12 ways to organize cable chaos on small desks or in dorm rooms
With all of the different pieces of tech that university students typically use these days, it can be easy to let cords and cables infest your desk and dorm room. Not only does this make your working environment look like a mess, it also takes up a lot of your space and can make it harder for you to study and finish assignments. Fear not, though, as there are tons of different useful cable management products available on the market that can help you keep your wires tidy and organized.
Best overall
This awesome tray hangs under your desk and you can feed cables through the holes or wrap them around the metal rods in any way you please, making it our favorite choice.
Adhesive clips
This 16-Pack of compact cable clips come with an adhesive that lets you attach them to any flat surface, allowing you to set up your own custom cable management rig with ease.
Cord concealers
This kit can be used to organize cables while also hiding them from view. You have the option of using either the adhesive tape or the drywall anchors that need to be screwed in.
Floor cover
If you have a lot of cables on the ground, this 4-foot-long sturdy protector can help keep them safe while also allowing you to keep them tightly lined up.
Sleeved excellence
If you want a sleeve, this awesome one from Kooteck features room for a large amount of cables, and it comes with some bonus cord ties, too, making it a great choice.
Tie them up
This set of microfiber ties is a fantastic way to keep large bunches of cables tightly wound, and the fastening design allows you to adjust the tightness.
Zip zip
This bulk pack of 1,000 nylon zip ties is an awesome option if you want something easy to use. Plus, you can share some with friends.
Snapping clips
This pack of 50 clips from SoloWIT uses adhesive to attach to a surface, and then you can snap the "arm" of the clip over a line of cables.
For mesh lovers
This 10-foot-long sleeve is made out of a wire mesh, which allows the cables to get some breathing room. The mesh can also be adjusted to change the tightness of the sleeve.
Perfect for peripherals
If you want something for peripheral devices specifically, this organizer stand works phenomenally for holding charging and USB cables as it does so horizontally, allowing you to plug devices in with ease.
If we had to choose
Choosing a good cable management product is going to be important if you're a university student that uses a lot of tech gear, as they will often be the difference between a messy, tangled dorm room and a neat, tidy, and functional one. The best part about cable management items, though, is the fact that they're not very expensive; not a single option on this list costs more than $43, and the majority of them cost $20 or less.
All of the different products we listed are fantastic, but in the end, we would choose the Scandinavian Hub Under Desk Tray 2-Pack as the open space and sturdy metal rods of the baskets gives you an incredible amount of flexibility to create your own set up with your wires.
If you're looking for a floor solution, the SimpleCord Floor Cord Protector will be perfect for you due to its dual ability to protect your cables as well as keep them tightly together.
Folks that want a box solution should opt for the NTONPOWER Cable Box, as the multiple-opening design makes it a very versatile choice that can house cords going out in all different directions.
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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).