3. Getting Cables in Line
Even though most of your PC and home-theater cables are headed roughly to and from the same place (running, for instance, between your desk and a power strip), they all seem to have a will of their own, bending and curling and shooting off in all directions. But with the right accessories, you can corral your cables into one neat line.
Belkin Cable Domes.Belkin's $10 Cable Domes attach to desks, walls, and other furniture via either screws or double-sided tape. Once mounted, you can string your cables through either the big or small holes on the side of the Dome (if necessary, you can adhere several Domes).
Cable Zipper with Zip Clip, labels, and wall mounts.
The $15 Cable Zipper actually encloses all of your cords in one fat tube. Using the included Zip Clip, you can gather up all of your wires, then "zip" them into the snake-like enclosure. The eight-foot Zipper also comes with four adhesive wall mounts and 12 pairs of labels so you can identify individual cords at each end.
4. One-Stop Charging
Is your home office overrun with chargers for your gadgets? If your answer is No, then clearly you don't have enough gadgets. If your answer is Yes, then it's time to clean up the clutter. Gadget charging stations sit on your desk or shelf (or you can find ones that hang on the wall), providing individual slots for docking your cell phone, MP3 player, digicam, and other pocket-sized devices while keeping unsightly cables out of view.
KangaRoom Cell Phone Charging Station.KangaRoom Storage's $30 Cell Phone Charging Station fits four devices in front with a removable key/coin tray on top that covers the cord-storage area and, if you can stuff one in there, a small power strip. Some models, such as JCPenney's $39 Charging Station, even come with a power strip.
Hammacher Schlemmer Five Device Recharging Station.For a techier look, check out Hammacher Schlemmer's $50 Five Device Recharging Station, which sports four AC connectors, two USB ports, and a built-in surge protector. The unit even folds flat in case you want to take it along on a trip or just put it away.
Of course, there's nothing stopping you from saving some cash and making your own charging station. Check out this gadget basket that one MacGyver-type individual posted on the Unclutterer Web site.
5. Proliferating Peripherals
Bluelounge SpaceStation.Perhaps you've pulled the trigger on a USB-challenged MacBook Air, or maybe you've got so many accessories plugged into your notebook that it's starting to look like a Borg. Either way, the $80 Bluelounge SpaceStation should help. This long, flat bar serves as a desktop organizer and USB hub in one (check out our hands-on review). Plug your various cables (iPod, phone, camera, mouse, etc) into the four USB 2.0 ports on the SpaceStation's underside, wind the slack around the various pins, and connect the device's USB cable to your laptop.
You can place some of your smaller gadgets right on top of the SpaceStation, as well as prop up your notebook to create a slightly more ergo-friendly angle. At the back of the bar is a rail for sliding in some of your oft-used business cards, along with a page holder to keep papers upright.
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