From the time I picked up a 3D printer, I've tried printing several functional objects and accessories that can be used regularly. This includes everything from shelves that go around the house to upgrades for my mouse to extremely useful laptop accessories that I carry wherever I go. I've also printed a bunch of stuff for my home office — especially for better ergonomics. More recently, I even printed some cheap PC parts for better cable management and cooling. After cleaning up the cable mess inside my PC case, I figured that my desk was also quite messy and needed a desperate clean-up. Well, 3D printing to the rescue!
I quickly looked up some models online and found a few desk organizers that could help me clear the clutter on my table. Most of the mess on my desk was caused by useful items like cables, clips, USB drives, and whatnot — scattered all over. If I could just find a way to organize all of them neatly, it would make my setup look a lot better. So, I printed one of the various organizers to clean my desk. I chose this specific version since it has a stackable design. I realized that if one layer isn't enough for all my stuff, I can print multiple and stack them on top of each other. If your desk, too, is in a similar state — here's how you can use your 3D printer to fix your setup!
Keep your desk nice and tidy with this 3D printable under-desk USB-C mount
It's really easy to make, too.
Extremely simple to print
Ready in a few hours
A simple search on any of the popular 3D printing file repositories will result in a bunch of organizers that you can print for your desk. There are several different types you can choose from based on your requirements and space constraints. While I have a pretty big desk, most of the real estate is occupied by my monitor, phone stand, mouse mat, keyboard, wrist rest, and a dock for my Mac. So, I was looking for something small yet functional. After a little bit of digging around, I found a stackable box model that was the perfect fit for my setup.
I like small partitions inside my organizers since I can store multiple small objects in them. This specific version has a print file that has a center partition. This way, I get two storage areas inside one container. Combine this with the fact that the containers are stackable, and that's ample space to store dongles, cables, clips, thumb drives, etc. Since vertical space isn't generally a problem for most people, a stackable design like this makes a lot of sense.
Store all your belongings in one place
Find what you need quickly
If you want better organizational capabilities, I would recommend printing something larger and with more compartments. This Gridfinity desk organizer, for instance, has specific areas to store phones, stationery, documents, USB drives, wallets, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have sufficient space for something so big. However, I also printed a small perforated keyholder that can also house a few SIM cards, a microfiber cloth, and SIM ejector tools. These are items I use regularly, so it's handy to have them separately in a small container.
My most recent print is another small storage box that also doubles as a travel case. I use this to store small SD cards, adapters, lav mics, etc., that I carry with me when traveling. This way, I can just fold up the box, put it in my backpack, and leave. Once I'm back, I just have to get the box out of my backpack, open it up, and place it on my desk. Sometimes, I quickly remove my AirPods for a short period at my desk, and I don't put them back in the case because it takes time. In such instances, I just put them inside this box so it's easy to retrieve them. The point is that the entire storage layout is totally customizable as per your requirements. Different sizes, shapes, etc. If you like a model but it's too small or big for your desk, you can always scale it appropriately using your slicer software.
My desk finally looks aesthetic
I realized that the key to a good-looking desk is keeping it clean. Like me, if you have a lot of things scattered on the desk, it'll end up looking messy — ruining the overall aesthetic of your setup. So, instead of just managing your cables under the desk, you can simply print a few organizers and containers to keep on your table. This way, all your belongings can go into them, resulting in a clean desk. You can also print these items in specific colors to match your existing setup. Depending on the shape of your desk, you can also select a design that suits the space.
