Organize Charging Cables with Cable ID Labels

Welcome to the 257th Metamorphosis Monday!

My Before and Aftert today is a minor change here in the office. It’s a small update but one that has made life a little easier. I love those kinds of tweaks, sometimes they can have the biggest impact. (Psst: If you’re new to reading BNOTP, you can see the Before and After for the office in this previous post: Creating a Home Office)

Pottery Barn Bedford Office Layout

 

See that area underneath my monitors, the area where the white arrow is pointing?

Pottery-Barn-Bedford-Office-Layout

 

That’s command central, a busy hub for plugging in and charging the things I use on a daily basis. It’s where I charge the battery for my camera, my cell phone, my wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and my iPad. Originally there were just two outlets there, but I added this charging thingamabob found in Best Buy a year or so ago and it gave me multiple outlets, plus two USB charging slots.

I love having all the charging cables available in this area since it’s super convenient for charging the keyboard and the mouse that are just a few inches away, as well as my cell phone and iPad. I also enjoy being able to use those things at my desk while they are still being charged. The only thing that drives me a little crazy about this system is sorting through the maze of cords to figure out which one I need when something needs charging.

Cable Labels

 

I decided recently to label the cords. At first I tried labeling them with some little round stickers I already had. Those lasted about 2 minutes and beginning peeling off. That led to a Google search for “cord labels” which led me to The Container Store where I found these Cable IDs. I ordered them online since the nearest location is about 30-45 minutes away through heavy traffic. Shipping was free and they arrived in just a few days.

Cable IDs

 

I definitely like these. I like how they fit snuggly around the cords instead of sticking out and getting caught on stuff as you use them. After having them on the cords for just a few days, the different colors have made it easy to quickly identify which cable is which, without even taking time to read the labels.

Cable Organizers

 

I initially tried labeling them with a pencil in case I wanted to reuse one for another purpose later. I couldn’t get a pencil to write on them but a pen or marker works fine. I still have several “Cable IDs” left over to use on the rat’s nest of cords lurking behind my desk that go to the printer and various other things plugged in back there.

Organize Cables with Labels

 

I also like this idea I found at Mashable. I wonder what holds the cable thingy down on the desk…maybe it sticks to the surface.

Cable Organizer

 

Do you have a special way to keep up with all your charging cords? Have you seen the bread tie method where you use the little flat plastic thingies that sometimes come on the end of bread wrappers? That’s definitely an economical way to go, as long as they don’t pop off or get caught on other things when in use.

Looking forward to the Before and Afters linked for this Met Monday!

One on sidebar

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Comments

  1. I just use bread ties to tie up the excess cable! But I love both of the products you’ve shown here. Very helpful. Happy New Year, Susan, wishing you many blessings – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

  2. Your cable ID cords are a product that we need! It’s a maze of cords under our desk and it’s like solving a puzzle to figure out what cord goes to which product. Thanks for this tip!

  3. Susan, what a great idea! I also love the cord holder. I’m off to check these out; thanks for sharing! Thank you for hosting another great party! Happy New Year!

  4. Cable craziness should be listed as a condition in the dictionary. I daresay we have all had to deal with those necessary lines of frustration. Great solution, Susan.

    Thank you for hosting and inspiring us.♥

  5. I can never seem to get get my all my cords organized. They always end up a mess on my kitchen counter! Thanks for the party and Happy New Year! XO

  6. Susan, I LOVE your “charging station” that in itself is a good idea. But…you rocked it with your cord identifier discovery. I strongly dislike tangles and coupling that with wondering which cord is in your hand….arrrrrrgh!!!! Thanks for the tip!!

    Wishing you a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!
    ~Diane

  7. What a perfect and colorful solution Susan! Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year!

  8. pam ~ crumpety cottage says

    Those cord identifiers are brilliant! They are right up my alley. I’m going to get some. I am always on the look out for useful little organization things and those look well thought out. I like them a lot.

    What you said about charging your cordless mouse and keyboard caught my attention. I have used cordless for years as well, but never recharged? When the battery finally gives out (fortunately, they last a very long time) I just change it. I wouldn’t even know how to recharge them, lol. 😀 Anyway, great find and thanks for sharing, Susan. Have a good day!

    • Pam, my wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse came with the charging cord and you just plug it into the back of the keyboard or the mouse when the light starts indicating it needs it. My keyboard is also lit from underneath so if I’m typing in the evening and it gets dark out, I can still see the keyboard without turning on a lamp. The keyboard and mouse both need charging around every two weeks.

      • pam ~crumpety cottage says

        Hmm … my first one was a Logitech but now I have a Dell. I guess it was just a different model. I love the idea of it being lit from underneath. I have a couple of those small stick on lights inside my keyboard drawer for nighttime typing, but it would be so much nicer your way. I’ll have to get that style next time.

  9. Great use of those little gadgets, Susan. Have a Happy New Year, and enjoy your celebration. As I was reading your post on the prep work, I was breathing a sigh of relief that mine is over – now the undecorating process is in full swing. Thanks for hosting, and providing your help in this, my first year. It’s a wrap!
    Rita C. at Panoply

  10. Great idea, Susan! Happy New Year!…Hugs…Debbie

  11. I love how you live in Atlanta with access to all sorts of shopping yet you order online! Here it’s a necessity! Love your idea of a designated charging station with the cable id labels. I’m looking around right now thinking about where I can put one! Enjoy your New Year’s party that you’re hosting!

  12. Love those cord labelers! Thanks so much for hosting, Susan. Best wishes for a wonderful 2014!
    Blessings,
    Nici

  13. I am so impressed that you are already organizing for the New Year! These cord labels look great and I love the Container Store, I must make a visit asap to get a start on my organizing plans! Thanks for the info~

  14. Ugh! I hate cords in my house (why can’t everything be wireless?) and like your solution to make it easier to find what goes to what! Thanks for hosting, Susan!

  15. What a BRILLIANT idea! I need those!! I’m currently using masking tape. 🙁
    Thanks for the tip & for hosting MM today.

    Warm Hugs,
    Rett

  16. I DESPISE cords…sometimes I dream about being strangled by CORDS..we have CORDS everywhere…cords and doors…my Achilles heel! At least yours are now colorful! franki

  17. Oh, those cables are often times the “stress-of-the-day!” That looks like a great system you have. Thanks for hosting, Susan!

  18. Susan, I just love those cord thingies. I am ordering them today. We don’t have a container store in Savh but I sure like to buy online. Thanks for the tip and thanks for hosting for so many years.
    Have a Blessed New Year…I know you will.
    xoGinger

  19. Susan,
    Love the new cable cord connectors that organize all those cords!!!
    Thank you for hosting Metamorphosis Monday each week!!!
    Looking forward to a wonderful year filled with “new” projects!!!
    HaPpY NeW YeAr!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

  20. Love your cord labels! It would make things so much easier to figure out. Thanks so much for hosting and Happy New Year!
    KC

  21. Phyllis Boykin says

    Wow, how neat. Your tips and ideas are always so good.

  22. I’ll never forget the dusty day that I did that to all the cords running around my husbands desk. I could have put all his cords in one of those garden hose pots that I have seen. It was a tangled mess so I appreciate your tidy neat fix to a problem I am sure everybody wrestles with.
    Hugs
    Becky

  23. This is really a great idea, Susan; thanks so much for sharing with us!! I hear you on the “rat’s nest” of cords and cables. Aggghhh! Technology is great, but all those cables and cords. I will have to show this to my husband so we can look into getting some.

    Thank you for hosting Met Monday and have a great week! 🙂

    Denise

  24. I’m going to try those labels. Mine look like a rats nest, and I have to trace cords down all the time. Thanks for hosting and have a Happy New Year!

    Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com

  25. Great cord ID cables markers. Fabulous way to get organized. Thanks for the great tip. The new year is my organization year of everything. Time to declutter and organize stuff even more. Happy New Year to you and your family.

  26. Juanita in OH says

    This is the ultimate way to keep up with these things. I can barely remember which cord is which so you have solved a huge problem for me. I keep saying to myself that I HAVE to do something about this mess; however, I never do.
    Thank you for sharing and indispensable tip, this is a great way to start the New Year.

  27. Love that organization tip! Cable ID’s a super idea! Thank you for hosting, Susan…Happy 2014!

  28. Susan, thanks for another great year of giving us BNOTP! Personally, I have learned so much from you over the years. One of my most loved Christmas gifts was inspired by you. Yes, Mario Buatta’s book was on my list thanks to your post about it.

    Wishing you a wonderful New Year!
    Helen

    • Helen, so exciting that you got Mario’s book! I loved it! Is it not the biggest book in the world?!!! 🙂 I think I’ll pull it out again tonight…I never tired of reading/looking at it. Thanks so much for those kind words…appreciate you!

  29. Thanks Susan, for such a great organizational tip…and I’m an organizing fanatic. Thank you too for hosting MM this week and every week. It’s such a great place to find new blogs and inspiration. Hope you have a very Happy New Year!
    Kristi

  30. Susan, those nasty cords are my nemesis, too! I bought a pretty Pottery Barn charging station a few years back for all of our phones, etc. It works very well in that one spot, but now I have a solution for all the other “spots” that have turned into charging stations! Thanks for the party and Happy New Year! 🙂

  31. Great idea, Susan! I’m always trying to figure out which cord is the charger for my Nook. Your office looks so nice, and I can see how those cord labels would be helpful. Thank you for hosting. laurie

  32. Linda S. in NE says

    It looks like we could have all used those two organizing devices in our Christmas stockings this year!! Lots of people frustrated by what you are describing. I, too, am fascinated by the idea of your lighted keyboard, and will look for that feature next time I am need of new keys. Thanks for the ideas.

  33. Thanks ever so much for your blog, Susan! It’s always such a pleasure to read and learn with you. You have inspired me to up my creativity – and created a true forum for like minded souls where the generous sharing of ideas flows.
    Wishing you a wonderful new year full of inspiration and invention!
    Katherine G

  34. Never mind the cords (although I love anything that creates more organization) where did you get the lovely curtains? Do tell.
    thanks and Happy New Year

  35. Thanks Susan, I was hoping for a post on them-was fearing they were custom made. They do cozy up the room so well. Just curious if they were both panels were equal length? Maybe a stupid question but every time (and I do mean every time Ive ordered panels from online sources-P.Barn, Crate/Barrel and Restoration Hardware I end up with two different lengths of panels and end up having to return them. Ive never ordered from Country curtains and wonder about their quality control in that aspect.

    • Yep, they were the same length as far as I could tell. I purchased them a bit long. That is bizarre that you’ve been getting different lengths…terrible quality control for sure. Country Curtains is a family owned business located in Stockbridge, MA. They have a bunch of actual retail locations up in the northeast. I visited one in VA once…very nice store and great quality. They’ve been around a long time, too so they must be doing something right. 🙂

      • Susan,
        yes apparently length problems are widespread problem these days and advice is to order twice as many as you need to find matching pairs. I need 96 inches and have received curtains anywhere between 90-100 inches with no matches.
        So glad to finally have a source for curtains now! I love the look of lined as well-good call.

        • Wow, I never knew that. I hadn’t purchased any curtains in ages when I bought the ones for the office. About a year later I bought some from the Ballard Designs Outlet for the dining room. They again are realllllly long since I wanted to hang them near the ceiling. They appear to be about the same length but since they are so long, it’s hard to tell. I just have them puddling right now…may hem them one day. Thanks for telling me about all the issues with length…that’s good to know. If you order any from CC, let me know if they come correctly, hopefully they will.

          • Will let you know about lengths if I do order and after seeing this post I probably will. Love the gold/yellow color
            http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2013/01/buffalo-check-and-matelasse
            I have no idea what gives with curtain lengths and its very frustrating to have to keep ordering and returning while having no curtains on your windows. I once called Restoration Hardware outlet trying to find matching 96 inch panels they were nice enough to measure their entire stock and still no matches-which they admitted was common and why they were sold at the outlet! If you check the reviews for curtains you will get an idea of weather or not lengths are matching. Some people are ordering long and hemming to the correct size. Crazy considering the prices. Country curtains are almost “cheap” in comparison. I couldnt believe they actually sell them in pairs (like they should be I think) =)
            thanks again! Happy New Year!

    • I just looked online at their site and here’s the link to the curtains I purchased: http://www.countrycurtains.com/product/01015p166+buffalo+check+rod+pocket+curtains.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search
      They come in three colors. I did have mine lined which cost more but I really like the weight and how they feel lined.

  36. Hi Susan, I love that cable organizer from Mashables – definitely need one of these as those annoying disorganized cables in my office are driving me crazy. Thanks for hosting another Metamorphosis Monday Party and wishing you a veryblessed and creative 2014!

  37. Thank you for the paint link. Next time I get the nerve to paint I’m going for tea biscuit (looks like SW vanillin which I love but havent tried yet).
    Sorry everyone for highjacking the thread with curtain talk. =)

  38. Wow, you have chosen a colorful and perfect solution to organize the wire. The cable labels you have used are very beautiful.

  39. Christina McCall says

    Susan, your office looks awesome!! Being a nurse who also runs a Breast Cancer Awareness store from my home, I am pretty much technically challenged. I love being organized, but to take the time to go out and find all of the things to organize it all is just too overwhelming. I would rather work in the yard all day, chainsaw down to make my sun garden area more sunny. You get my point. Thank you soooo soooo very much on your tips for organizing all of these millions of cords we now need to use a computer, i phone, camera, i pad, wireless stuff etc…. Thank you for sharing the leg work you did on what to order. First thing tomorrow, I will be ordering some of these items.

    I normally sew and line all of my window treatments. Pretty particular about the quality of the fabric. Typical OCD in some areas. I will check out the country kitchen and look at the fabrics, prices and other things. Again, staying up late to look at all of your post does take time, but so very worth it!!!
    I love your office and how much you share about your resources. Thank you again. Christina

  40. Thanks for sharing your solution to the cord problem. I now know how to solve my daughter’s cord problem. Yes!!! She has a maze of extention cords and chargers that are a typical mess. Will be looking in stores today before I order anything on line. I need to get out…cold and snow can make on home bound!

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