This IKEA Organizing Find Literally Creates Storage Out of Thin Air

Sitting at my desk is one of my favorite pastimes. I love to blast music with my laptop open to Pinterest, a craft in the making next to me, and my journal on the other side collecting my random thoughts. Between my hobbies (and my homework!), so much happens at my desk that I need the right organizers to curate the ideal setup.

Enter the IKEA desktop shelf! Two Dorm Therapy editors spotted this item on a desk at IKEA’s Chicago showroom event earlier this month and had a total dorm organization a-ha moment. It’s perfect for any dorm or small space, since it creates storage using the empty space above and around your desktop, leaving you with plenty of precious workspace. Here’s what to know about this $29.99 shelf that might just instantly upgrade your dorm desk.

This steel desktop shelf comes in both black and white, and you don’t even have to worry about a troublesome installation. Just use the screw mounts on the bottom to tighten the shelf onto the edge of your desk or tabletop (the mounts fit tabletops up to 50 millimeters thick). A storage solution that clamps directly onto your furniture is the perfect answer to living in a small dorm space, and according to the product listing on IKEA, the mounts have a “soft surface” to help protect “the top of the table from scratches and pressure marks.” 

This IKEA shelf has two tiers that you can adjust into three different positions (centered, left, or right) depending on what fits your desk best. Measuring about 14 inches tall, 19 inches wide, and 6 inches deep, this shelf can fit a decent amount of items. And for just about $30, it solves the challenge of finding extra storage in a small dorm room on a college budget.

College students can use this desktop shelf in countless ways to maximize their space. Clamp the shelf onto your desk and use the shelves to stash your makeup, your craft supplies, and your school essentials. You could even use it to store your nighttime routine essentials if your desk doubles as your nightstand.

Suddenly, you have more desk space for your laptop, homework, and whatever else you need to use your desk for throughout the day. You could use freed-up space to add a vanity mirror to your desk to turn it into the cutest getting-ready station, too.  

The IKEA VATTENKAR desktop shelf seems like it could be a super useful addition to any dorm room, helping your space feel more functional and less cramped. You could even clip photos, postcards, or other memories from home onto the shelves to personalize it.

Amazon Prime Day is here, and our editors are sorting through thousands of deals to find the ones actually worth shopping. Shop our favorite bedding, dorm kitchen items, desk organizers, and more here, now through June 26.