If you’re trying to enjoy your multi-monitor desk setup, but always find your desk too crammed as a result, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to talk about ways you can reclaim that precious desk space.
Monitors typically come with huge built-in monitor stands that can take up a ton of desk space. They are nice and stable, but is it worth such a huge loss in desk space? No way.
I’ve dealt with this issue with every monitor I’ve had in the last decade or so, so I’m going to show you what I did to maximize my desk space and what other options you have.
We’ll also touch on additional ways you can get back some desk space regardless of your monitor situation.
4 Ways To Make Your Monitors Take Up Less Space
Use Desk Clamp Monitor Arms
This first solution will be the best option for most folks out there. If you haven’t heard of monitor arms, they are replacements for your factory stand that clamp onto your table.
They no longer need a large freestanding platform to keep your monitor in place. Desk clamp mounts are pretty strong and only use a small clamping area at the edge of your desk.
There are a ton more benefits to using monitor arms, but gaining desk space is one of the big ones. Take a look at how much desk space my desk clamping monitor arm uses.
The first image is my old 27″ 4K monitor, and the second image is my current 34″ ultrawide monitor. If you plan on mounting an ultrawide, check out our article on the best monitor arms for ultrawide monitors. They are a worthy investment. Look how much desk space I have as a result of the small clamp mount base!
The clamping area of these monitor mounts is really small which gives you back a bunch of desk space. You can use a lot more room underneath your monitor with one of these stands.
Here’s what the mounting clamp looks like on these monitor mounts.
Maximize your efficiency and productivity with this fully adjustable gas spring monitor mount that fits monitors up to 32" and supports up to 17.6 lbs each. The locking system provides a strong and stable connection with your desk and monitor screen while the gas spring stand allows for tilt, swivel, and rotation.
Wall Mount Your Monitor
If your desk setup is going to be in place for a while and you’re willing to drill into the studs of your wall, a wall mount is a good option.
Wall mounts completely remove any monitor base from your desk. You simply purchase a monitor mount like the one shown below, and follow the instructions on wall mounting.
This monitor arm is compatible with monitors up to 32" and has a heavy-duty wall plate that can be mounted to both brick walls and wood wall studs. It can be extended 17", tilted, swiveled, and rotated from landscape to portrait mode.
This typically involves finding a wooded stud in your wall, and screw mounting this mount directly to the stud.
The result is a super clean desk setup where your multiple monitor setup is basically floating over your desk because the stand is not visible.
Combine a wall mount like this with cable raceways that match your wall color for a cable-free look.
This cable concealer is an easy-to-install, easy-to-use, high-quality wire management system that ensures aesthetics are undisturbed by covering up those loose cables. It comes with a unique locking system and strong adhesive tape that can be painted to match your wall color. The wire hider is DIY-friendly and can be cut down to the desired length.
Use Stacked Monitors For A Narrow Setup
If you find that your monitors are taking up too much space because they are all side by side, consider a stacked setup instead.
Stacked monitors are just monitors placed on top of one another instead of side by side. You can still cut down on the used desk space with a mount like this:
This dual monitor mount fits two ultra-wide screens 13” to 32” in size and 22 lbs in weight (each). Simple installation with detachable VESA bracket plates and integrated cable management.
We have a dedicated guide on getting the best stacked monitor setup. In that article, we talk about how to place your monitors to best avoid any neck pain with stacked monitors.
I always recommend stacked monitor setups for those using smaller desks too. They just fit in a lot more places. It’s easier to come by the extra height at a desk than the extra width.
Depending on how many monitors you have, you can arrange those monitors in a variety of ways. Amazon has a ton of different mounts. For example,
This monitor arm fits most flat panel monitors up to 27" and supports up to 22 lbs per arm. It offers multiple adjustment options, including tilt, swivel, and rotate, and can be mounted on a 31.5" height pole. It helps improve productivity and ergonomics by opening up desk space and reducing neck and eye strain.
Replace Old Monitors With Huge Bezels
This last tip is pretty minor compared to the previous recommendations, but every little bit helps! If you haven’t updated your monitors for a while, chances are you have monitors with some huge bezels.
Big bezel monitors of the past can take up a pretty significant amount of desk space depending on how many monitors you have.
Monitor bezels have been shrinking pretty dramatically these days. Even on laptops, the size of a new 15-inch laptop is the same size as an old 13-inch simply due to the bezel sizes.
I highly recommend Dell monitors as they have a huge selection for different functions and budgets. The 24-inch monitor below has ultra-thin bezels and decent pricing.
This is an elegant desktop monitor with a three-sided ultrathin bezel design. The In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel ensures consistent colors across wide viewing angles.
In addition to taking up less space, multiple monitor setups with ultra-thin bezels will also give you a much better user experience. Each screen will transition to the other much more seamlessly.
Making More Desk Space Regardless of Monitors
The tips above are mainly ways to get more desk space when monitors are taking up too much space. There are still many other ways you can make space on your desk, regardless of the monitor situation.
You can see a complete list in our dedicated article on getting more space on your desk.
Move Peripherals onto a Keyboard Tray
My mouse and keyboard take the largest chunk of space on my desk. It makes sense, this is the main way we use our computers after all.
If you still need more desk real estate for other things, I would highly recommend placing your mouse and keyboard on a dedicated keyboard tray. There are a couple of benefits to using a keyboard tray:
- Easy installation – many sliding keyboard trays simply clamp onto your desk.
- Lowers hand position – beneficial for people using desks that are too tall.
- Increased desk space & less cluttered desk look
- Keyboard trays slide away under your desk after use, protecting them from dust buildup over time.
This under-desk keyboard tray saves desk space and holds your keyboard, mouse, and small accessories below your desk. It easily slides in and out, extending a maximum of 8.5" from the edge of your desk. The tray is attached with C-clamps that hold everything in place and are easily adjustable. (The tray is not compatible with desktops that have beveled edges.)
If you have a thick desk, check out our article on clamping keyboard trays for thick desks.
Place Your Laptop on Laptop Arm
Are you using a laptop that sits on your desk? In our article on laptop stands vs laptop arms, we talked about how much more space a laptop arm gets you.
Instead of your laptop taking up a big chunk of space on your desk, laptop arms raise your laptop and mount them via a small desk clamp. This is a similar space-saving (or space-making) method as monitor mounts.
This is what my desk looked like when I used my laptop arm:
With a laptop mounting arm, the laptop simply floats above your desk instead of taking up the “laptop-sized” desk space. Another easy way to make desk space.
The laptop arm mount saves space, keeps your workstation organized, and promotes efficient multitasking. The 360-degree rotation feature provides complete flexibility to achieve the perfect viewing angle.
- Low profile design
- Gas spring actuated
- Laptop side supports
- 12-17" laptop compatibility
- High cost
Mount Items On The Back of Your Monitor
If you have a bunch of small items on your desk that you don’t necessarily need to see, consider mounting them to your monitor instead.
In our articles on hiding your docking station and hiding your laptop, some of the solutions involved mounting your devices behind your monitor.
For example, check out this VESA adapter for holding docking stations hidden behind your monitor:
This Universal Docking Station Holder features multiple mounting options, including VESA compatible mounting plate, heavy-duty C-clamp, and under-desk installation hardware. It creates a clean and minimalistic workspace setup, improves cable management, and comes with easy assembly and installation instructions.
I currently have my bias lights on the back of my monitor along with the bias light controller. I don’t need to see the controller, I just reach behind the monitor and press the power button every day.
Think of similar items that are sitting on your desk that you don’t need to visually interact with all the time. Those might be good candidates for hiding either under your desk or behind your monitors if possible!
