Having a disorganized desk can be such a nightmare, especially when essential documents start getting lost or misplaced. If you hate working when the environment is chaotic, a disorderly desk gets even more stressful to see and manage.
Not to worry, though. With a DIY wooden desk organizer, you can easily arrange your files, stationery, and other office items. Gone are the days of constantly fixing your desk, only for your stuff to get jumbled up again.
DIY Wooden Desk Organizer Ideas
If you want to know how to make your wooden desk organizer, here are two DIY options you may want to try.
1. DIY Wood Desk Organizer
If you’re looking for a compact yet versatile organizer to store bills, envelopes, pens, and even your phone in, this DIY organizer is the one for you.
This organizer is easy to make and can be assembled even with scrap materials lying around at home.
What’s more, with the right design and embellishments, this DIY desk organizer can serve as a classy and beautiful ornament on your desk.
What You’ll Need
Here are the materials and tools needed for this project:
- Scrap wood or plywood, divided into the following:
- Three 3 x 3.5” pieces
- Two 13 x 3.5” pieces
- One 9.5 x 2.5” piece
- One 9.5 x 1.5” piece
- One 3.5 x 3.75” piece
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Hand saw
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Painter’s tape
- Paint
What You Need To Do
To make this desk organizer, simply follow these steps:
- Step #1: Measure, Cut, and Sand
Measure the dimensions outlined above, and cut the wood accordingly using a hand saw. Sand the edges of each wooden piece.
- Step #2: Glue and Assemble
Start with getting the three 3 x 3.5” pieces. Glue the pieces along the edges such that they form a U shape after gluing. It will serve as your desk organizer’s pencil holder. Let dry before proceeding.
Next, get one 13 x 3.5” piece. Put wooden glue along the perimeter of the pencil holder or the sides that trace the letter U.
Then, glue it face down on the rightmost side of one of the 13 x 3.5” pieces. The long plank will serve as the base of your pencil holder.
Get the other 13 x 3.5” piece. It will close the pencil holder and serve as the back part of your organizer. Place the 13 x 3.5” piece perpendicular to the long edge of the other 13 x 3.5” piece.
Place glue on the bottom edge of this piece to keep it in place. You may also put glue on the area of the pencil holder that touches it—the top of the letter U, which will look like a square when the long plank is placed.
Using a pencil and ruler, mark the middle area of the base of the organizer. It is where you will place the central divider.
Get the 9.5 x 2.5” piece, which will serve as the central divider of your organizer. Using glue on its bottom edge, attach it horizontally along the center of the organizer’s base, following the marking you made earlier.
Get the 9.5 x 1.5” piece, which will serve as the front of your desk organizer. Align it with the front of your pencil holder, and then glue it to the organizer’s base.
You may also put glue on the side that touches the pencil holder for added stability. Finally, attach the 3.5 x 3.75” piece at the left side of the organizer to close it.
- Step #3: Design
At this point, you may design the organizer as you see fit. For minimal yet elegant embellishments, we recommend painting the visible edges of the organizer with the paint of your choice.
You may also use painter’s tape on the areas you won’t be painting to make sure they won’t accidentally get paint on them.
2. DIY Adjustable Desktop Organizer
If you want something a bit more flexible in terms of design and setup, you’ll definitely like this adjustable desktop organizer. Made with two separate shelves, you can arrange this desktop organizer however you like.
It’s also quite spacious, so it can accommodate different items you have on your work desk. The best part? It is very easy to make, too.
There are no complicated steps or materials, just a few pieces of wood, along with some glue, nails, and screws.
What You’ll Need
To create this desktop organizer, here are the materials and tools you have to prepare:
- One 1 x 6 board, divided into:
- Three 12” pieces
- Two 11 ¼” pieces
- Two 3” pieces
- Kreg pocket hole jig
- 1 ¼” pocket hole screws
- 1 ¼” brad nails
- Brad nailer
- Wood glue
- Wood stain or paint
What You Need To Do
Here are the instructions for creating this DIY adjustable desk organizer:
- Step #1: Create Horizontal Shelves
Get the three 12” pieces, and drill three pocket holes into one end of each one.
Note: These long boards will serve as the horizontal shelves for this organizer.
Get one of the pre-drilled 12” pieces, and get one piece of 11 ¼” wood. Put the 11 ¼” piece upright, and, exactly three inches from its bottom, attach the 12” piece perpendicularly.
Use wood glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws to hold the horizontal shelf (12” piece) in place. On the opposite end of the 12” piece, attach one of the 3” pieces. Make sure that this piece will allow the shelf to stand upright.
- Step #2: Make the Second Shelf
Now, it’s time to work on the second shelf for this desktop organizer.
Note: This shelf will rest on top of the first shelf we made, which is why it’s important to ensure all the sides on the first shelf are equal.
Get the two remaining 12” pieces, as well as the other 11 ¼” piece of wood. Just like in the first shelf, attach the 12” perpendicular to the 11 ¼” piece. However, this time around, it should be 3¾ inches from the bottom of the 11 ¼” piece.
- Step #3: Put Them Together
Next, attach the other 12” piece exactly three inches from the first 12” you attached.
Note: Since space can be quite tight, you can use a right-angle drill to insert the pocket hole screws properly.
Connect the ends of the 12” pieces by attaching the remaining 3” piece between them. Use a clamp if necessary, and then nail the piece into place from above and below.
- Step #4: Finish
Your shelf is finally done! You can paint it or add varnish for design, and you can also stack the two pieces however you want.
Conclusion
You definitely won’t go wrong with either of these DIY wooden desk organizers. With little effort from your end, you can now transform your working space into a more orderly place—one you won’t have any problems working at.