Where would we be without electronics? With more than 2 billion computers in use around the world, for instance, they’ve become a fundamental part of everyday life. We use electronic equipment for everything from communication and navigation to education, work, and entertainment.
Take it away and we’d bet most people would feel bereft! However, being surrounded by tech all day long isn’t 100% hunky-dory. Case and point?
Computer desk cable management.
As you know, the vast majority of IT equipment comes with long, troublesome cables attached. Buy enough electronics and you can soon feel overwhelmed by the tangle of wires on your desk and around your ankles! They’re ugly, unruly, and great at getting in the way.
Know the struggle and want some handy solutions to the problem? Check out our pro tips on dealing with pesky computer cables and you’ll bid the issue farewell in no time.
Post Contents
Go Wireless
The rise of wireless technology provides a quick and easy solution to this problem. You could fill your home with wireless headphones, keyboards, mice, printers, chargers, and so on. With no more wires to worry about, it’d bring an end to the issue once and for all.
However, it’d also be super expensive! And, if your current products still function, it’d be wasteful to chuck them out and invest in new ones simply to eradicate the cables. That’s why we recommend phasing in wireless products on a gradual basis.
Buy them as and when your wired-versions break or become outdated. You’ll end up with the same eventual cable-free outcome, but with less immediate cost and unnecessary waste.
Avoid Lengthy Cables
Not all cables are made equal! Some are well-designed and the perfect length for the task, whereas others are excessive. They extend far beyond what’s practical and cause a world of trouble on or under your desk.
Wherever possible, invest in wired tech products with cables that aren’t too long! Alternatively, you could buy separate, shorter cables to replace the lengthy ones that are in place. You’ll need some practical know-how and the right tools to do it, but you’ll end up with a favorable outcome at home as a result.
Use Cable Ties
Don’t fancy the hassle of cutting and reconnecting extensive cables? You could try good old-fashioned cable ties instead. These tried and tested items provide a quick, simple, and cost-effective solution to the problem.
Put the pliers and wire strippers away. Instead, grab a cable tie, loop the cable into a coil, and use a tie to fix it in place.
Oh, and if you’ve got masses of loose cables to deal with, then you could collect them together into a bunch and bind them using one or two ties. You’d end up with a single thick line of electronic wiring that’d look tidier and be much less annoying to have around.
Put a Hole in Your Desk
The cables on your desk cause trouble because there’s nowhere else to put them. They’re left scattered across the surface, taking up space, and getting in the way! An effective way around this is to create a hole in your desk to put them through.
Of course, you could also purchase a purpose-built computer desk that comes with this feature. It’d be a more expensive option, but you’d avoid a) the hassle of making your own hole and b) the risk of ruining your current workspace.
Top tip: if you do decide to take the DIY approach, be sure to buy a ‘desk grommet’. These useful items are cheap to buy and fit inside the hole to create a more attractive look.
Install a Cable Tray
Not everybody’s prepared to butcher their desk by sawing holes in it though! If you’re the same, then we recommend investing in a desk cable tray instead.
These simple solutions connect to the desk (usually via screws) and hold any cables that usually trail off the back. Aside from moving the wires out of the way, it creates a much neater, tidier, and more professional look. Even better, they’re budget-friendly, easy to fix in place and come in a wide array of styles to restore order to any chaotic array of cables.
Buy a Cable Organizer
Cable organizers serve a similar function to the trays we were just talking about. This time, time, though, they’re designed to clear your loose cords (such as phone charging cables, headphone cords, and so on) out of the way. These organizers come in many different shapes and styles, but the basic premise is always the same:
They pinch or hook each cord in position, preventing them from getting tangled and (damaged) in the process. Magnets, brackets, clips, and clasps are all common methods these contraptions employ for the task. It’s up to you to pick one with enough space for the number of cables you need to stow.
Use a Cable Box
Out of sight, out of mind, right? The best computer desk cable management system for you might be a simple ‘management box’.
Picture a cuboid case (it could be wood, metal, or plastic in nature) with slits/holes in the sides. Place your cables, adapters, and extension leads inside the box, thread the computer wires through the holes, and away you go! The box will take up space on your desk, but it’s an effective hiding place for an otherwise unsightly tangle of wires.
Remember These Computer Desk Cable Management Tips
Most modern home offices are jam-packed with electronics these days. And for good reason! From computers and smartphones to game consoles and music players, technology makes life both easier and more enjoyable.
However, the cables involved are nothing short of a nuisance! They clutter your workspace, create an unwanted eyesore, and cause all sorts of other trouble too. With any luck, though, the computer desk cable management tricks and strategies in this article will help you resolve the issue.
Would you like to read more articles like this one? Search ‘computing’ on the website now.
1 thought on “Computer Desk Cable Management 101”
Great article! What website would you recommend for buying cords for cable management? I used to use Monoprice but their shipping time has gotten too long to bear. With Amazon the quality is hit or miss. Any recommendations?