As someone who has fought a long and hard war with cable clutter well before I ever started writing for Apartment Therapy, blogger, Marji Roy's before and after project impressed me by forgoing off-the-shelf cord/cable hiding solutions and devising something unique to her husband's home office needs using IKEA storage modified to keep everything neatly out of view, while also well ventilated...
Marji Roy of Ashbee Design shares:
This is where the rechargeable batteries, the camera batteries, the jawbones speaker, the vacuum cleaner battery and two laptops get charged. This also where the external hard disks are for backing up the laptops as well. It is a busy corner. It is not a beautiful sight. He asked if I would find a better solution and I was more than happy to help. (How often does your husband invite you to organize their space?)The parameters were:
- Stuff be out of sight but still easily accessible. Sometimes the chargers have to be unplugged to travel with us.
- Flexible - Who knows what that shape of the charger for the next gizmo will be?
- Expandable - This collection certainly isn't decreasing!
- Masculine in style
Marji's project is ingenious for its simplicity and effectiveness. I think I would have tried to make holes instead of the more elegant raised top finish, which allows for easier access and better ventilation.
See many more photos, details, and descriptions over at Ashbee Design's Organizing • Charging Station project.
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Thanks for adding those additional links. I was looking for the Room and Board option that was included in the 'Our Favorite Cord Control Gutter & Trays' post.
Love it! I recently purchased a desk with a flip-up section in the back to "hide cord" clutter - which I quickly discovered only works for access if I never need to use the rear 8" of desk space. I will definitely be trying this out - maybe with less expensive photo boxes from Michael's until I know the solution will work for me...unlike the $150.00 desk investment...Thanks for the inspiration!
I tested the idea with a plastic storage box from the closet. From that test I learned 2 things- yes, the solution worked for my husband, and I couldn't cut through the plastic with an xacto blade - much tougher than I thought. I purchased the boxes shown in the post at IKEA for $9.99. They were hugely affordable!
I like the idea but the containers look like maybe not the best idea. My laptop (and my previous phone) could get warm when running and also the charger gets warm so not sure I'd want to have it all on fabric and in a box. Maybe if the liner was gone and the mesh baskets allowed decent air flow?
I do like the look though.
I agree with deir. Air flow would certainly be an issue, but it would be easily solved with a looser mesh basket and no liner.