Cable management hacks 

There's a Seinfeld joke that aliens would think dogs in charge of Earth – “you see two lifeforms, one of them is making a poop and the other is carrying it for him. Who would you assume is in charge?"

A similar observation could be made for aliens assuming silicone-based lifeforms in charge, by way of our electronic devices. We carry them with us, protect them, buy accessories to improve form and function, and struggle to live without them. Nowhere is that more visible than at our desks. We use lightening, USB, coaxial, and DC power cords. We have keyboards, monitors, mouses. All of which share a high visibility feature – messy cables! 

This article discusses cable management best practice (or hacks), including those parts that Atdec can solve. Because in our tech-driven world, a cluttered desk quickly becomes a productivity killer, creating an eyesore that makes it harder to focus. Fortunately, a few clever cable management hacks will transform your workspace into a serene haven at which you can be your most productive. Atdec, a leader in ergonomic mounting solutions, offers products designed to streamline cable organisation while enhancing your desk setup. 

Following are practical tips to tame the cable chaos.

Start with an object look at your workspace and assess your setup. Identify all the devices, including monitors, laptops, speakers, and peripherals, and map out where the cables should go. Be specific about which cables will be constant and which will travel with you, because they need separate consideration. 

Many of your cables will be going basically in the same ‘direction,’ eg your laptop, pad, and monitor cables will all start at the power outlet and only split in different directions at the end. Use cable ties or Velcro strips and secure cables together. Clip the cable bundle out of sight under or at the desk rear, out of sight.

If using an Atdec monitor arm, the cable bundle can be concealed the special cable management channels. Some part of the cable will always be visible but my Ora, holding a monitor, completely hides 89% of the monitor power cable. 

Under-desk cable trays are severely neglected outside of Europe – they’re game changers for hiding power strips and excess cord length. Screw it in, toss your power strip and extra cord in there, and you’re done – make sure to use screws shorter than desk width!

Paired with a monitor arm like AWMS-2-LTH75, cables can be effectively obscured above the desk and channelled directly into the cable tray. Tidy floor, tidy desk. 

This is the monitor arm cable management hack – use a monitor arm with built in cable management! All Atdec monitor arms come with cable management, in a few different styles. Ora has the most complete cable management, completely concealing it for most of its length. AWMS-2-D13 also covers cables for almost the entirely above the desk. The cable management channels are very generous to easily hold HDMI, power, and whatever else you may have. 

The ultimate cable management hack is eliminating them as much as possible. Wireless keyboard, mouse, and headphones reduce the number of cables to manage, and are suitable for users outside of high speed domains like gaming and music recording.

Devices including monitors, however, will be wires for at least another decade or three. For those essentials we recommend relying on Atdec desk mounts and the other hacks listed above. AWMS-3-137S4 triple monitor mount, for instance, mounts three monitors to 27” each with an excellent cockpit angle, with built in cable management hiding cables at the rear (unseen if the desk abuts a wall or partition) in a purpose-designed system. 

Atdec monitor arms and mounting solutions are more than just hardware, they’re high performance, Australian-designed, precision manufactured products that actively answer the ergonomic needs of modern workspaces in a smart aesthetically pleasing package. That includes consideration of cable management. From single monitor arms like Ora to complex multi-screen and multi-post configurations, Atdec mounts integrate cable slots, clips, cable covers, and concealed pathways. They keep cords contained and your desk free of clutter for more productive workspace.