The makeover your desk actually needs
(Image credit: Target)
By Joseph Bobowicz
published
Working from home is a blessing — as long as you're prepped for it. Indeed, the advent of hybrid and fully remote jobs helped restore a work-life balance many of us had been missing. That is until we discovered just how messy an office-meets-bedroom can get. I, for one, will hold my hands up and admit that until very recently, my study was less than chic. My breaking point? When I had to wade through piles of paperwork and pens just to find my eraser. Not ideal. It was at this moment that I realized I needed to buy a desk organizer.
Before getting down to the shopping, though, I sought a little guidance from an expert to work out what really requires a desk organizer — and what can be kept elsewhere. Then, I went shopping at Target for some treasures. The buys you'll see below are the desk organizers shoppers rate as the best. I've showcased every type of desk-organization tool you can imagine, from wooden caddies to stackable trays, so let this list be your starting point for a lighter, brighter workplace — especially when teamed with these A1 desk-organization tips.
Shoppers love these 9 Target desk organizers for peak productivity
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I reached out to organization buff and founder ofChaos to Order, Monica Friel, for some advice on whatexactly WFHers need. "Where you’re located in the house and how much space you allocate are the first things to consider," she explains. In practice, this might mean asking yourself whether the office is already a little tested for space. If so, get together everything cluttering the desk, and cut out the stuff you haven't used in years.
"Beyond that, the functionality of your desk and what you need at your fingertips comes next," she adds. That means checking if you have a set of drawers, measuring them, and then filling it with drawer organizers. No drawer space? Proceed to the next step. If you're big on files, invest in a file organizer. If you work solely on the cloud, look straight to the monitor stand with storage. You get the picture.
You can browse all of Target's desk organizers or scroll for my edit of the best.
1. Brightroom File Organizer
A desk organizer for files
Made from: Steel
Size (in): H12 x W10 x D4.12
Customer rating: 4.8/5 stars
Whether it's reports, unopened letters, or some useful literature you need close by, it's best kept somewhere easy to reach (and looking orderly). It's no surprise then, that this mesh design tops my list, offering an affordable, modern design, rendered in a classic black color. Plus, thanks to the vertical construction, it's guaranteed to free up space. Build up, not outwards, they say. Oh, and with a smart spot for labeling, it can be teamed up with plenty of other folders without the confusion of forgetting what got put where.
2. Merrick Lane Desk Organizer Set
A desk organizer set
Made from: Wood
Size (in): H7.25 x W9.75 x D6
Customer rating: 4.7/5 stars
Combining three separate pieces into one life-saving set, this design is constructed from solid pine and comes in a selection of subtle but stylish hues. Personally, this white-washed finish is nailing it for me, but there's also a galvanized metal and pine option, plus a black finish and a pared-back rustic brown. As a set-up, it's giving farmhouse aesthetics with a completely contemporary approach to organization. Small, cute, and ergonomic. The dream, right?
3. Brightroom Long Storage Trays
A desk organizer for drawers
Made from: Plastic
Size (in): H2.5 x W10.16 x D3.36
Customer rating: 4.8/5 stars
As we said, if you've got drawers, use them. This three-pack is a must, helping you compartmentalize otherwise feral drawers. Forget pens, pencils, and forgotten bills all strewn into one overstuffed, inoperable drawer. This, my friend, is the future. Made from BPA-free plastic, each tray is aptly sized for stationery, bringing back some much-needed calm to your desk area. After all, what's to say you need anything more than this? If it holds your staple items, you're covered.
4. Threshold Grid Wire Letter Tray
A desk organizer tray
Made from: Steel
Size (in): H3 x W13.81 x D11.13
Customer rating: 4.9/5 stars
Replete with a shimmery brass finish, this design is built with high-quality wiring, offering the perfect balance of pared-back and glam. Ideal for keeping items you need nearby, it's designed like the traditional letter trays — of course, with a stylish twist. Oh, and you'll be pleased to hear it can be stacked on top of others, so should you need more, you're ready to go. Plus, thanks to its easy-on-the-eyes looks, it matches any decor style. Clutter, be gone. Elegant style, welcome home.
5. Threshold Acrylic Desktop Organizer
An acrylic desk organizer
Made from: Acrylic
Size (in): H7.26 x W7.98 x D7.98
Customer rating: 4.9/5 stars
Unless you've gone completely off grid, you probably know that TikTokers have a bit of a thing at the moment for acrylic homewares. And it's easy to see why. Not only do they add a retro-futuristic touch to your desktop, but they're also easy to match with most spaces. This particular design comes with a statement gilded handle and four individual compartments to keep office supplies neat and tidy. Oh, and there's the obvious benefit of anything transparent — it makes it easy to find whatever you're looking for.
6. Brightroom Mesh Monitor Stand
A monitor stand with storage
Made from: Metal
Size (in): H3.81 x W14.56 x D11.06
Customer rating: 4.5/5 stars
If, like many of us, your job or studies involve a fair amount of time pressing buttons on a keyboard, you'll be needing a comfortable setup. Fortunately, a blacked-out monitor stand like this provides an understated and ergonomic solution, requiring no assembly and arriving with a handy pull-out drawer for all your office must-haves. As for its looks, it's a modern design that blends seamlessly with most contemporary spaces. Oh, and it's durable, lightweight, and easy to move for quick desk makeovers.
7. Brightroom Mesh Desktop Organizer
A desk organizer for smaller desks
Made from: Steel
Size (in): H7 x W7 x D6
Customer rating: 4.7/5 stars
With space for your core stationery and letters, this combines three neat sections for items of varying sizes. Together, they make a small but mighty piece ideal for dorm dwellers or anyone with a bedroom closer in size to a Barbie house. I love it in white, which works well with bold and understated desktops. The best part? Users love it, praising its heavy-duty construction and mind-boggling capacity to do so much with so little space.
8. Threshold Desktop Storage Unit
A wooden desk organizer
Made from: Wood
Size (in): H6 x W5 x D13.62
Customer rating: 4.5/5 stars
Serving reclaimed-vintage chic, this savvy little caddy is a must for anyone that prefers a rustic aesthetic. After all, it's your office. There's no reason you can't ditch the otherwise sterile feel of a corporate workplace for something a little homier. Bringing together three compartments, it's made with medium-density fiberboard, promising plenty years of wear. Plus, shoppers say it can fit an impressive amount of items. Oh, and that wood-grain finish is always a winner.
9. Brightroom Stacking Letter Tray
A stackable desk organizer
Made from: Plastic
Size (in): H2.5 x W12 x D9
Customer rating: 4.2/5 stars
Paperwork, notebooks, or unopened bills (whoops!)... If it needs a temporary or more permanent home, this is your answer. And when it inevitably gets too full, all you need to do is add another to the stack. Yep, this stackable design, which comes in a foggy, translucent render, is ideal for keeping desktops well under control. Minimalist or maximalist, this fits the brief, sliding into any home space seamlessly. Best of all? The stacking function means you can separate your to-do lists from your letters, and everything else you've been avoiding.
Next up: all of Target's organization products you NEED in your cart
Joseph Bobowicz
Freelance Contributor
Working across digital and print publications, Joseph Bobowicz is a London-born writer obsessed with books, culture, and all things new. When he's not writing about fashion fori-Dand theIndependent, he's out sourcing the best homewares to incorporate into any humble abode, fixer-upper, or first-time buy alike.
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