk Organizer on a Tray
Rachel Kuzma
Desk organizers like pen holders and letterboxes work great, but having too many can easily lead to clutter. The easy solution? Organize everything neatly on a tray, like designer Jennifer Hunter did in her New York office.
9
Reaching for the basket
Katie Hodges
Baskets are an easy way to store anything and everything anywhere, including your home office. Here, designer Katie Hodges finds a shape that fits perfectly on open shelves while keeping the area clean and beautiful.
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Ten
Don't forget the floor
Johnny Valiant
If you don't have open shelves to work from, consider using some of your floor space for storage. In this office designed by Lindsay Bond, woven beach bags store essentials under the floating desk, making them easy to access when not needed.
11
Installing the Shelving Unit
Nicole Franzen, courtesy of TRNK
Save space and enjoy an organized desk by installing wall-mounted shelves. That's how Tariq Dixon, co-founder of furniture brand TRNK, transformed an unused corner into a writer's oasis in his own apartment. Shelves provide a space to organize and display decorative items, reading materials, and supplies.
12
Choose a desk with drawers
Amy Nunsinger
Building storage into your desk may be the easiest way to keep your workspace clutter-free. Dedicate each drawer to a specific category of supplies, like notebooks and important files. Keep surface clutter to a minimum, as designer Mark D. Sykes did in this home. And don't forget the fresh flowers!
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13
Introducing a matching console
Stephen Karlish
If bulky storage items aren't your thing, organize your desk essentials on a console table. In this home office/gym, designer Laura Hodges placed a matching console behind a custom desk from Grothouse. The desk disassembles easily and functions as an aerobics step, so keeping the surface clear for quick movement was key.
14
Rolling the cart
Victoria Pearson
A wheeled cart near your desk not only holds baskets and file folders, but also makes them easy to move around. Plus, wheeled carts are often budget-friendly (search for book carts, library carts, utility carts, etc.) and come in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, and primary colors. Copy photographer Victoria Pearson's office setup and set up a desk on wheels (see here) so you can change your view whenever you want.
15
Make space for everything
Bjorn Wallander
This Charleston home office designed by Jill Sharp Weeks proves that no desk is complete without at least one multi-purpose bowl or tray, and decorative items can hold everything from thumb tacks to candy.
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16
Create internal storage
Robert Peterson
Nothing is better than built-ins to hide clutter and display decorative items. For the ultimate work-from-home suite, designer Ariene Bethea used drawers and cabinets below to hide unsightly essentials, while an open bookshelf above showcases treasured possessions and books. Finally, she propped up some additional artwork against the desktop wall for extra inspiration.
17
Place a paperweight
Heather Hilliard
Paperweights are a classic because they're both decorative and functional. Use one to hold your documents in place and add interest to your desktop. Here, designer Heather Hilliard chose a sculptural globe that stays in a muted, neutral color scheme.
18
Hang an inspiration board
Robert Peterson
The textured memory board in this crawl space by Leanne Ford establishes the area as a fun, creative zone — plus, it's the perfect place to hang snapshots, lists, and important documents you'll want to remember.
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19
Fill the desk hutch
Dana Meilison
To keep all your essentials within reach, choose a desk with shelves. This desk in designer Sheila Bridges' home is not too tall, so it offers plenty of storage space without taking up too much space.
20
Try a tray table
Allison Gootee
Instead of storing office supplies on your desktop, use a foldable tray table to display essentials like tape, a stapler, and glasses. You can leave space above your desk for fresh flowers or inspirational personal photos, as designer Miles Redd did in this blue home office.
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