
Oh, the joys of workspace organization. Whether you work from home, in a cube, in a corner office, or at a large communal table, the best way to zen out your space is to get it organized. We’re not saying you need to get rid of all that stuff that’s perched under your monitor – you just need to organize it. After all, receipts, old notebooks, and binder clips need a home too.
Here are 25 inventive products and DIY projects to get that desk of yours in tip top shape.
Ceramic Note
4. Zen Garden Organizer ($120): Add a meditative element to your workspace with this garden-meets-caddy.
Urbio Wall Garden + Organizer
7. Pen Zen ($20): Brit actually has one of these happily organizing her desk as we speak… er, write :)
9. Floating Notes ($58): Are your notes and to-do lists more like works of art? Display them as such in this minimal wire organizer.
Cordies Executive
12. Nesting Crate Utensil Holders ($32): Even thought these are listed as utensil holders, how cute would they look on the right desk or work table?
14. It’s About Thames ($55): Why not create a little British (Brit-ish?) landscape for all your desk essentials.
15. Pen Pots ($16): The mason jar on your desk is looking a little worse for the wear – upgrade your workspace with this sweet trio of pen pots.
16. Geo Cutout Letter Storage Bin ($18): This bin looks just as lovely empty as it when it’s filled with notes, notebooks, and other miscellany.
17. Workspace Bunny ($32): How adorable is this fluffy thing? The ears are actually scissors and the carrot is a magnet for keeping paper clips in check.
Stacking Wood Trays
20. Space Bar ($100): Get more out of your limited desk space with the space bar. It’s perfect for storing your phone, extra USB ports, etc.
21. Maple Wood Desk Accessories (priced as configured): This beautiful sweet of caddies is lovingly made from maple.
22. Granite Desk Toppers ($18): More of a minimalist? This trio of granite toppers will take care of your pen, your paper clips, and a business card or two. But if you’re this minimal, what use do you have for paper clips?
23. Salvaged Wood Organizer ($59): This piece has a place for your pens, pencils, and all sorts of other chotchkies.
Desk Organizer Tray
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.