We're always struggling with keeping the amount of stuff on our desk to a bare minimum, but it's guaranteed that only a few hours after clearing space it's filled again by something. We're not necessarily saying our desk is messy, there is after all some organization to our chaos, but we tend to like having stuff out and on view rather than hidden in drawers. So we started to wonder, is there something wrong with not being a minimalist? Martha Stewart, of all people, doesn't seem to think so.
Above is a photo of Louis Reith's desk found on Flickr. While some of you bare bones workers may balk at the amount of stuff on and around his home office, we love it. There's, like we said above, an organization to the chaos and with that chaos out pours some hints to Louis' personality.
After the jump a photo of the ideal minimalist set-up...
mine is closer to the top one. But i do have the screensaver on the bottom image.
Here's hoping that when we move I have a better setup. As it is, I'm not sure how I manage to get anything accomplished!
http://embritadesign.blogspot.com
view EmmieB's profile
I don't see an option for just plain chaos...
view yakimushi's profile
where can i find those little guys below the computer (the green and pale yellow)? i've seen them a few times and am ridiculously curious! please help!
view heather is a flower's profile
mine almost looks like it's for show. i can't stand clutter. i have one small drawer underneath my desk i can slip papers/books/etc when not in use.
view Matt. M's profile
I am a slob, but not with my desk. Can't even begin to type one sentence if there's a bunch of crap I've got to move around.
view jendavid99's profile
One difference between the two pictures which factors into whether clean and clear is better or having it all out in front of you is best is the size of the desk. The first desk is huge and the second is barely big enough to hold everything it has. Big desks can take a lot more stuff, and work well when that stuff is organized (like orderly clutter). Small desks just look overwhelmed with more stuff.
I have a small desk, so it's as clean and clear as possible, but I might go for something more overwhelmed with a much larger surface.
view Orchid64's profile
I'd like to think I'm a clean and clear kind of girl, but the reality of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, telephone and printer and various charging accessories is CORDS! All the lovely open desks with not a cord in sight are beautiful but not realistic...unless of course someone has invented a laptop that never needs to be charged and I just haven't heard about it yet.
I've tried to document a few of my storage solutions HERE, but there's only so much stuff I can put under my tiny desk, especially with so many cords taking up most of the space!
view MsUnreliable's profile
I have looked long and hard and never able to find the desk with wire storage I wanted, so I finally built this with some IKEA clearance white laminated top which I think it's either a table top or closet door. I paid $15 for the top.
The wire hiding part is made of poplar from home depot. Total cost for the real wood portion is only $30. I have some aluminum IKEA legs for $60.
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10115519
Current table looks like this....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yauser/3043081792/
I will finish it by trimming the sides with poplar as well.
view SY's profile