When you’re a college student, you spend a fair amount of time at your desk. And, in most cases, a dorm room is a SMALL space. Proper dorm desk organization is key to maximizing productivity and efficiency.
I’ve rounded up my favorite tips, products and ideas for organizing a dorm desk. Read on and get inspired!
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1. Declutter Your Desk Area First
If you’re starting with a cluttered desk, the first step is ALWAYS to declutter. It won’t take a lot of time, but it’s critical for maximizing your desk’s limited space and starting fresh.
Here’s how to declutter your desk:
- Find and toss all trash.
- Remove all items from the drawers and desktop and wipe everything down.
- Put away any items that don’t belong on or in the desk (like clothing and towels).
- Sort all remaining items into groups: pens/pencils/highlighters, notebooks, textbooks, important documents, sticky notes, staplers/scissors, etc.
Step 1 is done! Congrats!
The next step will be how to create zones where these groups will live, so your desk stays organized long-term.
2. Create Zones for Perfect Dorm Desk Organization
Zones are categories of items we store based on their use or type. Zone organization is very efficient because it works with your daily habits. It’s a great way to create a study space you’ll love to use.
Take a look at the groups of items you created in Step 1. These will be stored in zones so you always know where to look for specific items.
Here are some common zones for dorm desks:
- Pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, lead for mechanical pencils, Sharpies
- Paper clips, stapler, staples, staple remover, binder clips
- Pads of paper, sticky notes, notebooks, 3×5 cards
- Scissors, glue, tape
- Calculator, ruler
- Phone and device chargers, charging cables
- Stationery
Next, look at the desk space you have.
If you have drawers, you can create zones with the most-used items (like pens and pencils) in the top drawers and less-used items (like stationery and glue) in the bottom.
If you don’t have drawers, you can use organizers to keep your desktop as clutter-free as possible — keep reading for ideas!
Psst: Zone organizing works for your entire college dorm room. Learn more about creating zones here.
3. Store School Supplies in Drawer Organizers
A small dorm room typically houses an equally small desk. An important dorm desk organization tip: keep the desktop clear of clutter.
A clear desktop is a calming space that makes it much easier to study, take notes, write essays, etc.
To clear the clutter, take advantage of drawer space for small items like school supplies and personal items.
Drawer organizers are a MUST for keeping your desk drawer neat and tidy.
I recommend measuring your drawer’s length, width and depth before purchasing a drawer organizer.
I’m a big fan of adjustable or interlocking organizers because they can be configured in multiple ways to fit your items. Here are some examples:
4. Use a Vertical Desk Organizer
Whenever I’m organizing a small space, I always look UP. In other words, I use as much vertical space as possible. Going vertical is the best way to squeeze extra storage space out of a tiny dorm room.
If your dorm desk lacks a bookshelf, you can opt for a vertical desk organizer like this:
I like this option because you can adjust it to fit your space and items.
You can also try a desk hutch (be sure to measure your desk first to make sure it’ll fit!
5. Add Adhesive Floating Shelves to Open Wall Space
Another great idea for adding storage above your dorm desk: floating shelves. You can put these up with Command strips that won’t damage dorm walls.
They offer extra space to store small items like pens and pencils, a clock or toiletries. I love this look from Pottery Barn:
You can find similar shelves on Amazon.
6. Try a Desk Lamp with Storage
Keep your dorm desk decluttered with a desk lamp with built-in storage. This option comes in wood, white or black and has storage for pens and pencils.
Even better, it comes with USB-A and USB-C charging ports and an AC outlet. This means you won’t need an additional charging station for your phone or tablet.
7. Install a Freestanding Cork Board
Cork boards are perfect for pinning important reminders, invites, photos and more. And they keep your desk free from clutter, too. This freestanding option sits nicely on a desktop or bookshelf without taking up a lot of space:
8. Hang an Under Desk Magazine Holder
Don’t forget the precious space under or down the side of your desk! Consider a magazine holder that clamps to your desk. It’s the perfect place for notebooks, college books or even personal items you don’t want on top of your desk.
9. Add Adjustable Cube Storage Under Your Desk
I love smart storage solutions like this! Stack these cubes anywhere you have some extra floor space. They can fit under your desk or next to it, and offer plenty of space for small office supplies, a water bottle, snacks and other dorm room essentials.
They’re easy to assemble and disassemble, so you’ll be able to move them easily at the end of the year.
10. Free Up Desk Space with a Laptop Stand
Park your laptop in a simple stand. This is another way to use vertical storage to keep your dorm desk decluttered.
11. Use a Rolling Utility Cart as a Side Table
A slim rolling cart adds a TON of vertical storage without taking up a lot of floor space. Roll it up next to your desk and you can use it as a side table for extra school supplies, snacks, personal items and more.
12. Keep a Dorm Room Desk Neat with Wicker Basket Storage
A simple wicker or plastic storage basket can store categories of items, making it easier for you to find what you need quickly. Use one for cosmetics or skincare, another for jewelry and accessories, etc.
13. Store Your Power Strip in an Under Desk Cable Tray
Those power strips, cables and chargers can easily become a cluttered mess on your desk. Keep them all tidy and hidden from sight with a clamp-on cable tray.
14. Only Keep Your Dorm Desk Essentials in the Space
Dorm desks quickly become dumping grounds for clothes and other items. Make it a point to keep only what you need for an organized desk in this space.
Add hanging storage to your closet, use Command hooks on your walls or inside of your closet door, and find other ways to store non-desk items OFF your desk.
15. Use Labels to Stay Organized
If you use storage baskets or bins to organize your desk, be sure to label them! Labels help remind you where things belong when you’re tempted to toss them in the wrong bin. Try a label maker or clip-on chalk labels like these:
There you are! The best dorm desk ideas to keep you organized all year long. Happy organizing!
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Last update on 2024-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
