On Keeping a Desk

Tips for cultivating a creatively conducive space.

A picture of my desk that recently went viral on Substack.

The Evolution of my Desk

In the age of instant gratification, aka where did you get that so I can order everything on Am*zon right now. This is a reminder that my current desk space is the result of years of collection, curation and optimization. Creating the perfect desk for you is a journey, it does not happen with overnight shipping¹!

My very first desk in my very first apartment in New York (7 years ago now?!) was a folding table from Target², topped with a few organizers from TjMaxx (which I still use today). There was very little natural light, and all the classic, temporary furnishings of a graduate student’s bedroom. If you look closely, you can spot the cutout of Rihanna’s look at the 2017 Met Gala on my corkboard (eternally inspirational) + Mitski.

My 1st NY apartment.

My second New York apartment had tons of natural light, and since I had graduated, and had a job, I took the plunge and purchased the desk of my dreams for my new space (which I still use today)! Cable management was a work in progress here, in fact, this photo was taken a few weeks after move-in, and Rihanna and Mitski are still by my side.

My second NY apartment.

My third move in NYC (after a short stint in LA) resulted in the current desk ecosystem, which has decent illumination until about 2pm. Nothing is perfect, and I still consider this space a work in progress. The below photo was taken about a year ago, and I’ve added a few things since then.

A photo of my desk from a year ago.

Over the past 5 (!) apartment moves, I have perfected the system of my desk space, which leads a double life³, functioning as both as a my work desk and my hobby desk. I just did my taxes on the same surface I filmed a TikTok about my travel journal. I take work meetings in the same place I write for Substack, efficiently switching inputs on my monitor from my work-issued laptop to my personal PC⁴. Running this kind of operation takes some organization, time, and discipline. Here are my tips for creating a desk space that best suits you, just in time for Spring Cleaning⁵!

A recent moment where I took stock of the watercolor palettes I have by testing each color.

Hay comida en la casa, (we have food at home)

Before you go on a shopping spree, you must first take inventory of what you already have. This exercise can not only curb unnecessary spending and overconsumption, but can also be an exercise in gratitude — in appreciating the things you already own. Toolboxes or storage bins are popular options for stockpiling all of your craft supplies, but it can be easy to lose track if you accumulate a lot of items without regularly taking stock. You may find that half of your gel pens have dried out, or you may rediscover a sticker sheet you completely forgot about purchasing, but whatever surprises lay in store, this is the necessary first step in creating a well-organized space.

Steps for taking inventory of your supplies:

• Clear your afternoon, and dump out your entire bin(s)/drawers/boxes of supplies.

• Arrange supplies by category (pens, pencils, cutting tools, paints, paper, stickers, etc. etc.)

• Test supplies, specifically pens and markers, to ensure they’re in working order.

  • If you want to take things a step further, I’m a huge fan of swatching my supplies and hanging the labeled swatches on my wall so I know exactly what colors I own in what mediums. This is especially helpful for tools that are not true to their vessel color (like inks or markers).

• Discard non-functional supplies, or donate surplus, usable supplies to a local creative re-use center.

A close up of my desk.

Storage solutions

Now that you’ve taken stock and categorized the things you have, it’s time to put them away into their permanent homes. There are several different ways to store supplies according to lifestyle and preference. I like to have everything on top of my desk, and I prefer clear organizers, both choices reflecting my desire to both see and access everything I have at all times⁶. I use my supplies almost daily, so this is the setup that makes the most sense for my desk.

You may find storage solutions in unexpected places. My acrylic organizers were actually marketed as jewelry storage (found in the bathroom organizing section of TJMaxx), I simply removed the velvet lining, and found they were the perfect height for most of my stamps. My marker organizer happens to be perfect for holding all 108 Tombow Dual Brush pen colors, which I divide by color family. Its horizontal configuration helps markers dry out less quickly, and I like this plain pen organizer much more than the brand’s dedicated storage designs. I use a button organizer with tiny compartments for sticker flakes, sequins, and the like. My pink stamp shelf is something I stumbled upon on Mexico a few months ago. The key factor in finding great pieces for your space is patience. A well decorated space takes time, and is constantly evolving!

Sticker albums are a practical storage solution if you’re a sticker hoarder (aren’t we all). Some have easy-release sticker paper so that stickers can be placed, used, or re-placed onto the pages of the album, perfect for consolidating various irregular sheets of stickers onto a single page. Binders filled with clear sleeves are also helpful for filing away various sheets into one book. Sticker Planet (a great shop in LA) has an entire section dedicated to sticker albums on their website.

For the more compartmentalized lifestyle, some use a separate structure from the desk, such as this simple, open craft cart from Michael’s, which can be rolled into a closet or moved to a dining table with ease. Craft carts with closed drawers such as this one hide unsightly clutter, and offer an opaque surface upon which to apply labels (I do love a label maker). This Pivot Cabinet from the MoMa Design Store is what my storage dreams are made of, as well as the original Boby storage trolley by Joe Colombo⁷.

For more stationery organization inspiration, this video by the incomparable AmandaRachLee was the blueprint for me. For exact matches to my organizes, check out my shopmy!

Mise en place

Organizing a desk is like organizing a kitchen. Items should be arranged in a way that is functional, so that you’re not running around searching for things instead of doing what you actually enjoy. Imagine “prep stations” for your work, assess what items you need for a typical hobby session. Group like items that you use in conjunction. Keep your knives close to your cutting boards, keep your sharpeners and erasers near your pencils. If you write a lot more than you paint, and have limited space, it’s best to have your writing implements in a place that’s easy to reach, and your painting supplies in a secondary location. Put your everyday items (your toaster and your frying pan) within reach, and put your special occasion items (the fondue pot perhaps) in the upper cabinets. Designate a silverware drawer, put all of your ink pads in the same place, and wash your dishes and put things away so you can do it all again tomorrow!

“What is this? Keep! Your station! Clear! When the meal rush comes, what will happen? Messy stations slow things down. Food doesn't go! Orders pile up! Disaster!" - Colette (Ratatouille, 2007)

An important distinction:

Good Clutter:

Inspires your to create! (eg. trinkets, art prints, swatches, photos on the wall).

Bad Clutter

Impedes your ability to create. (eg a pile-up of stuff that doesn’t have a place).

We all love the lived-in look, but it is important to keep your workstation clear. Avoid the problem of “the laundry chair” (placing clothing that isn’t dirty enough to go into the hamper onto your chair, resulting in a messy pile of laundry, a missing sweater, and nowhere to sit). If you keep piling your desk with things to “work on later,” you’ll have nowhere left to work. Respect the desk. (+use a coaster!)

The desk, currently.

Tend Your Garden

Having a functional desk space is like planting and keeping beautiful garden, it requires regular upkeep. Putting things away, and keeping things in order is vital to running a pristine kitchen garden. Every once in a while, you’ll need to dig in and pull weeds, cut the grass, and trim hedges so that your creativity can bloom.

1. As such, this post has zero Amazon links. I have shut down my Amazon affiliate account and I now use shopmy to link products.

2. I really wanted to buy a desk but my mom said to wait because this is my first apartment and I shouldn’t invest so soon. All in good time!

3. #Severance

4. #Severance again

5. *In the Northern Hemisphere.

6. I live by out of sight out of mind.

7. Some of you are going to say there are dupes available, but I don’t want to advertise those based on principle.