Organizing your desk is one of the best ways to express yourself. Besides, if you’re staying in one space for a good chunk of the week, might as well make it work for you, right?
Here are some ideas to make your workspace not just a conducive space, but also a beautifully decorated one—according to your occupation.
Freelance Maven
We get it—being your own boss holds so much responsibilities. From answering e-mails, planning months and weeks’ worth of work, managing different projects, to doing admin work that requires hours of focus, it’s impossible to stay sane without a space that inspires you to work efficiently and get things done in time. For the freelance maven, we kept the colors simple with a visually pleasing pastel-themed palette.
Using a desk planner helps you plot out your year and see the bigger picture. What are the things you need to finish? Any projects starting at a specific quarter of the year? Let this be your go-to schedule board for those important dates to remember.
Make your days brighter with some wall art. Let these quote cards and colorful postcards inspire you to do great things.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. KIKKI.K Desk Calendar, P1295, Noteworthy, The Podium. 2. KIKKI.K Postcards, P795, Noteworthy, The Podium.
Got important notes to take down? Keep a set of sticky notes handy on your desk, or jot them down on a portable-sized dry erase board.
Proper storage is key to maximizing your desk space. Store small objects, like paperclips, inside these nifty bowls to keep them within reach while you work. For papers, card stock, and receipts, file them neatly in a holder that keeps them in place.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. KIKKI.K Heart notepad, P795, Noteworthy, The Podium. 2. Golden dry erase desktop to-do, P1090, Noteworthy, The Podium. 3. CATASTROPHE BY CAT ARAMBULO Paper clips, P320, Noteworthy, The Podium. 4. KIKKI.K Porcelain bowls, P819.95, Noteworthy, The Podium. 5. HAPPILY EVER PAPER Desk organizer, P1725, Noteworthy, The Podium
Pastel highlighters make it extra fun to highlight important tasks you need to accomplish. Get one in every color and keep your journal color-coded accordingly.
Have some books and magazines on hand for days when you want to get a dose of creative inspiration—and stay caffeinated with a pretty pink mug, perfect for your cup of coffee or tea.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. STABILO Pastel highlighters, P49.75 each, Noteworthy, The Podium. 2. ABC Magazine, P250, Noteworthy, The Podium. 3. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham, P845, Noteworthy, The Podium. 4. What's a Hostess to Do by Susan Spungen, P895, Powerbooks, The Podium. 5. KIKKI.K Mug set, P995, Noteworthy, The Podium.
Corporate Queen
Working in a corporate setting doesn’t have to look boring. Having bursts of color and pattern to break the monotony makes all the difference. This space is a mix of classic and modern pieces that overall creates a polished and professional look. Indeed, you can never go wrong with neutral shades.
Embellish your space with patterned pieces of the same color (in this case, white and gold) to make it look cohesive yet playful at the same time.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. KATE SPADE Pencil set, P1799, Powerbooks, The Podium. 2. KATE SPADE Tumbler, P1599, Powerbooks, The Podium.
Keep your desk looking neat with clear dispensers to hold your tools in place.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. KATE SPADE Pen holder, P2199, Powerbooks, The Podium. 2. KATE SPADE Tape dispenser, P2199, Powerbooks, The Podium.
Get organized! Update your work schedule from time to time on an undated planner pad to keep your tasks and errands in check. Store papers and pens on a document tray for easier filing, and hold them altogether with a paper weight that doubles as a statement piece, too. Plus, these reporter notebooks are great for office notes and mundane tasks you need to finish at work.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. GARANCE DORE Notebook set, P1095, Noteworthy, The Podium. 2. JETBLOCK Monthly planner and supply caddy, P1490, Noteworthy, The Podium. 3. JETBLOCK Desk organizer, P1725, Noteworthy, The Podium. 4. KATE SPADE Ampersand paper weight, P2499, Powerbooks, The Podium.
Artsy Creative Director
Creating a functional desk space for a designer can go both ways—some prefer keeping it simple and minimal, but in my case, it always ends up being a hodge podge of elements combined into a distinctly unique workspace. This space is an ode to the “creative mess,” one where anything goes, but at the same time, making it look put together.
Set aside a to-read pile for creative ideas to come through. These titles are great references for that new idea you’ve been probably brewing for quite a while now.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. Epic Drives Around the World by Lonely Planet, P1995, Powerbooks, The Podium. 2. Dare to Sketch by Felix Scheinberger, P1225, Powerbooks, The Podium. 3. Draw Your Own Fonts by Tony Seddon, P495, Powerbooks, The Podium. 4. The ABCs of Journaling by Abbey Sy, 350, Noteworthy, The Podium.
Dream of faraway places and put up your own wall full of analog curiosities and whatnots—it definitely adds character to your workspace.
Track your days (and deadlines!) with this aesthetically-pleasing wooden calendar.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. HAPPILY EVER PAPER Desk calendar, P1725, Noteworthy, The Podium.
Mix and match. Who said print on print don’t work together? Pair your tumbler with this colorful coaster and make your work day extra fun.
IMAGE Patrick Martires
1. MOMA Coasters, P2199, Noteworthy, The Podium. 2. KATE SPADE Tumbler, P1599, Noteworthy, The Podium.
Happy decorating!
Abbey Sy is Preview.ph's guest editor for the month of January. This artist and best-selling author is known for her analog-style travel journaling and whimsical illustrations and lettering. You can find her books The ABC of Hand Lettering, The ABCs of Journaling, journaling kits and more of her merchandise at bookstores nationwide and here.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
