But not all organizational solutions are created equal: “Your desk area should be a place where you can focus,” says Holly Blakey of Breathing Room Organization and Styling. “If the items you purchased to help organize are creating more physical and mental clutter, that’s counterproductive.” Keeping style and practicality in mind, we combed the internet for the best options currently on the market. Our top pick is the Poppin SuperStacked Set, which offers a sleek, modern look and can be customized to suit a variety of desks. Read on for the best desk organizers available today. What makes this set so useful is that it can either be arranged as a stack or divided with the various parts distributed around your desk (or even in your drawers). The strong, glossy plastic is not only lovely to look at, but it’s also resilient and easy to clean with a damp cloth. With the set, Poppin also throws in six retractable gel pens. Price at time of publish: $80 Shoppers love that the stand adds a funky design element to their desk space, and a few people have given it their own creative hacks by drilling a hole in the back for charging cables or mounting it on a wall. However, one side is sealed off (presumably to keep items from sliding out) and some found it unattractive, which is something to consider if the riser isn’t going to be positioned up against a wall. While there’s no pen cup or vertical slot, the three-compartment drawer at the bottom of this organizer is big enough for writing utensils and other small office supplies. Note that the trays are not fixed in place—this would work well for those who need to reorganize the piece from time to time, but frustrated others who said they came loose when they were pulling items out, and some resorted to securing them with strong glue or zip ties. Price at time of publish: $30 Lund London was founded by a British designer and the company is known for its whimsical items like water bottles topped with emoji faces and candy-colored furniture. Each piece they produce is guaranteed to be finished by hand. Lund London is partnered with Ecologi, an environmental organization that helps businesses fund climate actions such as planting trees and other projects. The shade can be repositioned and the lamp comes with a 4-watt G9 bulb. The on/off switch is located on the clear cord, and the dimmer is a nice feature for those times when you want a mellower mood. Unfortunately, there are no additional color choices, but the white and light wood will work in a variety of settings. The premise: You’ll get a box (it comes in black or white) made of flame-retardant plastic as well as a four-outlet surge protector that fits inside the box. The box has pass-through holes on both sides. There are ridges on the top meant to organize items like laptops, phones, and tablets (note that some devices may be too thick for the slots). Small holes underneath let you feed the cable through, allowing you to charge your device while it’s on display. Price at time of publish: $31 The boxes are made of a fiberboard that is crafted from recycled materials such as newspaper and corrugated cardboard and finished with a metal strip that not only looks nice, but also helps keep the box stable. (Bigso says these will work in basements or garages, but if you’re in an area prone to flooding, you may want to consider a tougher material.) Bigso has dozens of sizes and styles available, and also makes boxes from materials like canvas and recycled paper laminate. If you’re looking to expand your set, Haberny also sells wireless phone charging pads, headphone stands, and trays in other sizes. He offers affordable international shipping as well as discounts on multiple pieces. Price at time of publish: $260 for Walnut They’re meant to contain all those loose items that are constantly floating around messy drawers, such as pens, headphones, loose change, paper clips, and more. Need something taller? ThreeByThree also makes deeper options, which come in fun, punchy colors. First known for its magnetic strip bulletin board, this women-owned Seattle company has been producing home and office products since 1995. Price at time of publish: $11
Material
The material you choose will in part be determined by your decor. Clear acrylic allows you to see everything easily, but those who struggle with containing mess may not love this. Wood has a warm, elegant vibe but can be more expensive; it also can be prone to dings. Rigid plastic is easy to clean, feels modern, and often comes in bright, cheery colors. Metal mesh pieces are traditional workhorses that can last for years and have the benefit of being fairly see-through, but not everyone loves the look.
Design
When selecting a design, think about a typical day in your workspace. Consider what things you want to be able to grab quickly, like your phone, planner, pen, or notebook, and how important it is to have an uncluttered desktop (it’s not a must for everyone). Some organizers only hold a few basics, like pens and paper clips, while others can handle papers, electronic devices, and plenty of office supplies. If you have an endless stream of papers, you may want something that can keep documents sorted, or a file box that you can have close by. Some may need a charging station, but if you work at home and already have a spot for devices, you might prefer to have fewer distractions.
Why Trust The Spruce
Lexi Dwyer contributes frequently to The Spruce about topics like cleaning, storage, and home organization. She has worked almost exclusively from home since 2008, and one of her children attended school remotely for a year total during the pandemic, so she is no stranger to keeping office supplies, art supplies, and all the paper in line. When it comes to staying organized, she is a big fan of Bigso and Poppin products. “Set a time each week to organize and clear space, maybe each Friday before you clock out or on Sunday night, as you plan your week ahead,” Blakey says. “If you spend just 10 minutes putting things back in their homes and creating a fresh, clean space, you’ll be able to focus better. If you do this on a weekly basis and it becomes part of your routine, the pile-up and chaos will be less likely to happen.” For this round-up, Lexi researched products that were attractive to look at and held up well based on reviewers’ comments, and also tried to include companies with a focus on environmental awareness. She spoke to professional organizer Holly Blakey of Breathing Room Organization and Styling in San Francisco for tips on setting up a desk and keeping office clutter contained.
