Are you looking for some modern desk accessories to spruce up your workspace? Well, this article will help you find what is popular today for your modern office.
We already know we spend too much time at our desks, and that could be (thankfully) changing in the future. However, even if your desk is only a part-time home, it can and should still reflect your personal style while also remaining functional. Modern desk accessories can make a huge difference in the ambience and practicality of your workspace.
Desks do not have to succumb to the boring beige palette we often think of in offices. We can infuse our work spaces with a touch of style and even whimsy, making them more inviting and ultimately making us more productive.
Modern Desk Accessories and Cool Desk Accessories
Modern office accessories are an affordable way to spruce up your space, with everything from tape dispensers to laptop risers now designed in styles you will love, including retro décor finishes and unexpected color combinations. Believe it or not, if you work in a cubicle all day you can even purchase a cubicle door if you want some privacy!
Upgrading any work setting with cool supplies will enhance not only your decor but also your mood and morale. If you are conscientious about your outdoor space at your home, chances are you care about your interior workspace. Implementing any of the accessories below may be a challenge in a collaborative open office design environment and would certainly work better in a cozy closed office space.
Even the ever-popular standing desk has spawned an assortment of standing desk accessories that add functionality and practicality to any working space. Not only is a standing desk ergonomically healthy for you, it gives you a different perspective while you are at work. Also, coworkers of mine who have used a standing desk have also professed that they are much more productive with one. And this is a perfect example of an accessory at work which can result in a boost in productivity.
Fun does not mean we have to sacrifice function, and here we have highlighted some cool desk accessories to shop for while you elevate your workspace interior and work desk decor. This is a small sample of the exorbitant amount of products for sale that can make a difference. Seek out what’s out there in the market for sale in the way of cool supplies for the office. In the meantime please check out the items below.
Modern Office Accessories Popular this Year
Succulents for Work or Home Office – or Perhaps your Kitchen
In both work and residential design, succulents are everywhere these days. Live succulents are easy enough to care for, requiring little maintenance. However, for a foolproof accessory that you cannot kill, an affordable faux succulent will make your space feel warm and inviting. Bring an outdoor touch to your inside with these life-like plants.
These two-to-three-inch pots take up minimal desk or shelf space but create a big impact and adds to your office decor. Succulents are a quick and easy way to make any workspace feel personalized. If you are not the green thumb type, a faux succulent is the safest bet for a quick pick-me-up in an otherwise bland work area. Even if you opted for live succulents, like the ones seen in many southwest outdoor settings, the minimal watering is perfect for any home work area or at your company workspace.
A Quirky Conversation Piece
If you meet with clients and employees in your workspace, a quirky conversation piece is always fun and welcoming, such as this “word clock” from Sharper Image. The LED display tells viewers the time in words, and it can be attached to any power source with a USB adaptor.
The clock’s copper finish is a nice nod to the looks of mid-century design, and it will also work well with other metallic accessories, from brass to gold or any mixed-metal combination. This fun clock also keeps the time front and center in your workspace, ensuring you keep up with important deadlines and meetings.
Maybe you are looking forward to an upcoming event or possibly retirement. This countdown timer I wrote about a while back will remind you each day that your upcoming vacation, big move, or end of your working career is just around the corner.
This article talks about another really cool modern desk accessory, a Magnetic Poker Sculpture Desk Toy that should spark some conversations between coworkers and maybe relieve some of your stress.
Buy Gold: Get Organized with Modern Office Desk Accessories
One of the easiest ways to create a decorative desk while also eliminating clutter is with an accessory kit such as this one from Blu Monaco. These basic gold desktop accessories ensure you can find a home for everything and stay organized in style. There is something that is really alluring about gold that you cannot overlook.
A hanging file folder, magazine holder, pencil holder, sticky note cube, and small letter holder are all finished in an eye-pleasing gold that is rust-resistant and will make your workspace sparkle. These could be called luxury desk accessories due to the rich, luxurious gold color. Talk about a decor upgrade for your desktop!
Storing everything from your pens and scissors to various papers is easy with this affordable set, and gold accessories can instantly make a boring space look more sophisticated. This type of modern desk organizer set can really spice up anyone’s working area. I give this item 5 stars!
Good Things Come in Stylish Desk Accessories
Have you ever walked into an workspace of a coworker and marveled at the environment that person has created? Years ago I was dumbfounded by walking into a small work area of a coworker and was immediately transformed into a calm, restful, tranquil space.
I couldn’t believe what some strategic brightness and the proper workspace supplies could have in a work setting. It actually inspired me to figure out how I could do the same in my small cubicle.
After that, I had a model work area to emulate and I tried my best to do so even though my work area was a cubicle and my coworker’s work area had walls and a door. One small desktop item he had was a strata black marble pencil cup – simple, yet elegant.
Another accessory that I distinctly remember was a simple solid brass studio lamp that he had on his desktop that set the ambience for his workspace. It wasn’t anything fancy and the LED Desk Lamp from Best World above didn’t even exist yet.
The lamp was nothing out of the ordinary. Obviously the rest of his workspace was spotless and furnished with small office organization ideas but it was that simple lamp which set the tone. You should never overlook the fact that well-placed office lighting solutions can make a huge impact in a work area.
When it comes to modern office accessories, decent light is a must. Effective brightness is not only a decorative choice but an important functional one as well. This touch control dimmable desk lamp from Best World can help you customize your space while also ensuring you do not strain your eyes spending long hours staring at screens. The adjustable arm allows you to move the light around to specific tasks, and its sleek and minimalist design means you will not have to sacrifice valuable workspace.
A lamp of this type would work well in an enclosed outdoor backyard office if you have the opportunity to have a separate space away from your home but just right outside. I’d also give this lamp 5 stars!
Clearly Stylish Cool Desk Accessories for Your Office
Acrylic is an outstanding choice for those who are not fans of metallic finishes but still love a sleek workspace. Many stylish cool desk accessories, from scissors to pen cups, come in clear acrylic finishes.
This set contains a pair of scissors, a staple remover, and a ruler, which will look great on display and are also useful everyday tools that can be paired with other minimalist and modern accessories. This acrylic set might also make a nice addition to your kitchen or any other room in your home.
Keep Your Phone in View and in Style
This handy cell phone stand is the perfect blend of style and function: its sleek design is perfect for the contemporary desk, and it provides a convenient space for you to charge your phone while also keeping it visible if you are expecting an important call or text (or if you just need a quick scroll through the ’gram while taking a break from a grueling project).
The Lamicall cell phone stand is compatible with a wide variety of phones (including most iPhones), and if silver is not your favorite finish, you can also choose from black, gray, red, or rose gold.
This article talks about another excellent phone stand from Lisen. A cell phone stand would be a great deal for any room in your house like your kitchen, den, bedroom, or screen porch. You could even use it in an outdoor setting. They sky’s the limit!
Cool Office Desk Accessories with a Touch of Zen
Decorative features in today’s offices can also promote relaxation, and a small water feature, something like you would see in an outdoor environment, is a perfect way to bring some Zen into the space. Accessories like succulents and small fountains bring the outdoor aura and a sense of nature inside. Sometimes minimalist desk accessories can make quite a difference to the environment of your workspace.
The soothing sounds of water can help you relax while working on a big project or unwind after a particularly stressful meeting. Visitors to your workspace will also enjoy this soothing component, and the small HoMedics tabletop fountain is compact enough be placed anywhere in your workspace.
A built-in pump keeps the water circulating and free from algae buildup. A simple on-off switch is all that is needed to operate this lightweight (1 lb.) accessory. This is just one of the products for sale in the marketplace that could be used anywhere in the home or in an outdoor setting.
Control the Cords
Most of us operate numerous devices throughout the workday, from phones and iPads to an old-fashioned computer. This is a simple solution for powering all of our devices. This power strip can accommodate 3AC outlets along with 4 USB ports.
A flat braided extension cord makes it easy to reach one wall outlet without constant cord detangling, and the power strip lays flat, taking up only a few inches of valuable workspace.
Here is a great article on cord management ideas for your cubicle or workspace if you are looking for solutions to the multitude of cords you need to organize. Another great power strip that I use in my home office and in my work cubicle is the GLCON Tower Power Strip which is a great space saver and will give you an excellent solution for your multitude of plugs.
Contemporary offices are clutter-free not only for aesthetic purposes but also for productivity, and this power strip fits the bill when it comes to helping you streamline your space.
Bulova will Keep you Timely
Where I work there is a section of offices that are relegated to the chief executive officer, president, vice presidents, and senior-level managers. We call that part of the company mahogany row. The above Bulova B7520 Largo Clock with the dark mahogany finish would fit in perfectly in any of those offices. But, why should this type of class only be found in mahogany row?
I happen to think that if you create the right work environment in your cubicle or any other small office the Largo Clock would fit in perfectly with that setting. Picture this clock next to the small lamp that I talked about earlier. Talk about styling up the joint!
Modern Office Supplies can Enhance your Work Areas
No matter what you choose when designing your office space or what you get for organizing your office supplies, you will find this selection of luxury modern desk accessories above to be a great place to start. Something simple like copyholders, which are essentially small tools to hold any copy or document you are transcribing, is an example of one of the many products for sale out there that can help you work smarter in this day and age.
How about classing up your work office or your home work area with some elegant leather desk accessories? The possibilities are endless when it comes to enhancing your working environment. Explore the many work accessories that are available. Maybe you’ll find that stylish storage box set that will organize your desktop. If you look hard enough you’ll find accessories that will work in your space.
Strategic Office Desk Accessories can Clearly Boost your Morale
We’re all looking for ways to make our office fun or more inviting. Heck, we’re also looking for ways to enhance our home. You need to try not to overdo cluttering up your office with too many cool accessories. If you are at all like me you like to be organized but if you add too many office supplies you might find that while you were trying to boost your morale, you ended up buying too much and now are stressed!
Try to strike a balance between adding style and class to your office environment and introducing too many desktop items at one time. Taking a minimalist approach, at least for me, is the sweet spot. Don’t go crazy with cool desk accessories and end up with a cluttered desktop!
Efficiency Should be the Key to Getting it Right
You want your working area to be accessorized in a proper manner. Take a look at how you have organized your home, or specifically your kitchen. In a kitchen the message is clear. You want everything within reach so that you don’t have to take too many steps going from your refrigerator to your kitchen island to your stove. The kitchen triangle is a concept that is used when a kitchen is being set up for efficiency.
Think of the setup of your work area, whether it be at home or in an office setting. Ensure that your file cabinet is within arm’s reach and your printer is close enough that you don’t have to get up every time your want to print something.
Ergonomics is another consideration when it comes to your home office or your work office. If you organize your working area properly with modern office accessories everything should flow smoothly and you’ll hit those deadlines with ease.
Seek out what Matches your Working Habits
Not all of us work the same. I worked with someone who said he was organized but if you looked at his desktop, it was a complete mess. But the meaning of being organized is knowing where anything is and being able to find it quickly.
He could find anything even amidst what was a messy office. I, on the other hand, need organization and need a clean workspace. Products for sale that might work for me wouldn’t necessarily work for my coworker. You just have to seek out what works for your own working style.
Modern Office Accessories can Transform your Workspace
The difference that adding a few strategic accessories to your office can be dramatic. Research what is out there. Find what is right for you. Home offices are all the rage today due to more employees being allowed to work from home.
Another real benefit of being able to work at home is that there are no restrictions on what cool office supplies you can purchase. It may come out of your own pocket but it just might be worth the expense. Those extra expenses may definitely be worth it and they just might make your workspace a brighter and happier place to start and end your work day!
Frequently Asked Questions About Modern Desk Accessories
How can I organize my desk with modern office accessories and still keep it functional?
To organize your desk with modern accessories and keep it functional, you can start by decluttering and getting rid of any unnecessary items. Then, invest in some desk organizers such as a desk tray, file holder, and pen holder. You can also add a desk lamp, a phone stand, and a monitor stand to enhance the functionality of your desk.
What are some eco-friendly modern office desk accessories?
There are many eco-friendly modern desk accessories available on the market. You can opt for a bamboo desk organizer, a recycled plastic file holder, or a cork mouse pad. You can also choose a reusable water bottle, a solar-powered calculator, and a desk lamp with energy-efficient LED bulbs. You have many options today when it comes to eco-friendly office accessories.
How can I decorate my desk with modern stylish desk accessories on a budget?
Decorating your desk with modern accessories on a budget is easy and fun. You can start by adding a pop of color with a bright desk lamp or a colorful mouse pad. You can even have a mouse pad created with pictures of your family or your favorite pet embedded in the mouse pad.
You can also display your favorite photos or artwork in a modern picture frame or electronic picture frame. DIY projects such as painting a mason jar to use as a pen holder or creating a memo board with cork tiles can also be a budget-friendly way to decorate your desk.
All of these ideas will not only be at a low cost, they will also add a personal touch to your workspace.
What are some popular color schemes for modern desk accessories?
Popular color schemes for modern desk accessories include black and white, gold and white, and pastel colors. You can opt for a sleek black and white desk lamp or a white and gold file holder.
Pastel-colored desk organizers such as a mint green pen holder or a blush pink desk tray can also add a modern touch to your desk. You are pretty much wide open when it comes to color schemes for your desktop. If it works for you go with it!
Bob has been blogging for over 20 years and has been an office and cubicle dweller for more than 35 years. He has been featured in numerous online publications such as US News and World Report, Bustle, and Work Awesome (you can read his articles here). He created the popular office website CubicleBliss in January 2011 and rebranded it as WorkspaceBliss in April 2020.
In the office he’s been an IT Manager, Applications Engineer, Systems Analyst, Software Project leader, and Programmer Analyst in his long career. He’s a Certified Microsoft Professional and possesses a Masters of Science degree and two Bachelor of Science degrees, one of those in Informational Technology.
During his career he has worked in the office full-time, as a hybrid remote worker, and has worked from home permanently.