The home office journal / Practical decisions

Drawers, carts or pegboard: choose storage by access

Compare ALEX, HELMER, RASKOG and SKADIS using footprint, installation and daily access.

By Office Home Supply editorial · Updated 2026-10-10 · 3 minute read

Sort the contents before the furniture

Put daily papers, occasional documents, small tools and charging accessories into separate groups. Measure the largest actual item in each group. Then decide which items should be visible, enclosed or movable. A drawer, a cart and a wall organizer have different access patterns; the one with the neatest photograph may not suit your routine. Keep the storage task in view while comparing dimensions and separately purchased parts.

Drawers create an opening footprint

The white ALEX record identifies item 004.735.46, a 27.5-inch-tall drawer unit with drawer stops and a finished back. The white HELMER record identifies item 006.199.02, a steel unit on casters with label slots and its own drawer and total load limits. Draw the unit with the drawer open beside your chair. A narrow closed footprint can still obstruct access during normal use. Do not transfer a capacity from one unit to the other or assume every paper size fits without checking the usable interior.

A cart needs a route as well as a parking space

RASKOG item 305.867.83 is the standard white steel cart in this catalog. Its recorded footprint and height belong on the room plan, alongside the manufacturer's per-shelf and total load limits. Lockable casters are an access feature, not permission to exceed those limits. Test where a cart will move and where it will remain during work. Leave connectors and cables out of the path, and keep frequently used supplies where they can be reached without moving the whole cart.

Pegboard trades floor space for installation work

SKADIS item 003.208.03 identifies the white 22-by-22-inch board. Its rail is supplied, while screws and organizing accessories are selected separately. Identify the wall material, permitted fastening method and the accessories needed for your actual objects. A board alone is not a complete storage kit. Check the manufacturer's installation instructions before treating a wall position as available.

Choose the smallest system that does the job

Assign every group a location, then check whether it can be put away easily after a busy day. Keep space for objects that are temporarily in use. Record the exact item numbers, included parts and load instructions with the plan. This comparison uses manufacturer facts and access considerations; we have not assembled the units or tested their strength, drawer capacity or stability. Recheck the instructions when changing the contents or moving storage to another surface.

Sources & further reading

Original planning analysis based on the cited specifications. We do not claim hands-on testing. Confirm manufacturer compatibility and follow the supplied instructions.