Q: Since I’m an avid reader and admirer of all things YHL, I’ve seen nearly every photo of your home that you’ve managed to pack into the blog. Every time I look, I envy how tidy and organized your house is—so unlike mine. One thing that really bugs me is office clutter: cords, cables, and wires. Letting them hang out is not my idea of organized or attractive. How do you keep cords, wires, and cables neat? Must I tie each cord individually? There has to be another way, right? Please? – Erin
A: I admit I’m a little obsessive about this. But I’m going to share what works for us.
I absolutely hate cord clutter. We take a few simple, practical steps to keep our desk area looking calm and organized. One solution that’s worked surprisingly well for us is hiding bulky devices—like our cable modem and an external hard drive—inside plain white cardboard boxes. We used inexpensive Ikea boxes and modified them for safe ventilation: punching plenty of holes around the top, bottom and sides, and cutting a notch in the back so cords can exit easily and plug into the outlet under the desk. The boxes keep everything out of sight while still allowing airflow. After years of using this approach we’ve had no issues, but we do check occasionally and lift the lids to make sure everything stays cool.
Another easy trick is to position a piece of furniture in front of the cords. For example, we slide a leather ottoman under the left side of our desk and put the printer on it. That hides the cables running from the boxes to the wall and gives us concealed storage for extra office supplies. Using an ottoman or a small storage bench is a quick, attractive way to hide wires without special tools.
If you prefer more dedicated cord-control products, stores like The Container Store, Room & Board and Target sell cord-management kits and accessories. These include cable sleeves, clips, and velcro straps that bundle cables together, or channels that run down the legs of desks to keep cords out of sight. These solutions are especially handy when your desk is too small to fit an ottoman or when you need to organize multiple cables neatly along a surface or wall.
On the desktop itself, a few simple styling choices make a big difference. We keep a potted plant, a small display of DIY art, and a cup full of pens to create a pleasant, functional workspace. A couple of shallow drawers in our desk hide loose papers, bills and quick notes so the surface stays clear. When a desk is tidy, it’s easier to focus and be productive—clean surroundings really do help you feel calmer and work more efficiently.
Our approach combines a few unconventional ideas with practical tools: hiding devices in ventilated boxes, using an ottoman or small furniture piece to conceal cords, and employing cord-management accessories when needed. It’s a mix of aesthetics and functionality that keeps our small corner office neat and usable.
We’d love to hear what methods you use to tame cords at your desk. Do you favor cable sleeves, under-desk trays, furniture hiding spots, or something else? Share your tips and tricks so everyone can keep their home offices looking and feeling more organized.
Psst — If you try the ventilated box approach, take safety precautions: punch plenty of holes for airflow, cut a wide exit for cords, and check the equipment regularly to ensure nothing is overheating. Safety first—no one wants a fire hazard in their home.