The IKEA Book Storage Hack That Keeps Your Desktop Organized And Clutter-Free

An organized desktop is the key to a productive workday. In fact, a 2017 study published by Current Psychology revealed that clutter is associated with higher levels of procrastination. With this in mind, it might be worth revisiting the items you use to organize your desk to make it as neat as possible. If you have a few books that you'd like to keep out on your desk, consider incorporating the IKEA OSTBIT plate holder into your organization system. With this product, you can slide books into the slots to keep them neatly stored upright.

Feel free to stack other office essentials inside the organizer as well such as notepads, folders, or packets of paper. Just place the OSTBIT on your desktop out of the way of your workspace and fill it up with any of those items so that they no longer sit scattered around your office. You will be left with a neat space that's free of distracting clutter. This organization tool may even free up enough space for you to add new home office decor pieces to your desk to make your workspace more cozy and welcoming. You could also use this holder to organize children's books in a playroom or place it on your nightstand in the bedroom for all your late night reads. Another idea is to use it to display cookbooks and cutting boards on your kitchen countertop. 

The IKEA OSTBIT includes six slots. However, you may be able to store more than six books or notebooks in the plate holder in total, as each slot is large enough to hold more than one smaller sized item. Consider purchasing multiple OSTBIT plate holders if you have a large collection of books so that you can store them all. The plate holder is priced at only $5.99, so it's quite an inexpensive and practical choice (especially when compared to the price of a full bookcase).

The OSTBIT's plain bamboo design should work with nearly any office design scheme. However, if you would still like to customize the organizer to add a personal touch, consider coating it with a layer of spray paint in whichever color you prefer. You could also make it a bit more flashy using metallic spray paint, such as the Rust-Oleum Specialty Metallic Spray.

If you'd rather not keep this organizer directly on your desk, you could also store it on a separate surface, like a side table. You could even hang the plate holder vertically on the wall and slide your books onto the rungs. A utility cart can be used in your home to organize office supplies as well, and the Laiensia 3-Tier Storage Cart is an affordable option worth checking out. Place the OSTBIT organizer filled with books on the top tier and then stow away anything that contributes to excess clutter on the other shelves. This rolling cart could sit directly next to your desk, keeping your essentials accessible but still out of the way.