5 Easy Ways To Improve Your Desk Cable Management

There’s something magical about working in an office environment that’s clutter-free. Whether your workspace is a home office, you go into the office, or a bit of both, an organized office helps you work smarter, be more efficient, and boost your productivity.

Now more than ever, people are setting up office spaces in their residences; the number of people who work from home has tripled from 5.7% to 17.9%. There’s no more “leaving work at work” when your deskspace is integrated into your living room, kitchen, or dedicated home office. This may have an unexpected impact on your “hours off.”

Office clutter creates stress, and disorganization can prevent you from doing your best work. In one 2018 study, a clean, organized desk was linked to enhanced job satisfaction and productivity. How’s that for working smart?

If you work from home, you stand to benefit the most from an organized space that promotes work-from-home balance.

Organization means different things to different people. To some, a cleared-off desk with enough space to work is adequate. To others, a truly organized office means one tricked out with an ergonomic chair, a standing desk, a place for accessories, and an organized desk cable management system. Only you know the level of office organization you need to function best.

There are dozens of organization hacks and tips for getting your office in tip-top shape, but one area that seems to plague us all is desk cable management. No matter how much effort goes into creating a well-organized, streamlined workspace, the final touches are in the details. Even organization gurus with the best intentions can struggle with desk cable management.

With some creativity, a few well-designed accessories, and some DIY organization, you can tackle cable management, and your office can feel like the zen-like work haven you’ve always wanted.

Managing cables on your desk starts with, well, the desk! With more people working from home, there are more modern, functional office desk options than ever, and standing desks can have huge health benefits. According to one study, research suggests that standing desks might help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Features, such as adjustable height settings and built-in cable management details, give options for routing cables and let you customize and maximize your workspace.

Aside from the desk itself, managing the cables in your office simply comes down to a little time and the help of a few accessories that come in handy.

Here are five ways to manage the cables on your desk:

The first step to an organized office and managing cables is to free up as much desk space as possible. No drawers in your desk? No problem. That’s where a desk caddy comes in handy.

This Desk Caddy puts the fun in functional, sporting a toolbox design that’s perfect for tossing in small items. Clutter never looked so good. It comes in six colors, including warm terracotta red — if bright colors are your thing. Or, choose from cooler colors like frost, moss, linen, stone, and more.

The Desk Caddy is great for tucking away chargers, Post-it notes, and other odds and ends. Set it on a tabletop or stand-up desk, or pop it on a shelf. Keep all your supplies close by, not scattered on your workstation.

Have you ever lost an adapter or a dongle? Professional organizers say if items have a specifically designated spot, they are less likely to be misplaced. The best way to avoid losing or misplacing office supplies, like adapters, dongles, and thumb drives, is to get a simple desktop organizer. There’s something to be said for being able to find items when you need them.

Check out this Desktop Organizer. Leaning towards a minimalist design, it has a small footprint on your desk, table, or shelf but provides just the right amount of storage capacity. This is one of the most sturdy organizers, made out of steel, with a pencil cup and wooden tray.

One of the best inventions for cable management is an In-Desk Power enclosure. Equipped with five AC outlets and a USB-C and USB-B port. This is a wise investment if you want to take cord management to the next level.

The perfect addition to a standing desk or working table, the In-Desk Power accessory gets rave reviews as a cable management solution: Desk cable management just got a lot easier.

Tired of charging cords stretched across your office? De-clutter with a Wireless Charging Tray. With a sleek design and slate color, this charging station does triple duty, charging up to three devices simultaneously. Silicone tread and made of aluminum, the smart design ensures your charging cords will stay put.

Take back your power from boring power strips. Small, sleek, stylish, colorful, and made to last — meet Freestanding Power — the power supply with personality! This accessory is a must-have for any office that values form and function when it comes to cable management.

The sturdy, high-quality knit cable comes in two tones to pick from. It’s supported by a solid steel base that’s powder-coated in a variety of colors to coordinate with the rest of your office decor.

Cables can create chaos, especially when you have multiple lengthy cords running everywhere. Even if you have the most beautiful office furniture, freshly painted walls, and gallery-worthy office wall art, cables are unsightly. Let’s face it: Disorganized cables and cords are the fastest way to ruin a well-designed office aesthetic.

Besides creating a cluttered space, offices without cable wire management can pose hazards, creating liability in the workplace and potentially a compromised safety situation in your home office. In fact, tripping over cords is the most common workplace injury.

So, which is the best cable management system? The best system is one you will use and one that’s easy to maintain. It only matters that your system is safe, functional, and a stellar work environment.

Whether you choose an innovative DIY version of an organization product and create your own cable and cord management system, or you’d prefer to keep it simple and purchase a few gadgets to get your organization done right, here are a few ideas for getting, and keeping your cables under control.

For anyone who hates the sight of clutter, the cable management sleeve tip can’t be overlooked when it comes to cord management. This product is designed to keep wires protected, untangled, and out of sight.

The most common size is 19.25 inches (but many others are available); sleeves are sold as singles or in a bundle pack. Simply place the cables in the sleeve and zip it closed, providing easy access when you need to access cables or reorganize.

Coming in many different styles, materials, and sizes, cord covers can conceal everything from monitor cords to TV cords to chargers. Some styles are paintable, allowing you to blend the cord cover with the room decor.

These can come in everything from fabric cases that pack away to cord organizers that are made to sit on your desk or shelf to products designed with cable clips.

Wrapping long cables so that there aren’t stray cords strewn all over the floor is a bright idea, but only if they are wrapped correctly. Improper cable wrapping can cause damage to the wires. Do your cables a favor, and be sure not to twist or allow the kinks in the cord.

After winding cables, or bundling them together, clear the clutter with a fastening material to act as cable ties, also referred to as zip ties.

Traditional cable ties are typically made of nylon material and are often a top choice to tie and secure cables, cords, and other unruly wires. These are most commonly sold in white or black.

Velcro material also works well as a cable tie. Techies love velcro for one simple reason: You don’t need scissors to cut the material, making reusing velcro ties a snap. These ties come in a wide variety of colors, making it easy to tag and classify certain categories of electronics. However, one downside is the velcro material can wear out over time.

Cable clips are excellent at securing bundles of the strongest and most unruly wires. Typically made out of steel or other hard surface material, cable clips can be paired with wall mounts, and they’re great for heavy-duty bundling of cables. They can also double as cable holders.

If you have lots of wires, cables, and chargers routed in your office or have a stash of extra cables stored, consider purchasing some labels. Cable labels go a long way when you’re in a hurry, your charger dies, or you’re looking for the right one in a box of chargers. Label lovers everywhere swear by this organization hack.

Self-adhesive labels are available in a wide variety of colors, and many come in reusable peel-and-stick forms.

• Pro tip: If you label all of your chargers with one single color, it makes it harder for family members or visitors to accidentally take them.

What about cables you don’t frequently use but need to store and access? You can do a simple DIY system or up your cable storage game and take it to the next level.

Check out these tips:

Entertainment center: For those unused cables you only need once or twice a year, one way to get them out of your office is to stash them in your entertainment center in a box or clear container or even a shoe box. This is one example where labeling cables and cords is critical. When you need it, you’ll know right where to find it.

• Cable management box: How many cables and cords do you own? Between phone chargers, power cords, tablet chargers, and more, it seems we never have enough outlets for the cables we use (and sometimes charge). Add power strips, extension cords, and surge protectors, and it can start to feel overwhelming. A cable management box takes care of this and is a great option for stowing cords away, and there are many designs available. Typically in two options, black and white, some come bundled with cable ties.

• Cable management tray: Trays used for storing and stowing unsightly cables can be mounted under a desk. Well-suited for space saving and available in a variety of designs and sizes, trays can be found in plastic and aluminum material.

These trays can come with a modesty panel that provides a cover. Options are most commonly found in black and white.

Putting time and energy into an organized office and a cable management system is worth considering the benefits. Keep in mind the basic elements of desk cord management, including utilizing products and accessories created for this purpose, wrapping and storing cables properly, using cable ties and labels, and adding in your own DIY style.

You’ll thank yourself for creating an office environment that’s low stress, spurs higher productivity, and feels safe, clutter-free, and beautiful!

Sources:

The Number of People Primarily Working From Home Tripled Between 2019 and 2021 | United States Census Bureau

Are Standing Desks Better For You? | Cleveland Clinic

What are the Top Injuries in a Typical Office and How Can You Avoid Them? | Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Impact of cleanliness on the productivity of employees | ResearchGate