Tidy Tips: Organizing Tax Documents

Eeek! April 18th is fast approaching. (Yes, the deadline to file federal tax returns is Tuesday, April 18th this year)

We know, we know. We dread it too.

But you can eliminate some of the stress of tax prep by creating systems that keep your tax documents organized and easily accessible.

We share some organizing and storage tips for your electronic files and physical files below and encourage you to implement these tips throughout the year so you’re not scrambling the night before.

Your tax advisors will thank you.

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Electronic Files

Use A Cloud Based Storage Service

We recommend using a cloud based storage service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) so the files can be easily accessed without needing your computer. Plus it makes it easy to share files with your accountant or if multiple people are contributing to the files.

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Create Subfolders

We do not recommend cresting one folder for all tax files. Instead create subfolders within the main folder (labeled by tax year). Your subfolders can be categories like receipts, tax forms, deductions, invoices, charitable contributions, etc. 

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Use A Naming Convention

Consistent naming conventions for the files are key. We like to use something like this “Year_last name_category_subcategory”. This makes sorting and locating files a breeze.

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Download A Scanner App

Using one of the many scanner apps speeds up the prep process. We’ve been using ScannerPro for years. Scan the document using your phone and upload to whatever cloud based storage program you use.

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Update Regularly

We also encourage clients to update this folder monthly or quarterly (depending on your lifestyle and need) so you are not scrambling at the last minute come tax time.

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Physical Files

Use An Accordion File Folder

If you prefer physical files, grab an accordion file folder and dedicate it solely to tax files for that year. Label the sections of the accordion file (ex. receipts, tax forms, deductions, invoices, charitable contributions) and file the documents as they come in.

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disclaimers:

product photos from Amazon.

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: The Best Way to Organize Your Tax Documents, According to Experts (Apartment Therapy)

Taxes are stressful. There’s no way around it. But you can eliminate some of the stress by making sure your tax documents, receipts, paperwork, statements, etc. are organized and easily accessible. We don’t love paper (shocker) so we always opt for digital storage solutions. Apartment Therapy recently published an article on The Best Ways to Organize Your Tax Documents and we were happy to share some digital solutions with them.

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Apartment Therapy over the years

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Tidy Tips: Spring Organizing

Spring is a great time for home organizing projects.

While Tidy Nest has been busy on-site helping our clients get ready for Spring, we wanted to share five easy spring tasks that you can tackle on your own!

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Five easy spring tasks

1. Use Proper Containment

When switching out your winter clothes, use weathertight bins to ensure your clothing is protected from moisture, dirt and pests.

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2. Donate

This is a great time to identify the items you didn’t wear this season and donate or give to someone else who will enjoy them.

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3. Clean Out The Car

Replace the snow brushes for the picnic blanket, throw away all of those old receipts and food wrappers, and remove all the contents from your car console.

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4. Clean Winter Shoes

Wipe down all your winter boots and shoes and store them in show containers to avoid dust and mold. You’ll add years to the lifespan or your shoes!

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5. Refresh

Go through your pantry and discard any expired items and donate any non-perishable items you don’t use. Take everything out of your refrigerator, discard any expired items and wipe down shelving and drawers.

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If you’re on a roll and looking to tackle more spaces, take a look at our decluttering guide below

Disclaimers:

Photos from The Container Store.

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Tips: Our Favorite Food Storage Products

Before we start a project we always ask “What’s your biggest organizational woe in this space?”

When it comes to kitchens and pantries, clients tend to say their food storage inventory in a little unruly.

Some complaints include: 

• They don't have the correct sizes

• The style doesn't fit in with their aesthetic

• There’s a mix of styles

• Containers are discolored, leak, or have broken tops

• They want to reduce their plastic-use

• They can’t locate the tops

  The list goes on....

So we compiled a list of our favorite food storage solutions below: 

Glass Containers

OXO Good Grips Food Storage

OXO really knows food storage. We love their Good Grips Glass Good Grips Glass Food Storage Storage set because they’re durable, easy to clean, stackable and they have a leak-resistant seal that actually works! From an organizer’s standpoint, we think the most important feature is their rectangular shape -- round containers waste lots of space in drawers or cabinets.

Ikea 365+ Glass Container

Glass containers with bamboo lids are always a favorite with our clients. Ikea’s 365+ glass container line is affordable, aesthetically pleasing and keeps food fresh with its tight fitting lid. The bamboo lid can also be used as a trivet or coaster.

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Reusable Bags & Wrap

Stasher Bags

One of the reasons we love Stasher bags is because they are reusable and help reduce the use of disposable plastic bags. They’re a great eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic bags. Bonus: they come in an assortment of colors and sizes, making them not only a sustainable option but also visually appealing for storage and organization!

Reusable Mesh Produce Bags

We keep several of these Reusable Mesh Produce Bags on hand because while these are great for grocery shopping, we also love to use these eco-friendly bags to store our produce in the refrigerator.

Bees Wrap Reusable Eco-Friendly Beeswax Food Wraps

These Bees Wrap Reusable Eco- Friendly Reusable Food Wraps are reusable beeswax food wraps that eliminate single-use plastic and keep food fresh. They will have you covered for everything from school lunches to food storage to snack on the go!

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Coffee storage

Fellow Atmos Coffee Canister

A sleek option that keeps beans and grounds fresh is this vacuum-sealed canister. The Fellow Atmos Coffee Canister extends your coffee’s shelf life by 50%, with an integrated vacuum pump that works by simply twisting the lid back and forth to remove air from the inside. We like to store snacks in these too!

ProKeeper+

The Prokeeper+ Coffee Container has a hinged lid and an air-tight silicone seal that keeps your coffee fresh. It also includes a tablespoon scoop for measuring. We love the entire ProKeeper+ line as they make storage containers for snacks, cereal, flour, sugar, you name it! They keep all of our favorite food fresh and its sleek design makes it fit great in cabinets and pantries.

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Pet Food

Iris Weathertight Pet Food Container

The Iris Weathertight Pet Food Container is our favorite for keeping food fresh and sealed for our pets. We love that it comes in two sizes and the wide opening makes filling and dispensing both convenient and tidy. The wheels make it so easy and convenient to pull in and out.

Iris 3-Piece Weathertight Food Container

The difference between this Iris 3-Piece Weathertight Pet Food Container and our choice above, is the additional 2 pieces included- the bin and scoop. The scoop makes it easy to measure out how much you want to give your pet, and the small container easily stacks and is great for treats!

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disclaimers:

photos from The Container Store, Williams Sonoma, Amazon & Ikea

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Tips: Best Storage Bins At Every Price Point

There are so many storage solutions out there which can get overwhelming.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Before you buy containers, follow these steps:

1. Declutter your space and determine exactly what needs to be contained.

2. Measure the shelving, drawers, closets, etc. to ensure the product you’re buying will fit.

3. Determine your budget for storage solutions.

4. Start shopping (or take the DIY approach)

To get you started, we put together some of our favorite storage bins at all price points…including FREE!

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The Best Free Organizing BINS

Wine / Liquor Boxes

Larger cardboard boxes have endless utility, particularly if you’re into DIY projects. For example you can turn a wine box into a basket cutting off the flaps, wrapping it in twine and adding a fabric liner. You need time and an appreciation for crafts if you’re going to give it a go, but the results are great and you’ll save about $20 per basket. Otherwise, we’ve seen clients using labeled cardboard boxes for toy storage before eventually upgrading to proper bins.

Shipping / Product Boxes

We love reusing small boxes from chocolates, jewelry, Apple products, etc... because they are so sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. We actually save them from decluttering jobs so we can repurpose on jobs that are more budget-friendly. They are great as drawer inserts in bathrooms, desks or utility drawers. To make them prettier or for continuity, try wrapping them in Washi Tape. Similarly, if you need dividers in your closet or dresser for socks and underwear, try repurposing shoe boxes or cutting down boxes from your last Amazon order. Just give them the Washi Tape facelift, and you’ve got some new storage solutions!.

The Best Organizing Bins Under $5

Bargin Stores

You’d be surprised what you can find at dollar stores or if you’re a good online bargain hunter. We like to look for collapsible canvas cubes for playrooms for kids since they are, well, kids. While storage cubes can get expensive, Amazon carries an inexpensive version that will get you started. 

Our Most Used Product

For us, we think the best overall bang for your buck is The Container Store’s “Our Shoe Box,” which only costs $2.19 per box--they’re super versatile and affordable. We use these on nearly every job -- of course they’re perfect for shoes, but also for toys, art supplies, hardware, toiletries, craft supplies, office supplies and more. They stack nicely and you can’t go wrong with clear plastic so you can see what’s inside. They come in a handful of other sizes too.

The Best Organizing Bins Under $15

Metal Baskets

This mDesign farmhouse metal wire basket is both functional and versatile. The tight weave is helpful for storing smaller items like toiletries or jars.

Post-Consumer Recycled Baskets

These handled bins are a staple when organizing laundry products and toys for our clients. The Container Store Nordic Bin comes in a variety of sizes and lid options, and the holes allow for ventilation which is a feature we love.

The Best Organizing Bins Under $30

Linen-Lined Baskets

The Container Store’s Montauk bins are our go-to for closets. These baskets are sturdy, and the bin clips fit perfectly over the lip. Best part: the interior liner is removable so you can keep them clean.

Yamazaki

While this Yamazaki desk organizer is usually found in offices, we like to use it as a command station in the kitchen or as a hair-tool caddy in the bathroom. The white & light wood coloring fits in every room and the sleek design and higher “walls” keep items upright.

Rattan Bin

These Marie Kondo Ori Rattan Bins are as sturdy as they are beautiful. They are handwoven and made of natural rattan, and can be used anywhere from the kitchen to an office. The handles make it easy to transport, and we love the warmth and functionality they add to any space.

The Best Organizing Bins Under $50

Yamazaki, always

Another Yamazki favorite of ours is the Tosca basket with dual handles. While this product works in almost any space, we specifically love this basket for pantries. Pantries in general have the most volume of items and this simple basket doesn’t add to the existing “noise” in the room.

Neat Method

These Neat Method perforated baskets add style to any room! Let’s be honest- what we love most are the beautiful variety of colors they come in. They come with a removable divider, and are a great substitute to woven or plastic bins. Bonus: these magnetic label sets snap right on if you want to label what’s inside.

The Best Organizing Bins over $50

The Basket Room

We get really excited when we can use products from The Basket Room. They are hand woven in Northern Ghana and take up to 3 days to complete using Ghanian grass called veta vera. The work helps families meet their basic living costs and supporting the weavers in a truly fair and sustainable trade.

Serena & Lily

These Serena & Lily lidded baskets are a great way to conceal laundry, stuffed animals, or extra blankets without your space looking chaotic. The lids are essential to making everything look tidy and the recycled plastic wrapping around the coils make it extra sturdy. We love grouping the 3 sizes together.

Folden Lane

These vegan leather baskets from Folden Lane are fairly new to the organizing scene and we're so excited to welcome them to our repertoire. They are made with a buttery soft vegan leather and stainless steel hardware. They are shipped flat (that's right, flat!) cutting down on carbon emissions and packaging waste.

SortJoy

This small flex bin is great for containing smaller items in your home. Folded or unfolded, it's your choice! The structured yet flexible material provides hidden storage and is also washable. It fits perfectly on a bookshelf, in a closet or on an entranceway table. 

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disclaimers:

photos from The Container Store, Amazon, The Basket Room, Folden Lane, SortJoy, Neat Method, and Serena & Serena & Lily.

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Ways Professional Organizers Declutter to Downsize (Homes & Gardens)

We were recently interviewed by Homes & Gardens on our favorite topic - moving! I know, what you’re thinking, but hear us out, moves don’t have to be stressful.

We always encourage our clients to determine where everything is going in the new home before you pack it up and move it to the new location. Anything that doesn’t have a home in the new space is a prime candidate for donation.

Start with the big items like furniture. We promise it will make a huge difference.

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

Tidy Nest Featured Press: How to Fold Shirts– for Stacking in the Closet and Packing in Suitcases (Homes & Gardens)

I think any organizer will tell you that one of the most requested tutorial topics is “How to fold ______”

We spoke to Homes & Gardens on our favorite methods for folding shirts - for travel & for home storage.

We’re super excited to announce that we’re a regular expert contributor to Homes & Gardens’ organization features! You can check out all our article with Homes & Gardens below.

Away Travel Packing Cubes

There are a bunch of packing cubes on the market but if we have a choice, we always prefer AWAY products.

Folding Board

If your folding skills need some help, try a folding board which will help you create a perfect fold every time

Adjustable Bamboo Drawer Dividers

Bamboo is always our first choice but these spring loaded dividers also come in various plastic colors.

For our video tutorials on folding techniques, head over to our Instagram account and check out our reels

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

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disclaimers:

photos from Amazon & Away Travel

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: How to Organize a Sock Drawer– 10 Ways to Sort Socks in Style (Homes & Gardens)

If you ask Jared, there’s nothing worse than searching for a pair of socks in a drawer of mismatched socks. And if you’re not a morning person, this sock hunt can start your day off on the wrong foot.

We always encourage clients to take time to organize the sock drawer to make your morning routine much more enjoyable.

We recently chatted with Homes & Gardens about sock drawer organization - take a look below on our tips.

P.S. We’re happy to report that we are a regular contributor to Homes & Gardens now.

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Ways Professional Organizers Declutter to Move (Homes & Gardens)

Moving can be very stressful, and involves a lot of planning and organization- that’s where we come in! The process of packing up your entire life and transporting it to a new location can be overwhelming, so start by decluttering and ridding of the things you won’t need or want.

We recently shared our best piece of advice when it comes to preparing for your move.

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Featured Press

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Ways to Declutter Your Bedroom– To Make it Feel Bigger (Homes & Gardens)

If we had to pick just one room in the house to declutter it would be the bedroom! Your bedroom is a place of peace and rest so bringing clutter into this space stains the energy in the room.

So when Homes & Gardens told us they were working on a story on decluttering the bedroom, we were very eager to share our number one rule when it comes to bedroom organization.

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

Tidy Nest Featured Press: Create A Clean and Organized Home with These 35 Tips (Redfin)

Great news! We were named a top organizing and decluttering expert by Redfin!

We recently shared some of our quick tips to keep a clean and organized home. You can find the full article below.

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Featured Press

Take a look at our other interviews with Redfin over the years

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Post-Christmas Decluttering Rules Professional Organizers Swear By– and What to Get Rid of NOW (Homes & Gardens)

After Christmas is over, it can be overwhelming to deal with all of the new gifts and decorations, as well as the leftover holiday items.

We were asked by Homes & Gardens to share our advice and best tips for decluttering post-Christmas!

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FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our other interviews with Home & Gardens over the years

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 8 Christmas Storage Tips...(Architectural Digest)

We are so excited to announce that Shannon contributed to an article in Architectural Digest - definitely a highlight of 2022!

Shannon spoke with AD regarding storage solutions and tips on how to keep all that holiday clutter under control.

Check out her tips on string light storage and how to manage that pile of holiday greeting cards.

String Light Storage

We take a deeper dive in a previous blog post. Take a look at our step-by-step guide below.

String light Guide

Greeting Card Storage

Take a look at our step-by-step guide below

Greeting Card Guide

holiday storage tips on gift wrap & ornaments are coming up next!

Tidy Nest Featured Press: 10 Hot Spots Professional Organizers Always Declutter for the Holidays (Homes & Gardens)

The holidays are stressful - schedules are packed, guests and in and out, the volume of items in the home multiply - so we always suggest doing a little decluttering before the craziness begins to gain some extra mental and physical space.

We recently spoke with Homes & Gardens about some of our holiday decluttering suggestions.

Other spaces to declutter before guests arrive

We always make sure our guest rooms and bathrooms are ready for guests. We remove any items that have accumulated in these spaces - like that pile of summer clothes on the bed that we haven’t put away yet or any used and/or expired toiletries in the bathroom.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: Here’s How Often You Need to Replace 16 Common Household Items (Reader's Digest)

When to toss items can be a controversial topic when it comes to decluttering. Everyone has a different opinion on when things to be replaced.

We shared our recommendations with Reader’s Digest about when to replace houshold items including bathmats, doormats, bed pillows and curtains.

Tidy Tips: Storage Ideas for Holiday Cards

We’re constantly helping clients declutter their belongings. Believe it or not, holiday cards are a major culprit for holiday storage clutter. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to tackle that growing stack of greeting cards - both old and new.

1. Gather

Collect all the holiday cards and supplies. We’re talking the cards you received years ago, the extra custom cards you ordered, store bought cards, stamps, return labels, etc.

2. Categorize & Consolidate

Group like with like and evaluate the quantity of each category. Eliminate unnecessary redundancies.

3. Cards Sent

If you send out custom holiday cards chances are there’s an abundance left over year after year. We suggest keeping a few from each year for nostalgic purposes. Recycle the rest.

4. Cards Received

This may be an unpopular opinion but we suggest parting with the cards you receive each year. If you MUST keep some, just save the most recent years’ collection in the event you wish to reference who sent you a card (but even that’s a stretch).

5. Contain

As with all items, everything must have a home. Select a designated container - we like this Clear Card Keeper from The Container Store but a simple shoe box works just as well if you’re looking for a DIY version.

6. Label

Surprise! We want you to label the categories. This allows you to see your inventory quickly and helps with maintenance.

We used our very favorite label maker- the P-Touch Cube from The Container Store.

DIY version - use stickie notes as labels.

disclaimers:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Tips: Storage Ideas for String Lights

We’re sharing our favorite way to store holiday string lights so you’re not spending hours untangling a ball of lights only to find out that they don’t work!

1. Test the lights

Untangle the lights and head straight to the outlet to make sure all your lights work. If you have a dead bulb(s), try replacing them before tossing and buying new.

2. Wrap the lights

We highly recommend coiling or wrapping the lights to avoid the dreaded tangled mess each year.

See below for a DIY option.

3. Contain

Store the lights in plastic or fabric containers. Look for bins specific for lights with wrap organizers already included like this one from Target.

4. Label

Not only label the container but label each string of lights so you know exactly how/where they were used. This makes decorating the following year much easier. We used velcro cord labels from The Container Store - see below for a DIY option.

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Here’s a DIY Option…

Supplies you’ll need

- Cardboard

- Scissors or box cutter

- Lights

- Container to store lights

- Masking / washi tape

- A curious kitty (optional)

1. Find some cardboard

Use any sturdy cardboard you have lying around. You’ll want to cut a square or rectangle based on the size of the container you’ll be using.

2. Create a cord holder

You don’t have to get fancy here, just make two cuts on opposite sides of the cardboard. This will hold the cord in place. Once it’s secure, start wrapping.

3. Label

We’re using velcro labels here but for the DIY version, try masking tape or washi tape.

disclaimers:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Tips: Four Fall Organizing & Productivity Tasks To Tackle This Weekend

Summer is behind us and fall is at its peak (northeasters - are you LOVING the amazing foliage this year?!) So we wanted to share a few organizing and productivity tasks that are guaranteed to make you feel like an organized genius.

Seasonal Clothing

I know it’s a little late for this one but if you’re busy like we are, you may still be stepping over that pile of summer clothes. Review and edit your summer clothing before switching to fall clothes. Donate/sell/give away any items you didn’t wear this season, recycle the faded bathing suit (some retailers recycle textiles even from other brands), and repair anything that got damaged this season. Make a list of items you need to replace for next year and watch for them to go on sale over the winter!

Garden

Wipe down all your garden tools, empty the flower pots, scrape off the dirt and rinse. Take inventory of what you have, what didn’t last thru the season, and what you need for next year so you can restock over the winter when gardening items are on sale.

Outdoor items

Collect all the pool floats and outdoor toys, wipe down using a mild antibacterial solution. Wash outdoor cushions and pillows. Once completely dry, they are ready to store for the winter. We opt for these oversized cushion bags for winter storage.

Holiday Prep

Get a headstart on the holidays. Start decluttering the guest rooms. Create a gift giving station. Give your pantry and kitchen a refresh. Review expiration labels and toss expired items, tidy drawers and remove any unwanted items so you have a clean slate for all those holiday meals.

Tidy Tips: Computer Desktop Organization

Office organization doesn’t just apply to the physical space. Let’s not forget about our inboxes, Google drives, cloud storage and computer desktop storage. We’ll tackle the easy one first - your computer desktop.

We are all guilty of having too many files crowding our desktops. Think about it… it’s the digital version of the stack of papers on the corner of your desk! 

We’re challenging you to spend a few minutes tidying your desktop. Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through it.

1. Declutter

If you only do one step listed here, this is the most important. The simple directive….remove anything you don’t access daily.

2. Categorize

Make specific folders for each category of files you’re keeping on the desktop.

3. Standardize

We like to have a standardized naming convention for our files so it’s easier to locate the file you need.

4. Customize

While it’s not necessary, we like to add a customized desktop background to make our desktop more visually appealing and help with maintaining categories. (You can access our customized desktop below).

5. Maintain

As with any space, maintenance is key. Set a reminder to clean up your desktop once a week, month, quarter, etc.

You can find more details on each step by checking out Shannon’s tips in Apartment Therapy’s article “How to Best Organize Your Computer Desktop, According to Pro Organizers”.

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A little more on that customized background…

We like to add a customized desktop background to make our desktop more visually appealing and help with maintaining categories. Shannon created this one for her own laptop. Canva has a bunch of customizable templates to choose from based on your needs. These templates are great for creating broad file categories like “reference files,” “client projects,” “personal,” and “active projects” to categorize your files. From there, drag all corresponding files to the appropriate grouping, and presto, an organized desktop. 

 Want to use this background? Drop us a line and we’ll send over the file!

Tidy Nest Featured Press: How to Best Organize Your Computer Desktop (Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy recently published “How to Best Organize Your Computer Desktop, According to Pro Organizers”.

Check out the article to learn how Shannon suggests keeping your desktop tidy.