Drab to Fab - Desktop Organization

I was scanning through my ridiculously huge page of likes on Pinterest (currently at 1,642...guilty...) and saw a pin that definitely caught my eye about desktop organization. It took me to Heather at Moritz Fine Designs, and it was exactly what I needed to get started–and it was so SIMPLE! I want to share with you some of her tips and some of my own to get your computer life  in order.

With so much going on in my life (3 blogs, 2 kids, 1 Etsy shop, and all the normal SAHM duties), I need every possible organization tip I can find to make my days smoother. Most of my work is done on the computer, so having my documents and files easily accessible is a must. I don't have much spare time to go searching through folders to find what I need, and I'm sure you don't either!

Here's what you need to do to get started from a drab desktop to a FAB desktop:

1. Take a few minutes to get things in order. Make folders and begin to move individual items to the folders. Gather items that are similar or for the same project. Be sure to label your folders in a way that will make it easy to search alphabetically. It's okay to only have 2 or 3 items in a folder–it will be much easier to find those items in a folder that is named well. Rename individual items that are important.

2. Be picky! Only keep the files that you actually will use again. If you have a bunch of random things that you saved from the Internet that you won't ever look at again, delete them. Use good judgment.

3. Decide which folders and individual files you want on your desktop. Only select the most important items that you need to access frequently or quickly.

Now it's time to make it all look fabulous!

1. Determine your screen resolution. 

- Mac: select System Preferences from the Apple menu, then choose Displays. Check and see which resolution is highlighted (mine is 1440 x 900). This is the picture size you will need to download. 

- Windows: click the Start button, the click Control Panel. Find Appearance and Personalization, then choose the Adjust screen resolution option below it. There will be a drop-down resolution list that shows your current resolution setting. This is the picture size you will need to download.

2. Choose from one of the two designs below and follow the link to the folder of resolution sizes. Choose the resolution that is right for your display and download it.
**If you need a 2880x1800 size of either design, send me an email requesting it and I will email it to you. Google Docs won't let me upload it for some reason.** 

3. Go to the website Picmonkey. Upload the image and use the text box function to add titles to each of the banners. Re-save the image, making sure not to change the size of the picture before downloading it.

4. Upload the newly edited image as your desktop background image.

- Mac: go to System Preferences from the Apple menu. Click the Desktop & Screen Saver button. When that window opens, find the newly edited image, click it, and you're done! (You can also find the image on your desktop or in your downloads folder and right click and choose Set Desktop Picture.)

- Windows: right-click your desktop and choose the option Personalize. Choose Desktop Background (bottom left), then browse and find your image and choose it for the background. Select Save Changes, then you are done!

5. Arrange folders into the new boxes on your desktop background. (This part was really fun for me!)

and...Voila! Your FABULOUS new desktop!!

Download Cheetah Wallpaper Here

Download Chevron Wallpaper Here

Being organized on my computer has saved me tons of time already...except if you count the time I have spent just staring at my screen in amazement and adoration...

Make sure to keep up with desktop organization as much as possible. Minutes after setting up my new desktop, I downloaded half a dozen files that suddenly cluttered my space. I quickly moved them to the correct folders or boxes so that I wouldn't have the same chaos that I had before.

I hope the tutorial helps you to get your life in order. Please leave any questions or comments below. I'd love to hear how this works out for you! Also, share your new, organized screen with me and my followers on Twitter or Instagram (@seenikkicreate) by using #sncdesktoplove!