10 Desk Organizers You Can Make That Are Prettier Than What You Can Buy

published Sep 22, 2016

Page URL

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

As a kid, few things were more thrilling than a fresh Lisa Frank folder and a batch of new Milky Pens for the first day of school. As an adult, with the number of years since we graduated high school seeming to grow at an exponential rate, we can only attempt to spark that same excitement for “back to school” season with DIY desk accessories for our grown-up offices. Each of these stylish organizers will stash your supplies, without taking up valuable desk space. Grab some glue and your Lisa Frank adult coloring book—ok, so not much has changed—and get to work!

(Image credit: Poppytalk)

Plywood and dowels come together to form a Scandi-style desk organizer that looks much more expensive than the sum of its parts. Find the full how-to on Poppytalk.<a href="http://www.poppytalk.com/2015/01/diy-desk-organizer.html</a>.</p>%0A<!--%20image:8633a85297aaf495f780a0e611aee25d7db0fc59%20w:540%20s:" fit class_name: show_pin_button: show_image_credits:>

<a href="http://www.poppytalk.com/2015/01/diy-desk-organizer.html</a>.</p>%0A<!--%20image:8633a85297aaf495f780a0e611aee25d7db0fc59%20w:540%20s:" fit class_name: show_pin_button: show_image_credits:> Inspired by a $300 Anthropologie wall organizer, Lisa from Make My Lemonade decided to DIY her own for about one-tenth of the cost.

(Image credit: Sugar & Cloth)

A combo cork board and catchall, this system from Sugar & Cloth is going to keep your desk remarkably tidy.

(Image credit: Burkatron)

An on-the-wall organizer takes up no space at all in a tiny home office. Get the step-by-step instructions on Burkatron.

(Image credit: Fabric Paper Glue)

Bring your decluttering mission to the next level with a floor-to-ceiling pegboard. Mandy from Fabric Paper Glue attached wire baskets and shelves to hers to keep supplies off her impressively clean workspace.

(Image credit: Design Sponge)

You don't need a sewing machine to make this fabric wall organizer from Design*Sponge; the felt pockets are hand-stitched to a canvas drop cloth using heavy-weight thread.

(Image credit: The Lovely Drawer)

Adjust The Lovely Drawer's instructions for this organizer to make as many pockets as you'll need for all of your supplies.

(Image credit: eHow)

For a grown-up take on the classic bulletin board, make this fabric memo board with nailhead trim from eHow.

(Image credit: VT Wonen)

The clean lines of this wooden organizer spotted on VT Wonen will make your desk look instantly neater. Just click "translate" to read through the tutorial.

(Image credit: Coco Kelly)

If you've been coveting one of those metal grid organizers showing up in stores lately, check out this affordable DIY version. Cathy from Coco Kelly used metal fencing from a farm supply company to make the one above, but you can also pick up similar metal mesh at the hardware store.