Maximize Cubicle Storage with a Variety of Cubicle Shelves

Are you in the market for cubicle shelves to expand the real estate and storage capacity of your small office? Well, this article will give you a number of different options you can utilize to add some much-needed shelf space to your cubicle.

I’ve been in a cubicle for most of my working life. So, since I know that my cubicle space isn’t going to change in the short-term, I took it upon myself to figure out how to make the best of a small situation.

One particular solution to enhancing my small space is to implement cubicle shelving to expand my cubicle storage capabilities.

Office shelf ideas are plentiful out there you just need to find what’s right for you. Many a hanging cubicle shelf can be found in my small office. I even have two different versions of a cubicle corner shelf.

I did it by finding the right cubicle accessories and cool office supplies to enhance the storage in my work area as well as the décor. One of those office supplies I recently purchased is a rear view cubicle mirror which I absolutely love!

Even though my cubicle isn’t near any natural light windows I try to maximize the power of light by utilizing an LED desk lamp which simulates natural light in my small office.

But, as far as the size of my office at work is concerned (not at home), one way that I have been able to optimize that limited amount of space is to implement cubical shelves in my work area. So what are your options?

Office Cubicle Shelves | Shelves for Cubicles Attached to Walls | Cubicle Wall Shelves

If you have been reading my articles on this site then you know that this article introduced a rather unique type of small cubicle shelf which actually is attached to the walls of a cubicle. Shelves for fabric cubicle walls can be found out there in the marketplace in different sizes and shapes.

This type of cubicle shelving comes with a set of stainless steel needles that are affixed to the back of the hard plastic shelf. These needles utilize the same concept as panel clips that I discuss in this article.

Panel clips, cubicle clips (which come in multiple colors), or other cubicle hangers, have pins on the back of the clip that point downward and sink into the grey cubicle wall fabric. A shelf for cubicle typically will also have needles in the back to secure to the fabric panel cubicle walls.

The cubicle hanging shelf shown below utilized 5 sets of stainless steel needles that adhere to the shelf and then the unit is secured to the walls by way of these needles. Cubicle wall shelves will typically have the needles for sinking into the walls to keep them stable.

I not only like the practicality of this unit but it also upgrades the décor of my workspace. It’s one of those unique shelves for cubicles.

Fellowes Plastic Partition Additions Cubicle Hanging Shelf

I’ve had my Fellowes storage office cubicle shelf for many years and it has never wavered. You can see it above on my cubicle wall.

I use it for small items like the ones above. It is recommended not to put more than 5 pounds in total onto the shelf which works perfectly for me.

I can place pictures and other items onto the shelf for cubicle that otherwise would’ve been on my desk. I typically switch up what I place on this handy storage unit.

What is really funny is that since I purchased mine for my cubicle I have seen them crop up in many a cube throughout my office building.

People like the flexibility and versatility of using their walls for storage due to the limited amount of real estate we are afforded in Cube Nation. They also like the upgrade in workspace décor!

Fellowes Partition Additions Letter Tray and Hanging Cubicle Shelf

Another shelf, called a hanging letter tray uses the exact same concept and I write about it here in a lot more detail. The hanging letter tray is basically the same as the small cubicle shelf mentioned previously but the dimensions of the letter tray are a little different. It’s another version of shelves for fabric cubicle walls.

The paper tray projects outward from the wall a little further which allows you to place a file folder, for example, on its surface. You can see it on my cubicle wall in the image above. It is simply another one of those versatile cubicle wall shelves.

I store many different items on this letter tray and not only folders as you can see above. Since I wrote this article, I have purchased a hanging corner shelf unit which also uses the stainless steel needles to attach to the fabric of a cubicle wall.

Target Hanging Cubicle Shelves or a Hanging Corner Cubicle Wall Shelf

Since all cubicle walls typically have similar dimensions, there are a number of different office cubical shelves that you can hang from those walls. This type of cubicle shelving actually uses the top of the cubicle wall to anchor the shelves which allows it to hold heavier items if need be.

I used a set of trays called the Fellowes 75310 Wire Partition Additions Triple Tray and talked about it in more detail in this post.

I must say that I use this triple tray all of the time to hold paperwork that I need to quickly access and that used to take up space on my desktop.

I actually performed an experiment recently by removing the trays for about a week from my cubicle walls. I noticed that everything that used to go into the trays were now sitting on top of my desk.

Needless to say, I put the trays right back up on my cube wall and my desk instantly became free and clear of clutter! I think it’s a good thing to experiment at times by removing items from your office that you aren’t sure whether or not you need them.

In time, you will be able to make the decision as to whether or not they are truly useful.

Hanging File Organizer, Over Door or Cubicle Wall

I do not own the hanging file organizer seen above but my co-worker in the next office does and she loves it for organizing her file folders.

It allows her to label the unit and easily access those folders when she needs them quickly. They are just a different version of a cubicle hanging shelf.

Verticalmate Hanging Cubicle Corner Shelf

One of the really cool office accessories that I came across over the years is the Verticalmate Hanging Corner Cubicle Wall Shelf. It’s not made for a heavy load as you shouldn’t add more than a 5 lb. weight capacity to it.

I’ve placed a small potted plant on my cubical shelf as you can see above. This office cubicle shelf is made out of hard plastic and connects to the cubicle wall with stainless steel needles like other cubicle hanging shelves.

One of the other features to this cool office gadget is that has two hooks in the front from which you can hang your keys or anything else that you like. Cubicle supplies that are really cool are fun to find and to implement in an office setting.

This is just one of those practical and fun cubicle accessories that I’ve used to maximize the footprint of my small office space. Not many people realize that a cubicle corner shelf is actually available in the marketplace to hang in the corner of your cubicle.

Cube storage is a scarce commodity for those of us who work in this small workspace. It’s not like working from home. My home work area is significantly larger than my cubicle at work so the storage capacity is also that much greater.

Free Standing Shelves that Rest on the Desktop

Some people think that the only extra storage capacity you can add to your cubicle is on the walls. Well, that’s not necessarily true. Some examples of modern desk accessories that are also shelves can be seen below.

Limiting yourself to only products that are on the walls of a cubicle is a short-sighted approach. These products could also be utilized in a home office and could add greatly to that space.

Safco Products Onyx Mesh Desk Corner Organizer / Cubicle Bookshelf

There are a variety of desktop shelving options that are available for any office desktop. I wrote about a corner shelf unit in this post which is seen above and what was so great about that shelf is that you could also use it on its side in a different configuration.

Talk about a versatile option! I’ve actually used it using both configurations depending on my needs. It’s almost like a cubicle bookshelf for your office and it adds to your décor!

Safco Products Onyx Mesh Off-Surface Desk Shelf Organizer

The shelf above is very similar to the one that I own. What I love about unique desk shelves like this one is that they allow me to store items above and below which you will see in this post. Any way that I can optimize the small amount of space that I have is always something that intrigues me.

Small Cubicle Shelves can Expand your Office Footprint – You Must Add to Cart

Needless to say, a tiny cubicle has its limitations. I actually love my cubicle because it affords me privacy and now, since the pandemic, it offers a safe haven by providing built-in social distancing.

I am always searching for great options out there to add to my workspace footprint and the shelving mentioned here in this article have certainly allowed me to do so!

Expand your Capabilities with Products that Meet your Work Area Needs

Knowing how you work and what helps you work efficiently in your working space is half the battle. Productivity is different for everyone. I prefer organization in my workspace while others I have worked with in the past don’t see it the way I do.

I worked with someone whose desktop was an absolute mess. But, the question is, was he organized? The answer actually is YES because he knew exactly where everything was in his workspace. If you asked him for something, even in a sea of mess, he could find it in a snap.

I could never understand how that coworker could get anything done in that in what appeared to be a pigsty. I need organization and have always searched for products that match my working style. I will continue to explore what is out there to help me work more efficiently and effectively.

Some products that I have added to my work area are my desktop phone stand, copyholders, printer stand with storage, Brother P-touch Label Maker, and my inclined file organizer.

And those are just a few examples of what I have added to my work area to enhance my organization. Here is a complete list of 10 cubicle storage items I have purchased and utilized over the years.

There are many different options that you have out there in the marketplace. Don’t just look at the options presented above but check out the related products as well. Do some research and you should be able to find the right cubicle shelves to add to your working area.

If you have any questions at all about any of the items shown here or anywhere else on this site please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more info.

What to Read Next:

• 15 Top Tips to Organize your Desk
• My Top 5 Cubicle Hangers and Cubicle Hooks
• How to Hang a Whiteboard in a Cubicle
• Watch Your Back with a Rear View Cubicle Mirror
• Working in a Cubicle – Everything You Should Know