Hook-and-loop strips are the best way to keep your computer desk tidy

Desk space is a limited and highly valuable resource. If you have a gaming PC, you know how quickly accessories, peripherals, and gadgets pile up. Fortunately, with a single accessory, I managed to move most of the clutter off my desk without sacrificing functionality or convenience.

Hook-and-loop adhesive tape is the best $5 you can spend on your setup

The accessory is a set of pre-cut hook-and-loop tape with double-sided adhesive on both the hook and loop sides. It’s easy to use: one sticky side goes on the desk, the other on whatever you want to mount. When you press them together, the accessory stays attached underneath the desk, as long as the adhesive can handle the weight and the hook-and-loop is good quality. The best part is it’s reusable, so you can move the accessory and put it back later.

What’s great is that you don’t need to spend much on brand-name tape. This $5 set of 16 heavy-duty 4-inch by 1-inch strips is strong enough for most lightweight accessories. Just be sure to clean the surfaces with alcohol wipes before applying the adhesive. That said, even branded Velcro isn’t that expensive, though, and is worth it if you’re mounting something heavy or valuable.

I also use a slightly different style made for holding cables. This is another must-have because it keeps cables tidy around your desk and house. I’ve installed a few behind my monitor and TV, and several under my desk. Some support the mounted accessories to reduce stress on the bigger strips, while the rest keep other cables off the floor. That way, I don’t snag a cable with my foot while sitting at the desk.

Brand

Quadafy

Color

black, gray, white

This 60-pack of hook and loop cable ties with adhesive clips is the perfect solution for cable management around your desk. It’s made from nylon and has a strong adhesive backing, can stick to both flat and curved surfaces, and is reusable if you need to add or remove cables.

The main reason I hadn’t tried using hook-and-loop tape before was that I thought it wasn’t strong enough—but I was completely wrong. Even the inexpensive version I used can hold my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless receiver (aka Base Station), which is bulky and weighs around 6 ounces (~170 g, about the same as a smaller smartphone). I’m confident it could hold even heavier items.

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

My desk is so clean and spacious now

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Although I didn’t have that many things on my desk, it was still enough to drive me crazy, especially as gadgets slowly accumulated. I bought this large desk earlier this year with the intention of keeping it as clean and tidy as possible, since every desk I had before was too small and cluttered with unnecessary stuff.

Aside from my headset receiver, the two other items I mounted underneath the desk are my monitor light controller and my speaker system’s volume knob.

Interestingly, all three have knobs, and one of my main concerns about moving them off the desk was losing the convenience of adjusting volume or monitor light brightness easily. I also worried that I wouldn’t be able to see my headset receiver’s display. But the opposite turned out to be true—rather than reaching across the desk, I can now simply reach underneath. It feels almost like I’m adjusting a secret control tucked out of sight that only I know how to operate.

I know, you could argue that this is purely a cosmetic upgrade, but for $5, I don’t see a good reason not to do it. Getting those clunky knobs out of sight made my workspace feel more organized. Plus, it’s now way easier to wipe dust off my desk, and I’m more motivated to keep it clean and tidy.

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Now that I know this trick really works, I’m tempted to add even more hidden gadgets to my setup. A USB hub is my first perfect candidate, as mounting it underneath the desk would give me a bunch of USB slots in a convenient spot.

Aside from hubs and knobs, other things you could try mounting on the underside of the desk include an external SSD or HDD holder, a battery charger, a small night light or flashlight, small power strips, various remotes, and so on.