You Never Thought To Use These IKEA Home Items To Keep Your Office Organized

Clever storage solutions sometimes encourage us to think outside the box. While you may have come across ways to repurpose office supplies around your home, have you considered the reverse: using ordinary home supplies as organizational tools for your office? Rather than splurging on a home office reno with fancy cork boards or custom desktop organizers, you might be able to snag some home essentials for an affordable price from places like IKEA and transform them into the perfect space-saving repositories. Of course, if you have some of these popular home items lying around, you can always repurpose them, too.

The main draw of turning something as mundane as a cutting board into a desktop feature is that you might be able to save money on something that offers enhanced functionality while also appearing custom-built. IKEA can also be a great place to source these items if you're working on a budget. While not every IKEA item in the same category will work for a specific project, you might be able to find some suitable swaps if need be. For example, if you're not a fan of a certain IKEA shoe organizer for your office supplies, you could likely choose an alternative IKEA shoe organizer to achieve the same goal.

A clever yet tried-and-true way to spruce up a home office is to give your desk a facelift with a wooden countertop. Many folks have sourced wood countertops to fit their existing desks, enhancing their look or adding more surface area to the space by allowing them to create a custom workspace. The IKEA KARLBY countertop comes with three different wood veneers, oak, birch, and walnut, with sizes ranging from 74 to 98 inches in length, so you can nail the aesthetic you prefer. 

Cable management can make or break an organized office setup. From tripping hazards to downright eyesores, exposed cables running along the floor and winding up the desk can be a distraction. While there are several cord management techniques to choose from, turning the IKEA VARIERA plastic bag dispenser into a cord capsule is perhaps one of the more clever solutions. Using adhesive strips, assemble and attach the VARIERA dispenser to the underside of your desk, and easily slot cords through the gaps to keep them off the floor.

A classic and simple solution for keeping your home office organized is to tackle those pesky desk drawers, which can quickly become a catch-all. Thankfully, drawer organizers aren't just for kitchens anymore, and you can try one in your office instead. IKEA has plenty of flatware organizers made of different materials and of varying sizes, so you can find the one that best fits snugly inside your desk drawers. The IKEA STÖDJA flatware tray is a good option because the plastic is easy to clean with a damp cloth, and the 11-by-20-inch size is suitable for many desks.

Those on a tight budget or with limited space in a small office could benefit from a seemingly custom-built-in storage solution. Using the IKEA TRONES shoe cabinet, which comes with two attached shoe storage units retailing for $39.99, you can mount the ensemble on the wall to save space. Add some flooring samples or a slim piece of wood as a decorative shelf to the top of the organizer for a more refined look. You can fill them with baskets of pens, notebooks, sticky notes, or any other office supplies you have.

Monitor rises can be super beneficial for the home office, allowing your desktop to be slightly more ergonomic. But instead of spending money on a cheap or unappealing riser, some folks have opted to use the IKEA STOLTHET cutting board instead. The bamboo cutting board measures 13¾ inches by 8¾ inches, with 2½-inch built-in risers. Instead of using this piece in the kitchen, consider shifting it to the office to add a bit of texture and functionality to your space.

Many folks know they should use their walls to maximize small home office spaces. But finding clever space-saving solutions can be tricky. One method to try uses the IKEA KVISSLE magazine holder for slim wall storage. Rather than use it for magazines or as a mail holder, consider putting it to work, holding pens, labels, ink cartridges, extra printer supplies, or small notebooks. This wall system could also hold things like loose cords or electronics to keep items vertical and off your desktop.

The IKEA OSTBIT plate holder has gone viral for being one of the most versatile organizers. While intended to store plates, many folks have gotten creative, turning it into an office organizer. One example is creating a gorgeous bookshelf using the rack's rungs. Attach the dish rack vertically to the wall, then slot your favorite books or current reads in between the rungs to create a handy organizer. You could also store notebooks with this method, if you prefer. Hanging the ensemble near your desk could keep your must-haves within easy reach.

Head to IKEA and source a small, flexible bamboo placemat to turn into an adorable desktop storage box. The IKEA MÄVINN placemat is a colorful variant, but the brand often has similar bamboo placemats throughout the year. Using small cut pieces of wood to create stability, you'll cut strips of the placemat in matching lengths to cover the sides. Glue them into place, then fold the rest of the placemat around the two wooden sides to create the box shape and lid. Add a buckle or a tassel to polish it off.

If you have a lot of small items to stash in your home office, you could consider using glass kitchen carafes as storage containers. IKEA's 365+ kitchen series includes 34-oz glass carafes with cork stoppers that could be suitable for holding loose craft supplies or small office items like paper clips, binder clips, or rubber bands. The carafes might be meant for dining, but they can double as gorgeous storage pieces that sit on your shelf or desktop for easy access to small items that would otherwise take up drawer space.

A clever way to store paper rolls, string, or other rolled craft supplies in your home office is to use a wall-mounted toilet paper holder. IKEA sells a few different holders, but the stainless steel IKEA BROGRUND looks pretty classic. You can slip rolls of labels, stickers, receipt tape, or shipping supplies on the holder just as you would a toilet paper roll. Some creators have also used a LILLASJÖN hidden toilet paper holder with a small shelf to use for custom roll storage. However, it may not be available in every location.