Desk setup accessories that make a workspace feel like yours

You probably spend more waking hours at your desk than anywhere else in the house. Most desks still look like they were set up in a hurry during a lockdown and never touched again.

A good desk setup is not about expensive gear. It's about removing the things that annoy you and adding one or two things that make you smile when you sit down. Here's how to do both.

Start by taking things away

Before you buy anything, clear the desk completely and put back only what you use every day. For most people that is:

• laptop or monitor, keyboard and mouse
• one notebook and one pen
• a water bottle
• a phone, ideally on a stand rather than flat on the desk

Everything else goes in a drawer. This is the step that makes the biggest difference, and it's free.

Tame the cables

Cables are the main reason desks look messy in photos.

• Run everything along the back edge of the desk, not across it.
• Use adhesive clips or a cable tray under the desk to keep chargers off the floor.
• Bundle the monitor, laptop and lamp cables together with a velcro wrap.
• Keep one charging cable within reach. Hide the rest.

Sort out the light

A lamp at the side of your monitor, not behind it, cuts eye strain in the evening. Warm white (around 3000K) is easier on the eyes at night than cool white. A monitor light bar is worth it if desk space is tight.

Raise the screen

Your eyes should land roughly at the top third of the screen. A laptop flat on a desk makes you look down all day. A monitor riser or laptop stand fixes this and frees up space underneath for the keyboard.

Add personality, carefully

This is where most setups either stay sterile or go too far. One or two objects with character is the right amount.

A pen holder that's more than a cup. If you need one anyway, make it interesting. The Dark Lord Pen Holder holds a pen like a lightsaber and is one of those things people always pick up.

Something on the monitor. Monitor tops are dead space. A small ledge sitter on the bezel sits right in your eyeline without taking any desk space. The Office Skeleton, hunched over its own laptop, is for everyone who has had "one of those weeks".

A mini next to the keyboard. Small enough not to get in the way of your mouse. The Articulated Robot can be posed, which makes it a fidget object for long calls. There are more in the Minis collection.

For more on each, see pen holders with personality and ledge sitters for monitors.

Match the mood

Pick objects that match the desk's palette, not the other way round:

Keep it that way

Spend two minutes at the end of each day clearing the desk back to its base setup. It sounds dull, but it's the only desk tip that works long term.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best desk accessories for work from home?

A laptop stand or monitor riser, a proper desk lamp, cable clips, and a phone stand cover the practical side. Add one or two personal objects, like a figure or a pen holder with character, and stop there.

How do I make my desk look aesthetic?

Clear it completely, keep only daily-use items, hide cables along the back edge, add warm lighting, and pick one or two decorative objects that match the desk's colours.

Can I put a figure on my monitor?

Yes, if the top of the monitor is flat and at least 15 mm deep. Ledge-sitter style figures are designed to sit on an edge like this.

What is a good desk gift for a colleague?

Something small and personal that does not take much space, like a mini figure or a pen holder. Our gift guide has more ideas under ₹1,000.