It’s always annoying when you see cables everywhere, especially at the back of your desk. Even if you arrange and organize them nicely at first they eventually get all tangled and it all becomes a mess.

An easy solution would be to have a cord management organizer to help you keep everything in place. If you can’t find one in stores or if you simply prefer to make one yourself, there are plenty of projects that can give you useful tips and ideas.

Here are some of them.

DIY cable management and cord organizer

Using toilet paper rolls.

Keeping your cables organized doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. There are lots of very simple solutions that you can use. For example, you can use toilet paper rolls. It might sound funny at first but toilet paper rolls are actually great for this. Simply write on each one what type of cable it contains and the labels will help you save space and time when looking for your cables.

Label cords.

Can’t always remember which cable is which? Avoid accidents like unplugging your computer by mistake just because you picked the wrong cable and use tags to mark each one. Use different colors and label them so that you always know which one is which.

Raffia ribbon.

When you travel, you always have to take your chargers with you. You probably end up putting them all in a bag and, when you arrive at the destination, you realize they got all tangled. But here’s a very simple and cute way of keeping them organized. Use raffia ribbons to keep all the cords organized. They’ll also help you distinguish them and you’ll always know which ones are yours in case you also carry someone else’s.

Homemade charging station.

Usually the desk is messy even when it’s clean. That’s because of all the cords and wires that get tangled and that look ugly. So how about a box to keep them all organized? That’s right, all you need is a box similar to the one in the photo. Cut a hole in the box for the cord to pass through and then several other holes for the cords of the chargers and devices you usually use.{found on allyou}.

Plug hub desk.

The Plug Hub is the perfect solution for all the cables that need to be concealed and organized. It’s an under-desk cord management station and keeps all the cords and the power strip hidden inside this unit. It has three openings on the top and three cord anchors inside. It’s made of rigid plastic with a rubber foot on the bottom.

If you want something that’s both cute and functional, this lovely little cable organizer monster might be the perfect thing. You can make it yourself from a piece of felt. You’ll need some snap fasteners and cotton filling as well. You can choose any shape you want.{found on onelmon}.

Color Coded Cable Ties and Labels.

Another easy trick that can help you keep all the cords in order is to use cable ties and labels. You can use different colors of duct tape to easily identify your cords and chargers. You’ll also need Velcro and a hole punch. It’s easy and it’s something everyone should have in their home.{found on instructables}.

Earphone Cord Keepers with Printable Packagin.

Here’s an idea of a fun and useful gift that you can make for someone for Christmas. It’s an earphone cord keeper shaped like a gingerbread man. To make it you need polymer clay, mini cookie cutters, a bamboo stick, a cutter and sandpaper. You can choose any shape you want. This is just an example. First knead and flatten the clay and then cut it to the shape desired. Use the sandpaper to get the texture of a gingerbread man or use something else to imitate the texture of the image you have chosen. Add the details and then poke the hole for the cords.{found on mintedstrawberry}.

Charging station.

This is a DIY recharge station, very functional and very easy to make. You need a cardboard storage box, book plates, small brads, a craft knife, something to punch holes with, some paint, a pencil, ruler and power board. Mark where you want the book plates to go and then mark the inside area as well. Cut the rectangles and punch the holes needed for the brads. Cut a hole for the power board cord as well. Add a coat of paint and you’re done.{found on tashachawner}.

Keep cords organized.

Organizing your desk doesn’t have to be difficult or annoying. The most frustrating part is keeping all the cords in place. It’s frustrating when you’re looking for a charger or cord and you can’t find it because of all the mess in the drawer. So how about a nice box to keep them all organized? Use a media box divided into compartments with scraps of cardboard. Label each section and add some color as well.{found on hgtv}.

USB Chargers.

Another problem appears when you use USB chargers. When you unplug the device the charger ends up on the floor. You can use paper holders to keep them nice and organized on your desk. They’ll also always be close at hand when you need them.

Hanging cord organizer.

Usually all the chargers, earplugs and cords end up in a drawer and they get all tangled. Even if you try to keep them organized, it’s not always easy. But here’s how you can make a very simple cord organizer for all these items. You’ll need some foam rubber and Velcro or double sided tape. The idea is to punch several holes for the cables of your charger, earplugs, USB cords, etc. and to attach them to a wall or to your desk.

Cord Minder.

Remember those old film containers? You might still have some in your home. You probably thought they became useless now that we don’t use films anymore. Well, think again. Go find some of those containers because you’ll need them for these cord organizers. Remove the lids and begin by cutting around the bottom of the container. Remove the bottom and use the rest to organize the cables in your drawer.{found on instruclables}.

Cord Rack.

A cord rack can also be a very good idea. First you’ll have to measure the width of the board you’re going to use. Find its center and mark it. Add two marks on either side and, using the T-square, transfer them downwards. Make the holes and add the bolts. It will help you store your cables out of the way and untangled.{found on instructables}.

Cable Management.

This last project will show you how to keep all the cables in one place without getting them tangled. You’ll need a pegboard, a drill, a saw, zip ties, a wood file and clamps. First measure the space and then cut the pegboard to the desired size. Mark the spots for the holes and use the drill to make them. Connect the pegboard to the TV stand and decide where the cables need to hang. Connect one device at a time until you’ve organized them all.{found on instructables}.

Best cable management systems and accessories

Color-coded cable ties

There’s plenty of products out there that make it super easy to keep cords and cables organized and to have a tidy desk. For instance, this set of Pasow cable ties would make organization a lot easier. The set includes 50 reusable ties which is more than enough for most households. They’re of different colors so you can color-code everything and they’re made of flexible fabric material. Use them for your computer, laptop, appliances and various other electronics.

Cable sleeves

Cable sleeves are excellent for computers and for desks in general because they allow you to bunch together multiple cables so that you have less clutter to deal with. The Joto cord management system gives you four such sleeves. They’re flexible and easy to use and they’re around 20’’ long which is just about right for most desks. You can also use them for your entertainment system and other cases where multiple cables are gathered in the same place.

Cord organizer with channels

This organizer from SimpleCord is super useful too, especially in cases when all you want is to have all the cables neatly lined up with a wall or to have them run along a channel in order to simplify and tidy up the place. It has a strong self-adhesive tape that lets you attach it to any wall or flat surface and it can be positioned vertically, horizontally or at an angle in order to keep the cables in check. It’s easy to use and versatile. Use it for your desk, in the kitchen or with the living room entertainment system.

Desk-mounted cable box

The Tap-Up cable box is pretty cool because it lets you take all the cords and cables off the ground and to finally keep the floor underneath your desk clean and clutter-free. You can have this box attached to the underside of the desk, to the side or pretty much anywhere else you see fit. It can hide the power strip and all the chargers and it also lets you fit extra long cables inside in order to keep the area nice and clean.

Small cable holders

It can be quite annoying to constantly have various cords and cables just slip off the desk and take up more space than they need to. This also makes the work surface look cluttered and things can get out of control when you have to use lots of different adapters and cables for all sorts of device. Luckily, simple cord organizers and cable holders like these ones can be of help in these cases. These come in different sizes and have adhesive tape on the back so you can attach them to your desk or the side of a table. They have between 3 and 7 slots and they take up very little space, not to mention they can stand out of the way completely if you want them to. Check them out on Amazon.

Cable clips

The syncwire cable clips are very versatile and very convenient and it’s always nice to have a couple of these around the house. You can attach them to any smooth and flat surface and they’re particularly useful for desks. You can also have a couple of small ones on your nightstands to keep the chargers and cables nicely organized and easy to grab when you need them. They can even be useful in the car and surely you can find other places where you can make good use of them.

Magnetic ties

These Smart&Cool cable ties can also come in super handy, especially for keeping extra cables neatly packed and organized in a drawer. They’re also great if you’re traveling or for portable devices like laptops. This set includes 20 of these ties. They’re made of silicone in different colors and they’re magnetic which makes them super easy and convenient to use. You can attach them to any magnetic surface and find other applications for them around the house as well.

Travel bag for cables

When you’re traveling with your laptop and various other electronics the cables and chargers can add up pretty quickly. Rather than having them all thrown in a bag where they get tangled up it would sure be a lot nicer to organize them inside this Jelly Comb travel bag. It has lots of slots for cables and various accessories and it keeps them all nice and safe inside plus it’s also compact and waterproof. It can also hold things like small tablets and phones. You can get it in different colors and the design is nice and simple.

Cable management rack

This simple cable rack is a really nice accessory for standing desks because it can be attached to the underside and it can keep all the cables nicely packed and easy to access, not to mention out of the way. You can also use it to keep the power supplies and outlet strips off the floor. It’s very versatile and it can fit any table or desk. It’s made of steel which makes it super durable and it will last you a lifetime. Mount it to the underside of your desk using screws or attach it to a wall. If needed, you can have two or more of these racks placed side by side or separately and have all your cables organized in this manner.

Plastic cable box

This cable box from Green Sky Enterprise offers you a simple way to keep the power strip hidden but also easily accessible. It also has a lid which can hold things like charging bricks, small cables and other accessories. It’s fireproof and it has non-slip rubber feet and it’s really practical and convenient, a great companion for any desk. You can also turn it into a charging station for your devices or use it for various appliances and electronics. It’s always good to keep cables in check and keeping them out of the way can really make a difference.

DIY hack organizers