The Best Desk Accessories of 2022 to Upgrade Your Workspace
Everyone’s desk is different. Some people prefer a completely clean desk and some people like organized chaos. Whatever your style, there are tons of desk accessories on the market that can make your desk look and function better. Many desk accessories can also help ensure your desk allows you to produce maximum output with little strain. Laptop stands can reduce neck strain and poor posture, a wrist rest can reduce wrist fatigue, blue light glasses reduce eye strain and desk pads can keep your desk looking nice and protected for years to come. We’ve got everything on this list, from smartphone holders to magnetic paper clip sheep and many of the products listed above. Here are the best desk accessories for students and workers alike.
- Best Desk Clock: SHARPER IMAGE Light Up Electronic Plug-in Word Clock
- Best Desk Pad: Grovemade Desk Pad
- Best for Reducing Eye Strain: MaxJuli Blue Light Blocking Glasses
- Best Phone Stand: Lamicall Cell Phone Stand
- Best for Warm Spaces: Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator Fan
- Best Laptop Stand: SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand Riser
- Best Desk Organizer: Jerry & Maggie Desktop Organizer
- Best Fidget Toy: G-WACK SPOLEY Desk Sculpture
- Cable Clutter Reducer: COZOO Headphone Stand with USB Charger
- Sleek Design: Sorbus Desk Organizer 5-Piece Set
- Fun Pop of Color: COOLBROS Elephant Pencil Holder
- Best Day Planner: Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Pad
- Best Small Organizer: Dark Wooden Desktop Mail Organizer
- Best Plant Holder: Marbrasse Desktop Glass Planter Hydroponics Vase
- Best Paper Clip Holder: Bullseye Magnetic Bull Paper Clip Holder
The Best Desk Accessory
1SHARPER IMAGE Light Up Electronic Plug-in Word Clock
The Sharper Image Light Up Electronic Plug-In Word Clock is a fun and functional addition to any workspace. This clock can sit on your standing desk or hang on the wall to keep your workspace clutter-free. While reading the time on this clock takes a few more moments than normal, it does add a cheeky element to your decor.
I love this wall clock because it’s easy to use and a great conversation piece. When I had this clock in my art studio, it got many comments from other artists and clients on how adorable it was. This wall clock changes the time every five minutes so it isn’t as precise as other desk clock models but no one schedules meetings for 10:03 anyways. Read the in-depth review here.
7.75″ square dimensions take up minimal space
Can be mounted or sit on top of your desk or top shelf
Included USB power cord
Setup is simple
- BrandSharper Image
- Model1013625
- Weight1.17 Pounds
2Grovemade Desk Pad
A desk pad may not seem like a crucial desk accessory but it’s an excellent addition to your home office or workspace. The Grovemade Desk Pad can reduce fatigue, double as a mouse pad, protect your desk and provide a smooth writing surface while adding modern design concepts and structure to your space. There’s a huge variety of materials, sizes, and colors on the Grovemade site, but my favorite is the navy matte desk pad. I use it on my personal workspaces as a mouse pad to protect the glass table I work on that houses plants underneath my work station.
All of Grovemade’s products have high-quality constructions and top-of-the-line materials, and this model is no different. There’s one layer of natural linoleum and a laminated cork layer on the bottom. This combination offers durability and a smooth surface. There are four different sizes for any space on the Grovemade website.
Linoleum and cork construction
Vegan
Exceptionally durable
Creates structure in your workspace and doubles as a mouse pad
Adds a pop of color
Multiple materials and sizes are available
- BrandGrovemade
- ModelMatte Blue Medium Plus
3MaxJuli Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Staring at screens all day long can become a strain on your eyes and even cause headaches. This eye strain is thanks to the blue light that many phones, laptops, and other apple devices, or most devices with a screen emit. Products like the MaxJuli Blue Light Blocking Glasses help reduce strain on the eyes and make for great desk accessories that also serve a purpose. You can easily pop these in a desk drawer or organizer for easy access.
I wear these every day when working from a computer to ensure my eyes are protected. Some computers and devices allow you to turn off the blue light which could be helpful or limit its hours. Blue light can also interfere with sleep, which creates another reason to keep blue light glasses handy anywhere you work or in your home office.
Cost-effective price
Clear frames
Looks good on most people
365 day warranty
- BrandMaxJuli
- Model6001-007-SL
- Weight1.13 Ounces
4Lamicall Cell Phone Stand
Having a place to store your phone is essential to a tidy desk. The Lamicall Cell Phone Stand is the ultimate place to keep your phone in hand throughout the day. It’s made from one piece of black aluminum alloy and is designed with a low center of gravity, to make sure your phone doesn’t get knocked over. It also has a large hole in the back of the stand so you can pull your charging cable through and have it always on charge when you’re sitting at your home office desk or at your standing desk.
The part of the stand that your phone sits on is adorned with rubber to stop your phone from getting scratched and grip it firmly in place. This multi-purpose stand is also great for watching videos when you’re doing something else like cooking or washing the dishes, it’s not only for your home office. And, it comes in five different colors so you can find the perfect one to match your phone case or office decor. We think this is one of the most essential desk accessories for office workers.
Black aluminum alloy frame
Hole for charger
Low center of gravity
Available in 5 colors
- BrandLamicall
- ModelVC-S-US-B
- Weight3.52 Ounces
5Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator Fan
There’s nothing worse than trying to concentrate when you’re too hot. Whatever you do, you won’t be anywhere near as productive if sweat is dripping down your face. If your workspace or home office doesn’t have air conditioning, you should invest in the Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator Fan. For its size, this is a powerful little fan. It has Vornado’s signature Vortex air circulation technology, which helps push out an impressive amount of cold air.
You can choose from two airspeeds, and the fan swivels and moves up and down, so you can point it directly at your face if you need it. The other thing that makes this one of the best desk fans is the choice of pastel colors. They are super popular at the minute and look great in any work setup and add a functional pop of color, making this one of the best desk accessories for any space.
Vortex air circulation technology
2 air speeds
Swivel base
Available in 5 colors
- BrandVornado
- ModelCR1-0094-77
- Weight1 Pound
6SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand Riser
Not everyone has the space for a vast oaken desk. Some of us have to make the most of every inch of space. That’s why we love the SimpleHouseware Metal Desk Monitor Stand Riser. You can raise your monitor off the ground and fit all of your stationery, papers, and anything else you don’t have space for. Underneath the stand is a pull-out drawer that is big enough to hold A4 paper. Additionally, raising your monitor to eye level reduces neck and eye strain. We love the simple, sleek design and how well the space on the sides is used.
It does come unassembled, so you have to put it together yourself. However, when it’s all put together, it’s really solid. If you want more space on your desk, this is one of the most effective organizers and one of the top desk accessories. You may also like some of the best monitor arms, so check them out.
Metal grate for air circulation
Pull-out drawer
4 side compartments
Available in 2 colors
- BrandSimple Houseware
- ModelDO-009-1P
- Weight3.95 Pounds
7Jerry & Maggie Desktop Organizer
The Jerry & Maggie – Desktop Organizer is one of the most stylish ways to keep your desk clutter-free. It consists of two compartments that you can move and rotate to fit your needs. However you decide to place them, there will be plenty of space to hold your books, clock, plants, and whatever else you want to keep on them. This listing has two colors (black and white wood), but you can find them in pink and other colors elsewhere. Keeping your space organized is a must for a calm mind and for productivity. Using desk organizers with vertical space (that’s still within arm’s reach) can be an excellent way to clear space for other desk essentials, a laptop stand, or a desk lamp. This organizer can also hold more of the coolest desk accessories, giving you more space in your home office for other items you like on this list.
One of the things we like about this desktop organizer is that it’s made from natural wood. There’s no plastic or metal used in the construction, and that brings a green and healthy feel to your desk. The only slight annoyance is that you have to assemble the shelves yourself, which can be tricky if you’re not used to putting up flatpack furniture.
Natural wood
Two main compartments
Adjustable
Assembly required
Available in 2 colors
- BrandJerry & Maggie
- ModelJM_SS0002-4
- Weight2.6 Pounds
8G-WACK SPOLEY Desk Sculpture
This next desk accessory might not be the most practical thing to keep on your desk, but it will likely be one of your favorites. The G-WACK SPOLEY Desk Sculpture is designed to be a stress reliever for those tough days at the office when your mind needs a break. Additionally, taking hourly breaks can be beneficial for productivity and a fun game, activity, or puzzle during that time can distract you from the existential dread of long hours. This sculpture consists of a magnetic base and 221 different-sized magnetic balls. It might not sound that exciting, but you can easily shape these balls into an endless number of different structures, making this an excellent fidget toy for hands that needs to be busy.
Magnetic toys like this have been proven to be beneficial for people with Aspergers and folks on the autism spectrum. That’s because you can engross yourself in the task completely, exercising both your mind and hands. However, it’s not just designed for stress-relief. It’s also just a fun way to take a break from work. It doesn’t require a lot of brainpower, and you can get pretty creative with what you build. If you feel like you get stressed at the desk and dread long hours, this is one of the best office desk accessories you can buy. Due to the small pieces, it is best to keep this desk accessory away from small children who could choke on the small pieces.
Magnetic base
221 magnetic balls
Relieves stress
Great for people with Aspergers
- BrandG-WACK
- ModelG-WACK-Desktoy
- Weight12 Ounces
9COZOO Headphone Stand with USB Charger
If you’re really serious about saving space on your desk, you’ve got to buy the COZOO Headphone Stand with a USB Charger. It’s basically a triple USB charger that screws (or sticks) onto the bottom of your desk. It has two arms sticking out that you can use to hang your headphones, apple watch, manage cable clutter, and more. This is pretty ingenious because it means that when you’re charging your gadgets, you can keep all the cables out of your way and off your desk.
It also comes with three cable management clips to keep the wire from hanging loosely under the desk. If you have a lot of charging needs, this product will simplify your life. You can charge three devices at a time and it charges just as fast as other leading chargers. The only thing that would improve it is a space to hold your phone off the table. The under the table location helps clear your standing desk for other desk accessories.
3 x USB slots
2 x holding arms
3 x cable management clips
24-month warranty
- BrandCOZOO
- Model8541765380
- Weight5.82 Ounces
10Sorbus Desk Organizer 5-Piece Set
The Sorbus Desk Organizer 5-Piece Set is one of the most stylish ways to keep your desk clean. Each piece is made out of durable metal and comes in four different colors – rose gold/copper, silver, black, & white. As you might have guessed from the title, you get five different pieces: a cup holder (for pens), a letter sorter, a letter tray, a holder for sticky notes, and a hanging file organizer. All of these different pieces sit on your desk, except for the file organizer, which you can easily hang on the wall. We particularly love the rose gold/copper colors – it looks especially good on a white or cream desk. These items can help keep your space more organized and make effective use of space in home offices or in a cubicle. We have this on our list of must-have desk accessories for its space-saving features and sleep design. If you often use pencils for work, be sure to check out our guide to the top electric pencil sharpeners and pick your favorite.
5-piece set
Made of durable metal
Available in 4 colors
- BrandSorbus
- ModelDSK-MTLST-CPA
- Weight2.68 Pounds
11COOLBROS Elephant Pencil Holder
Why would you buy a normal pencil holder if you could have one shaped like an elephant? We love this pencil holder because it brings some lighthearted fun to your office desk. The elephant shape isn’t just for aesthetics though, it has a practical purpose too. The trunks curve upwards at the end, providing a perfect place to keep your smartphone. Inside the middle, there are three different compartments to hold your different pens and pencils. What we love the most about COOLBROS Elephant Pencil Holder is the choice of five different vibrant color schemes. It’s a cute desk accessory that doesn’t take up too much space while adding a lot of fun to your workspace.
Smartphone holder
Three different compartments
Five color schemes are available
Foldable
- BrandCOOLBROS
- ModelYJ-2017362
- Weight6.2 Ounces
12Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Pad
When you’re busy at work, it can be challenging to remember everything you have to do. If you’re the kind of person that makes endless to-do lists and ends up losing them in piles of paper, this is the product for you. Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Pad is a diary planner tear-off pad with space for you to organize your day. Every sheet has space for a to-do list, things you ‘must get done today,’ appointments, notes & doodles, today’s achievements, and even things you’re grateful for. Plus, you can track your health and fitness, plan your meals, and tick off your water intake daily.
We love the fact that this planner has a motivational vibe about it. Instead of a boring sheet of paper, this pad makes you feel positive about each day. The sheets don’t have the date written on them, so you can miss a day and not have to waste paper. The premium uncoated paper is super easy to write on and has a quality feel. We love products that help us stay organized and look good too, that’s why this pad made it onto our list of the best desktop accessories. I own a similar tear-off pad to organize weekly and absolutely adore it!
Premium uncoated paper
50 sheets
Motivational messages
Undated
- BrandBliss Collections
- Weight10.2 Ounces
13Dark Wooden Desktop Mail Organizer
We’ve chosen this mail organizer as our Premium Product. One of the reasons we love the Dark Wooden Mail Organizer Desktop so much is the fantastic use of space. It has multiple different slots including a two-tier mail sorter, accessory compartment, and accessory drawer. You can keep everything from important documents, diaries, pens, stationery, and more. You should be able to fit everything on your desk into this relatively small organizer. The old-school calendar blocks are another big draw. Organize them every day as a highly-visible constant reminder of the day’s date. This organizer is one of the best desk items out there for its simplicity and the fact that it’s aesthetically pleasing.
It’s made from high-quality wood, which you get in two colors – dark and natural wood. Plus, it comes pre-assembled, so there’s no messing around when it arrives. This is the product for you if you want a stylish way to organize your desk. You can also use it for a standing desk.
High-quality wood
2 colors available
Multiple compartments
No assembly required
- BrandBlu Monaco
- ModelCY903-Parent
- Weight3.69 Pounds
14Marbrasse Desktop Glass Planter Hydroponics Vase
The best desk accessories don’t always have to be practical. It’s essential to make your desk a place where you want to spend time in. That way, you might actually get some work done. The Marbrasse Desktop Glass Planter Hydroponics Vase is basically a lightbulb attached to a metal stand. But it’s actually so much more than that. They’ve repurposed the lightbulb as a modern, chic vase for a house plant. With the right plant, you will bring some well-needed life to your office space. It’s quite hard to see in the product picture, but there’s a small bird figurine on the metal stand too.
There’s some basic installation to do when it arrives, but it’s very straightforward and you won’t need any instructions. And, if you don’t like the bulb, a heart-shaped version is also available. This bulb is great for small cuttings that you want to propagate. Keep in mind that plants can’t exist solely in water long term so you will need to swap the plant occasionally. Our guide to the best-selling desk lamps features more stylish options for your office set up, so check them out.
Metal stand
Repurposed lightbulb
Plant not included
Bird-shaped figure
- BrandMarbrasse
- ModelABCD
- Weight8.4 Ounces
15Bullseye Magnetic Bull Paper Clip Holder
Bullseye is basically a bull-shaped magnet. It’s the perfect desk accessory for anyone who loves, raises, or even just likes bulls. It comes with 30 paper clips, which you can place on the magnet and make it look like hair. This whimsical magnetic paperclip holder can hold up to 100 paper clips, bobby pins, or similar. If you check out the Amazon reviews, you’ll see that people find it quite adorable, lightweight, and functional. Some customers have complained that the magnet isn’t strong enough, but it is designed to hold paper clips, so it doesn’t need to be that strong. There are also some reports on horns and legs sliding out. All in all, this quirky find can be a nice accessory for any desk and can make a fun gift for your boss or a coworker.
Bull-shaped
Magnetic body
30 paperclips included
- BrandBullseye Office
- ModelBE-26
- Weight7.3 Ounces
Why Trust Us
All of us at GearHungry work remotely and from home office spaces and our workspaces are decorated with our favorite desk accessories and we've spent a lot of time curating our personal areas. Additionally, I have years of product testing experience as an athlete and writer so I know what separates the good from the best.
Who This Is For
This guide is for anyone who needs to decorate their desk space, standing desk or home offices. We know that the Covid-19 Pandemic changed what work looks like for many people all over the world and we want to ensure everyone has a chance to create a happy and productive workspace, wherever that may be.
How We Picked
Selecting the best office accessories began with my own personal favorites that make my home office and desk space feel cozier. From there, I assessed the gaps we had in convenience items, organizational items, and strain-reducing items. I wanted to ensure we had plenty of items for all kinds of workspaces and people. I also looked at best sellers in online retailers to ensure we had all the must have desk accessories on our list.
How We Tested
To test the best desk accessories, we used them at our own home offices. I work from home or on the road and have a small desk I use as my workstation. This is where I tested the desk pad and blue light glasses. I also take my blue light glasses on the road with me so I can protect my eyes from eye strain and headaches. I have also learned about the benefits of an ergonomic desk setup and am finding many must-have desk accessory options for creating a functional space.
Desk Accessory FAQ
Q: What should I keep at my office desk?
A: Your desk is your home five days a week. It should be filled with everything you need to keep yourself going on a long day. For example, tissues, band-aids, a water bottle, a clock, and deodorant are all valuable items. You can also keep more sentimental items like pictures of your family. In addition to comfort items, you can keep items to add pops of color, reduce fatigue and keep you motivated. A small plant can add a lot of light, a lamp can make your desk feel warmer, and stationary, and notepads can improve productivity. Additionally, you can purchase items like mousepads, a wrist rest, blue light glasses, and monitor stands to improve posture and reduce strain.
Q: How can I decorate my desk at work?
A: Whether you work at home or in an office, it can make your workstation more comfortable to decorate. There may be restrictions on this at an office, so we recommend checking with your boss first. But you can do some simple things to make it more homely. You could buy a small house plant to give your desk some life, add a pencil cup, planner, or document holder. Alternatively, buy colorful stationery, so your desk has pops of color instead of being a boring grey cubicle. We also recommend pictures that are meaningful to you.