We all know that messy, tangled, and unorganized cords are a neat freak’s worst nightmare, and if this is the case with you, we’ve got you covered.
The solution is simple – mount a power strip under your desk, and all your cable-related problems will be solved. But for that, you need to know how to mount it yourself. And if you don’t know how, we’ll explain the process step by step.
Keep on reading to learn how to mount a power strip or a surge protector under your desk and all the tips and tricks we have in store for you.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Mount a Power Strip to a Desk?
If you’re wondering why you should even make an effort to mount the power strip to your desk, we’ll give you the 411 below.
Looks Cleaner
First of all, mounting your power strip gives a cleaner and more aesthetically-pleasing look to your work desk area. Not only does this mean that cords won’t be piling up on the ground and collecting dust, but your work desk will look neat and professional.
Keeps You Productive
Productivity is what we’re all after during our work day and mounting the power strip will not only help your work desk be clutter-free but also make you more productive. Clutter tends to cloud our minds and distract us while working, which is why this small change can make a huge difference.
Keeps You More Relaxed
We all know that an organized work desk keeps you more relaxed and focused on your work, and mounting the power strip helps your work desk look its best.
Saves You Time
Tangled cords take a long time to detangle and detach, especially when you have to do this over and over. So, having the power strip mounted on the desk saves you the time you’ll spend detaching the cords.
Should You Mount Your Power Strip?
Mounting your surge protector may seem like a good idea, but you don’t have to do it. Here’s what you need to take into consideration before you decide on whether you should mount your power strip.
The Size of Your Desk
The first thing you need to consider is how big your desk is, more specifically, the length and height of your desk. If there isn’t enough room for the power strip to be mounted and it gets in the way of cabinets or other surrounding furniture, there’s no sense in mounting it.
How Effective Mounting the Power Strip Will Be
If mounting the power strip just transfers all the cords under your desk and they’re just hanging visibly next to the wall, this just doesn’t do much in terms of improving the appearance of your work desk. Put some time into proper cable management and the desk will be less cluttered with cables.
How Far the Wall Socket Is From the Power Strip
If your wall socket is far from the mounting strip, there’s no sense in going through the trouble of mounting the power strip. For standard work desks that convert to standing desks, it also makes no sense to mount the power strip as you’ll need to unmount it and mount it every time you want to change the position of the desk.
Now, let’s go over a few different ways you can mount a power strip under your desk.
How to Mount a Power Strip to a Desk?
You can use various methods to mount your power strip to the desk. Some of them require screws, others require velcro, and some even use zip ties. Read below to learn more about each one.
We’ll start with the easiest methods that don’t require you to drill into your desk, and the first one is using velcro.
Velcro
Using velcro tape is one of the easiest methods for mounting a power strip. Simply stick the velcro on the desk and latch it to the velcro on the power strip. This is a good way to move around the position of the power strip as you can put velcro tape in more than one place on the desk. This method works great for a desk that converts from a sitting to a standing desk. Velcro is also a great idea as it doesn’t have adhesives that can wear out, but it can’t hold very heavy objects.
Double-Sided Tape
Using double-sided tape is one of the easiest ways you can mount a power strip to your desk. Just cut one piece of the tape and place it on the back of the power strip, peel the adhesive, and stick it on the desk. Just keep in mind that the tape loosens over time and your power strip may fall off. Moreover, this type of tape can’t hold very heavy cords, so opt for a different technique if that’s the case. The best type of tape you can use for this purpose is 3M VHB (Very High Bond).
Screws
When most people think about mounting a power strip, they instantly think of screwing it to the desk, and most power strips do have 2 screw slots in the back for this purpose.
To mount your power strip to the desk using screws, you first need to measure out the distance between the slots on the power strip and mark the same distance on your desk. Remember that your screws should be just a bit shorter than the thickness of your desk so there is enough grip, but the screws don’t go through the back of your desk. Next, place the screws in the right location and screw them in place. Finally, leave them not fully screwed in so that the mounts on the power strip or surge protector can grip onto them. You can leave approximately 1/8 of an inch or 4 mm exposed.
Basket
Another option could be adding a basket behind your desk and inserting the power strip inside. While the basket is more visible compared to having the power strip screwed to the back of your desk or under it, this option gives you the opportunity to detach the spike suppressor.
Zip Ties
If all else fails, you can use zip ties to organize all the cables and have a good cable management system. For this, you should choose one of the methods above for attaching the power strip, and then use zip ties to organize the cables.
Final Thoughts and Alternatives
To sum up, mounting your power strip to your desk is a very straightforward process. You just need to choose the right method for the type of desk you have.
Additionally, you may want to look into a few alternatives, such as:
- Mounting the power strip directly to the wall without drilling into your desk;
- Just hiding the power strip behind other furniture or inside a drawer.
As we mentioned above, proper cable management and mounting the power strip to your desk will do wonders for your workspace. It will not only help make it look more organized, but you’ll also be more productive and focused without being annoyed by all the cables lying around your floor and collecting dust.
