Hola to all my Organize & Refine Your Home Challenge friends! During the month of July, we’re going to devote some attention to the clutter and chaos that lurks within our computers. Let’s begin with computer desktop organization, shall we?
So I have this habit of storing files on my computer desktop. I like to keep the documents that I’m currently working on there. I like to keep files I refer to often there too. Oh, and I also tend to use the desktop as my default place to download stuff from around the web.
As you can imagine, things can quickly become cluttered and chaotic.
I’m betting that a lot of you share my habit. If your computer desktop tends to be a file clutter magnet, then you know too well the aggravation and lost time associated with having to look for a particular application, file, or file folder amid the chaos:
Who’s got time for this?
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution to combat computer desktop clutter…a wallpaper that’s designed to categorize your files by type. Once uploaded to your computer, all you need to do is move your computer icons to the appropriate area on your desktop.
Isn’t this organized computer desktop a thing of beauty?
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Not only is it beautiful, but it allows me to be infinitely more productive during work sessions. So, let’s go through the process of how to get that gorgeous, organized computer desktop, shall we?
How to Organize a Computer Desktop with Desktop Wallpaper
Create a temporary “To Be Organized” folder on your desktop
The first step in the process to create a temporary file on your computer desktop that you’ll use to gather all of the various desktop icons into one neat and tidy place. Once you’ve dragged all of the icons into this folder, your blood pressure will immediately decrease as you’re left with a clean slate to work with.
Upload a desktop organizer wallpaper & save it as your desktop background
Your desktop background organizer will provide an organizational framework for arranging icons on your computer desktop by category. You can create your very own wallpaper using a free graphic design program such as Canva.
As you design your wallpaper, you’ll need to determine the most common three to six broad categories of files that you tend to save on your desktop. For example, my files tend to fall into one of four categories:
- Work
- Personal
- To File (files that I don’t need immediate access to, but would like to archive)
- For Reference (file that I refer to on a regular basis
To expedite the process a bit for you, I’m sharing two versions of my desktop organization wallpaper — one with category labels, and one without so that you have the option to create customized labels to suit your needs (you can simply upload the “without labels” version to Canva and insert a text box on each of the blank category banner areas).
For each wallpaper, simply click on the link below the image to download it to your desktop.
Once it’s downloaded, you’ll need to set the image as your desktop wallpaper (for Mac users, save the wallpapers to your Pictures folder, then right-click anywhere on your desktop, select the “Change Desktop Background” option, then select the downloaded wallpaper).
Check out these summer-themed computer desktop organizing wallpapers too!
Sort and purge files in the “To Be Organized” folder
Did you think that you’d escape the sort and purge process, just because we’re focusing on our digital life this month? Not a chance my friend.
The next step in the process is to drag each of the files/folders contained in that To Be Organized folder back onto the desktop and take one of the following action steps:
- Drag it into the trash can if you no longer need it
- File it away in the appropriate place within your computer file structure if you’re keeping it as part of your reference/archives documents
- Drag it to the appropriate area (category) on your desktop.
As you go through this process, remember — that little Trash icon is your BFF!
Create a maintenance plan and establish good desktop organization habits
I recommend cleaning up your desktop on a weekly basis. If you’re like me, you’ll be more inspired to tackle this mundane task when there’s some “pretty” involved. So make sure you create an organizer wallpaper that you truly love to look at!
Of course, this weekly maintenance task might become unnecessary if you cultivate some good daily habits when it comes to managing your desktop files. For instance, when you’ve saved a file on your desktop for temporary use but no longer need it, be sure to drag it into your Trash ASAP to keep things lean and mean on your desktop.
Likewise, when you download apps and files onto your desktop, make it a point to immediately drag them to the correct location on your desktop.
Computer Desktop Organization Assignment:
- Create a temporary To Be Organized folder on your desktop and clear your desktop by moving all files to this folder
- Determine common categories for desktop icons
- Create a desktop organizer wallpaper based on your categories and select this image as your desktop background
- Sort and purge files contained in To Be Organized folder
- Schedule a weekly appointment for computer desktop maintenance
I’d love for you to share Before & After screenshots of your computer desktop on Instagram (use the hashtag #ORGANIZEANDREFINECHALLENGE and don’t forget to tag me) and/or share it in the Refined Rooms Facebook community!
Once you’ve organized your computer desktop, it’s time to move on to the next three projects in this month’s computer organization challenge:
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This post is part of the Organize and Refine Your Home Challenge
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Amie says
I’m not a techie, but I have heard it slows down your computer (especially start-up) to have a bunch of files stored on the desktop. All files/folders should go into My Documents, with Shortcuts to the desktop for the ones you need quick or temp access to. Shortcut icons would still easily fit into your functional wallpaper. To maintain, I just take a quick look and make sure all my desktop icons have the little arrow at the bottom left indicating it’s a shortcut and make sure that all shortcuts are still relevant or in need of purging. Also, keeping all docs/files in My Documents makes back-up and transferring easy since you don’t have to hunt around or worry, “Am I missing something?!?!?”
Natalie Gallagher says
Hey Amie!
I haven’t heard that, but it is entirely possible. I’m not an advocate of having tons of icons on my desktop, but I do keep a select few just for convenience (things I’m constantly referencing and projects I’m currently working on). I do like your idea of using short cuts in place of actual docs on the desktop. As far as backup is concerned, I don’t think the location of your docs really matters because you can dictate what should be backed up (including the desktop file) when you set up automatic cloud backups, as well as backups through EHDs.
Susan says
Very Very Creative: I have to put some thought into this idea and see how it would work for me. Thank you for this project
Natalie Gallagher says
Thanks so much Susan. Come back and let me know if this organizing solution works for you