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How many times have you heard that you need to stay focused and organized if you want to get things done? Procrastination is a terrible thing, and it’s easy to succumb to the mess you surround yourself with. Well, in order to avoid all that, you need to start somewhere.
Your desk is your place of work, and if it isn’t tidy and well organized you’ll never reach the pinnacle of your productivity. This is why I’ve gathered a small list of top-rated and highly promising desk organizers to determine which one is the best desk organizer.
During that process, you’ll also learn how to make your life a little easier. So let’s dig into it!
Getting down to organizing your desk – so why not start with one of the most diverse desk organizers out there? This one is actually a little bit different from all the others as it combines several different features and can be used for storing your documents, pencils, and other items that you need when you sit at your desk.
This organizer is made of sturdy meshed metal and it packs quite a bunch of features. It is 13.25 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, so it’s not exactly small. It comes with an upright section with 2-inch compartments, a letter tray, and a drawer with 3 separate compartments for your small goodies.
The silver finish is quite neutral and it will look good on any desk. You can store your documents and files on the upper section and the tray, while the drawer can be used for pencils, markers, scissors, and other smaller items. Sturdy and well built.
There really isn’t anything to complain about besides the fact that this desk organizer may be too big and bulky for some smaller desktop spaces.
The 3255BL may not be the best desk organizer available, but it sure is one of the best on the market we’ve seen so far. In terms of construction and layout it’s quite similar to the Simple Houseware offering of the previous section, although a bit simplified.
The 3255BL Onyx Mesh desktop organizer by Safco Products is a rather simple beast as it features 6 vertical sections for files and documents, and right below that it has two horizontal sections for A4 and letter-size documents and papers. It measures 13.25 inches of width, 11.25 inches of depth, and 13 inches of height.
First of all, it’s made of steel mesh and it seems quite durable and sturdy. It is perfect for people who handle a good amount of pending papers and documents, and there is also a choice of four different finishes: black, blue, white, and dark red.
Aside from the fact that it’s not exactly small, they could’ve used the space of a single compartment for organizing smaller items, such as pencils and scissors.
Now for something completely different, we have a desk organizer designed and made in the USA. It is a side load organizer with letter trays that will look modern and contemporary on any desk. If you don’t really care about organizing smaller items, this is probably the one to go with.
If you care about the nature and the environment, you’re going to love this one. It’s made from post-consumer recycled plastic. It comes only in sleek black and it is actually a stack of six letter trays. The OIC Achieva is 15 1/8 inches wide, 8 7/8 inches deep, and 15 inches high, so it’s not a small stack at all.
While it’s made of plastic, it’s actually much lighter than it seems. All the stacked trays have handles, and they can be stacked into infinity. Buy another set of 6 and you can have 12 of these trays stacked on top of each other. Each tray has a ribbed bottom so the documents won’t stick to it. A clever and easy way to get your paperwork neatly organized.
It’s quite tall, so it may not look good on all desks. This organizer can only handle letter-size paperwork (or A4-size for international buyers). Also, there are no other colors available besides black.
This is a similar offering as the Officemate above, but with a slightly different twist. It’s made from steel mesh and comes in 3 welded tiers, so it can’t be stacked. On the other hand, it has a sturdy solid metal construction, so it can really take the daily grind of a busy office space. There’s also a 5-tiered version of this desk tray.
This metal organizer is best for those who need to stash heavy paper stock, or a fairly good amount of it. Each tray can handle up to 5 pounds of weight. The black beast is 9.25 inches high, 14.875 inches wide, and 9.5 inches long, so it should fit most office desks.
They have made it really sturdy, as you can tell from the solid metal construction. It looks industrial and modern and helps you organize heavy amounts of paper in an easy, no-frills manner.
Solid construction also makes it a bit heavy, especially if you load it with lots of paper. Once you put it somewhere, better leave it there. Black may look sleek, but not all offices want their desk organizers in black. After all, it’s been ages since the Ford Model T was introduced.
Last but not least, this one is quite similar to the heavy metal contender from the previous section, but it’s significantly lighter and simplified.
It comes with two trays for A4 and letter-size paper, but it can stack up if you need more. Once again, this one is made from steel mesh and finished in black, but the ABS coating makes it look much more appealing. It is 13.5 inches long, 9.75 inches wide, and each tray is 2.75 inches high.
It’s easy to use and move around as it is quite light. It is probably the simplest way of organizing your papers, files, and documents.
If you’re shopping for a non-generic looking desk organizer, this probably isn’t the one you’re looking for. This is something you’d buy for your office space.
In order to determine what’s the best way to organize your desk so you can start being productive, you need to be aware of the different types of desk organizers out there.
What kind of desk organizer do you need? What size is your desk? What kind of materials and design features do you prefer? What purpose does your desk organizer need to serve?
These are all the common questions you’ll be asking yourself and we’ll help you out by presenting all the different aspects that you need to take into consideration before making your purchase.
First of all, you should know that there are different types of desk organizers out there, and not all of them are designed as multi-purpose items. Some can handle papers and pens, some are combo products, and still some serve just one simple purpose. Let’s take a look at the different types of desk organizers available out there.
These are commonly used to keep all your papers and documents in one place and well organized. Usually they are designed for letter-size documents.
Usually the most daring and interesting designs, supplies organizers are meant to keep all your papers, pencils, scissors, pencil sharpeners, staples, and what not neatly organized. In most cases they are very ergonomically and intuitively designed, and they could just be what the doctor ordered for a messy desk.
These are made just for your pens, pencils, and whatever you use to write or draw.
These are just trays for keeping your papers neat and tidy.
As the name suggests, these are meant to keep your little metal friends in one place.
In recent times, many manufacturers started selling organization sets which mostly feature all or some of the items mentioned above. Usually characterized by a unified design, they look serious and tidy, especially in an office space.
Now that you’ve probably realized what type of desk organizer you’re after, the next thing you need to think about is the size of the organizer.
Well, okay, you need to first take into consideration the size of your desk. If it’s a large uncluttered desk with just a few items, size shouldn’t be on the list of your worries.
But if it’s a small or crammed desk with a million little things, you should think about getting a desk organizer which will actually clear up some usable space for work.
After you’ve determined the size of your future desk organizer, we strongly suggest you take note of the actual dimensions. Measuring your desk would be a good idea, as you won’t have to imagine whether a desk organizer will actually fit on the desk.
This is probably the most important thing when choosing the best desk organizer for you. This is also the point where you’ll most likely be guided by your budget. Not all pretty-looking desk organizers are cheap, but the most expensive one isn’t necessarily the best one either.
Also, it all depends on the look and style you want to achieve. Mesh metal products are commonly the cheapest and most generic looking ones, so they are a common sight in office spaces and cubicles. If you need to get a desk well organized without breaking the bank, go for one with mesh metal construction.
There are also a large number of plastic desk organizers out there. Some of them look really nice, while there are also some pretty generic looking ones. Plastic is the easiest material to clean and maintain, and if you care about your environment you can also choose a desk organizer that used recycled plastic.
If you’re looking for something stylish, you probably should go for a desk organizer made of wood. These are really classy and always add a splash of charm to your desk. Wood desk organizers are also the trickiest in terms of cleaning and maintenance.
For those who want something really special, we suggest trying some leather desk organizers. These are probably the classiest of them all, but they are usually not very competitively priced. Also, leather needs special care when it comes to maintenance and cleaning.
In recent times, we’ve seen a growing number of really nice desk organizers made from porcelain. In most cases they look so good even when fully loaded.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, different types of desk organizers serve different purposes. Some are made to do just one thing, like holding all your pencils, or keeping your documents well sorted out.
There are multipurpose organizers as well, and these are quite popular as they conveniently save you space and money. If you’re not sure which one you should choose, why not give one of these a try? It’s still better than the current mess on your table, no?
This is a rather important factor if you’re really working hard at your desk on a regular basis. Durability is usually something people look for when purchasing desk organizers for office spaces, because the daily grind of an office is quite different to working in your cozy home office.
Plastic desk organizers can be really durable, but any type of plastic can get broken. If you’re on the hunt for something really durable, we suggest hunting for metal desk organizers, as they are largely unbreakable.
Mesh ones can also do the job, especially considering the fact that they are mostly cheap so they are easily replaceable.
As wood is pretty much solid, wood desk organizers are pretty durable, but they are mostly beautiful things that you wouldn’t want to ruin with everyday use and abuse.
It’s fairly easy to get lost with multiple neat and sweet decorations that may adorn your desk and your working area. But, in order to get productive, you need to be well organized. A desk organizer will help you do just that.
By using an adequate type of organizer, you will keep all your pens and pencils in one place. If you like drawing, you would use one that can handle as many pencils as possible, along with a few erasers and a pencil sharpener.
If you’re handling quite a lot of paperwork and documents, get a desk organizer with paper trays to keep them well sorted.
If you’re into DIY or simply can’t afford a manufactured desk organizer, why not make one yourself? You can turn cereal boxes into handy organizers for papers and files, for example.
You can also use some old wire mesh and a can of paint to create quite a handsome desk organizer. Cardboard can also be used, with a little imagination, to come up with some pretty amazing desk organizers.
If you stumble upon some old wooden boxes, or even better, if you know how to work with wood, you could make some really stylish desk organizers for your home or your office space.
Old mugs, glasses, or even painted bean cans can double as pencil holders. Cover them up in a little wrapping paper, and you’re done!
As mentioned earlier, some desk organizers are meant for just one purpose, but there are also desk organizer sets which combine different sections for different purposes.
Paper trays are meant to keep all your papers and documents in one place, as they are the easiest to get lost or scattered around your work area.
Pencil holders will hold pens, pencils, and anything shaped like them, even scissors. This is where you keep your most precious tools.
Smaller receptacles, platforms, and storage spaces are usually designed so they can hold all the little bits and pieces which are easily covered up by other things on your desk. These usually include thumbtacks, paper clips, and scotch tape.
Depending on the manufacturer, a desk organizer set can include various pieces of desk organizing equipment.
A set usually includes a tray for papers and documents, and a smaller tray for your business cards. Other than that, it commonly includes a pencil holder and a paperclip holder.
Some sets will also include a holder for post-it notes, or even a multi-section file holder.
There are also sets on the market which come with matching waste paper basket or perhaps a paper weight.
Truth be told, people will always find different ways to use different products. In most cases people put paper in paper trays, pencils in pencil holders, and paperclips in a paperclip holder. Pretty straightforward, don’t you think?
But the great thing about desk organizers is that you don’t really have to follow any rules, as long as you find a way to make you work area clean, tidy and, uncluttered. You can organize your stuff however you want, but use your desk organizer to take care of the mess on your desk.
All things considered, you’ve probably realized so far that the focus of our article is on desk organizers for papers and documents. Sure, there are other fine products out there, but we strongly believe that the best desk organizer is the one which will help you get your papers nice and tidied up.
In light of that, we recommend the Simple Houseware Mesh Desk Organizer, as it provides lots of space for your papers and documents and also helps to keep other items in place. It is a bit bulky, but then again, it’s made of mesh and it’s durable.
If it really doesn’t ring your bell, then why don’t you look at the Officemate OIC Achieva, as it’s made from recycled plastic and looks sleek in any office space. Easy to use and maintain, a total no-brainer.
Either way, these are the best desk organizers we’ve seen this year!
