If your desk is messy, then your mind is messy.
There are so many benefits to having a cute, put-together desk: it can reduces stress, create more structure, clear your mind, save you time (less cleaning!), and make you feel accomplished and like you have your life together (somewhat).
If your desk is organized, it makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something, and that feeling can always lead to more good feelings: creativity, motivation, inspiration.
If you’re in a dorm or an actual office space, maybe you might want things on your desk to show off your personality and make your space feel a little bit more like you. Whether if you just want to have a cute, organized office space because that’s what you like or if it’s just for an aesthetically pleasing Instagram photo, having the perfect set up for your desk is so important. (Also another cute way to instantly make your desk awesome is to just buy a vintage desk.)
If you’re looking to decorate your office space (or maybe you’re just really obsessed with organizing your belongings), Wayfair’s desk organizer is a dream come true for you. Why? There’s 5 parts to it: a pencil cup holder, a letter sorter, a letter tray, a hanging file organizer, and a sticky note holder. It comes in various colors (black, copper, silver, and white) and can fit the aesthetic of most modern furniture. It’s fashion and function!
Maybe you’re a college student who can’t keep candles in your dorm room or maybe you’re someone who wants your room to smell good without putting in the effort to light a candle – and reed diffusers are great for both of those cases. This P.F. Candle Co. Reed Diffuser from Urban Outfitters offers three different scents: Teakwood Tobacco, Patchouli Sweetgrass, and Amber + Moss. It keeps your room or office space smelling good all day long and you don’t have to do anything to take care of it.
If you’re a writer or someone who is super into antiques or vintage things, you probably obsess over typewriters. If you search Etsy (or eBay or even Amazon), you can find a number of typewriters for a decent price. One Etsy seller is offering a vintage Smith Corona in its original case, in good working condition and everything. You can find typewriters in neutral colors (tan or black) or something with a little more pizzaz (green, blue, and even yellow). If you rummage through things at an antique store or a garage sale, you most likely will find a typewriter in desperate need of love.
There’s so many different book ends that can fit the aesthetic of your office space (or bedroom), but if you want something small or simple, then these book ends from Amazon are perfect for you. Its stainless steel is adjustable (for the length!), which is awesome if you need to shove some thick books in there or if you just want to put a handful of books on display.
Books Books Books
Your desk is a perfect place to use your books as a design element. If you want your book decorations to be purely decorative, you can buy old books from Amazon by color here. Your desk is also a good place to showcase your personality by displaying the most meaningful books to you front and center. Or to showcase limited editions books from your favorite small publisher, like Thought Catalog Books.
Sometimes desk lamps give off this ~productivity vibe~ and sometimes we really don’t want to think of our lives as something…productive. You know what I mean? If you’re looking for a desk lamp that doesn’t really look like a lamp, this kerosene-inspired lamp from Ikea is the perfect one for you. This lap has a “flame” that you can dim, if you want to, so if you want your desk to illuminate with a warm and soft energy, you need this. On the pricer side, we love desk lamps from the brand Rejuvenation as well.
Wait, what? Listen, if you want your desk to be a peaceful place for you to do your most important work, you also need it to be a spot where you can decompress all that anxiety and have some fun. Enter Slime. Really there is no better feeling than playing with slime as you write that stressful email. For extra cute points, get the cotton candy slime by Slimentine, which has the added benefit of also smelling great and popping when you play with it.
If you sit at a desk for 8+ hours a day using a desktop computer, this desk riser from Urban Outfitters is a must-need for you and your neck. This riser obviously lifts up your computer and makes it level to your eyesight, which is so much better than looking down to meet the screen. While it’s lifted, it also allowed for extra storage space. Bonus!!!
Hot/Warm Mug
If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly way to consume beverages, and a way to keep your drinks warm, or cold, for a prolonged period of time. That’s what we love about this cute mug, not only does it look great, but it will keep your coffee warm for hours or your water (or wine) cold for hours and give you a postive message from famed author Brianna Wiest.
You can find an essential oil diffuser pretty much anywhere, but this one from Urban Outfitters is just…so…pretty. It’s aesthetically pleasing with its timed diffusion and optional color-changing light and offers the functions you need to be working its magic. It comes with a cord to plug in and it’s easy to clean, too. Everyone needs an essential oil diffuser in their work space and like 10+ drops of eucalyptus (stress relief) oil to fill the air.
If you’re an organized person or you’re a sucker for a bulleted list, this DIY organizer board from Pottery Barn is something you need for your desk. You can get the entire set or just pieces: whiteboard calendar, magnetic whiteboard, chalkboard, linen pin board, mirror with hooks, a row of hooks, an office organizer, and more. This board system is versatile and easy to be assembled and a must-need for people who need a bit more organization in their life.
This wooden storage chest from Ikea is probably the most aesthetically pleasing organizer you could find. It’s a simple, clean-cut wood with 6 small (but very deep) drawers that are perfect for little things – paper clips, sticky notes, a stapler, scissors, and other random desk necessities. Even if you want to just shove things into these drawers, it’ll at least be hidden in a cute storage chest that looks great in any modern room.
Your desk is a perfect place to hang artwork. Truly, you don’t want to be staring at a blank wall all day without any visual texture. You can make your own, DIY style, by printing out something you’ve made on your computer, or in real life, and then buying a cheap frame on Amazon. There are also a myriad of online retailers that sell amazing framed and unframed wall art that you can buy if you’re looking for a more ready-made solution.
A desk can sometimes be a little too…bleh. If you’re doing work at your desk, you need something that you can look at when you need to take a break – something that makes you feel good. Urban Outfitters has a set of 4 succulents, or you could go to a nearby garden center or flower shop to find something that you want to put on display. Having flowers or succulents (real or fake) can not only add a pop of color to your desk, but it can add a bit of life to you when you need it the most.
This decorative tray from Wayfair is the best thing for you, if you have a bunch of things on your desk that need a more established or organized (things like a reed diffuser, a candle, a pencil or stationary cup, perfume bottles, a cup for makeup brushes, and so on). This tray comes in gold, rose gold, black, and black/gold, and is the perfect size to organize small things that might need a home.
You should have a place on or in your desk to keep all your writing tools together. Those generic cup holders can be found anywhere and everyone has one. So why not be different and use a cute, decorative mug to hold your writing tools? This ceramic mug has a playful print that will make your desk space feel a lot more lively.
Whether you’re decorating a desk in your dorm or at work, you need a Himalayan salt lamp for the space. When stressful situations arise, just plug in the lamp and the warm, amber glow will enhance your mood and provide a calming atmosphere. The salt lamp is great for sleep, too, so if you have a desk in your room, consider falling asleep with this lit (we promise it’s safe).
Letterboards are becoming a trendy accessory not only because it’s stylish, but it’s a unique way to leave positive reminders or self-love notes to yourself. This felt letter board and wooden frame set comes with letters and numbers, so you can personalize the message to your liking.
The evil eye is believed to bring in good luck and protect people from ill-will and malicious intent from others. This eye clock is an artistic take on that evil eye symbol. Not only is the style decorative and unique with its shape and transforms a boring clock to something worth displaying.
Coasters are especially useful if you have a wooden desk and don’t want to leave watermarks on it, staining your wood or just leaving unnecessary marks. Coasters, though, are also great for just adding a bit of playful personality and vibrancy to your desk like these marble coasters that add a perfect controlled flare to your desk.
What better way to relax and set intentions for your life than with inspirational candles? When you’re in need of a pick me up, get some matches and light one of these candles and read the inspirational quote out loud. We promise you’ll find peace.
What are some of your favorite desk accessories? Email us at hello@shopcatalog.com and we’ll feature some of the most original and cute curations from you.
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