Ideas for Organizing a Desk for a Teenager

Above-Desk Shelf

• Install a simple shelf above the teen's desk using a shelf equipped with L-brackets. A simple shelf increases the amount of space the teen has to work with without increasing the desk's footprint in the room. A above-desk shelf can hold papers and a small number of books, as well as any supplies not used every day and thus can be placed somewhere less accessible.

Drawer dividers

• Pencils, pens, thumb drives, paper clips and staples are some of the things the teen may wish to keep in her desk. These small objects can quickly turn into a messy jumble in the desk drawer unless they are separated. Keep all of these objects separate and close to hand by placing a drawer divider inside the drawer. This organizational tool separates the drawer into several segments and helps keep everything tidy.

Cork Board

• Mount a cork board on the wall next to the teen's desk. A cork board gives him a place to pin or tack papers, keeping them from getting mixed up on the desk. A cork board can be used to store homework assignments until they are done, and it has the advantage of keeping the assignments at eye-level until they are taken down and dealt with.

File Box

• Place a file box under the desk and out of the way. The teen can use the file box to store papers that she does not want to get rid of but does not need to keep in immediate view. A file box cuts down on the spare papers floating around on the teen's desk. Allow the teen to decorate the box with stickers or using decoupage to help it match the rest of her room.