Tidy Up Your Canva: Simple Steps for a More Organised Workspace

Canva is undoubtedly one of the most useful apps I use in my business, and I often recommend that my clients upgrade to the Pro version. It can turn even the least creative person into a designer overnight.

But... one thing I don’t love about Canva is keeping it organised. It’s not the easiest thing to do! When you open the home screen, it can be an overwhelming hot mess.

Here are some steps you can take to keep things super-organised:

1. Delete or Archive

As with decluttering anything, you need to sort and clear out first. Go through and delete any designs, templates, and projects (folders) that you no longer need. This could include copies of templates you never used, duplicated designs, and very old designs that are definitely no longer relevant.

If you prefer not to delete things, create a folder called Archive and move anything you can’t let go of to that project. If the designs are still there in a year’s time, it might be time to delete them!

2. Rename Your Designs

One thing people often forget to do in Canva is rename their designs logically. I bet you have many designs in your account titled Copy of..., Design Version 3, or something generic like Facebook Post. Go through all your designs and rename them so they make sense when you return to them in the future.

Since I work with multiple clients, I use their initials at the beginning of the name, along with a descriptive title. For example:

• AH Blog Images

• AH March LinkedIn Posts

• AH Pinterest Blog Pins

3. Create Projects (Canva’s Name for Folders)

How you structure your folders depends on how you use Canva. You need to organise both designs and images.

For my clients, I use their name or business name as the project title and keep all their designs and images in there. Within each folder, I create a sub-folder for their uploaded images. For example:

• AH Images

If you only use Canva for your own business, you might create folders like Personal, Social Media, or Website. As with any filing system, make sure it makes sense for both your brain and your business.

4. Organise Your Designs & Images

Once you have your filing system set up, move all your designs and images to their new homes.

Don’t forget to check your Uploads folder – it can get cluttered quickly!

5. Maintain Your Canva Account

After running through these steps, your Canva account will be in much better shape, but it won’t stay that way without regular maintenance. Try these tips to keep things tidy:

• Schedule a monthly recurring task to run through steps 1-4.

• Schedule an annual task to clear your archive folder.

• Clear your uploads folder regularly.

• Make it a habit to upload images directly into folders rather than dumping them into the uploads folder.

Organising Canva doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Once you set up a logical system and commit to a quick monthly tidy-up, you’ll save time, reduce overwhelm, and always know exactly where to find what you need. A little consistency goes a long way!

Want to find more ways do declutter your digital systems? 100 Digital Things That Can Be Decluttered