One of the most effective ways to maximize your desk space is to go paperless. Hidden desk ideas are the most minimalist of ways to make the most of small desk organization, with clutter hidden within the desk – and even the desk itself a subtle addition to a room. 'If there’s space for slimline desk organizer drawers beneath the desk, use internal organizers to keep contents under control and prevent smaller items like pens and staples getting lost at the back of drawers.’Ī portable cart next to the desk adds storage and can be wheeled out of the way and ‘parked’ elsewhere when not in use. If you work with lots of paper, get some in-trays to separate work projects and home paperwork,’ says designer Dyfed Price, of Morph Interior (opens in new tab). ‘Try to only have out want you need for the task in hand. With less room to spread out, it’s more important than ever to keep it clear. To organize a small desk and, more importantly, keep it that way, you need to embrace a tidy mindset. Allocating a place for everything will take the stress out of logging in the following morning. Ensuring ample storage close to hand will speedy up the process but don’t be tempted to sweep everything into a drawer.

In practice it may take a little while to master, but the five-minute task is a great way to transition your brain from work to home mode on the days you don’t commute. You might even consider investing in a built-in screen lift, which will electronically hides the monitor down inside the desk at the press of a switch. The process is simple, at the end of each day you clear the workspace down, only leaving permanent fixtures like IT equipment on show. However, it’s a great working practice that translates well in the home, helping to prevent documents, print outs and notepads piling up over the weeks.

In the workplace a clean desk policy is generally more about removing sensitive business information and putting important files back where others can find them than tidiness.

Designing a home office without a desk