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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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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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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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!
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:
