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office space
October 24, 2014

12 Cool, Simple Ways to Power Up Your Desk

By Diana Tsui

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Most desks are a sad wasteland of paper piles, random paper clips, and errant plastic bottles half-filled with water. But considering how much time you spend at the office, you might as well have some fun with your space. Not only does a clean desk convey authority and make it easier to get your daily tasks done, it also improves your quality of life.

So we set out to find easy tricks to brighten up your work space, like a lucite tray or leather magazine rack to file away documents, or a sleek cup for your pens and scissors. Click ahead to see all of these tricks, plus more ways to power up your desk —  because no one looks professional rifling through messy stacks of paper.

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1. Organize Those Paper Piles Instead of shuffling through a mess of haphazardly stacked pieces of paper, keep them nice and organized. Pressing ... 1. Organize Those Paper Piles Instead of shuffling through a mess of haphazardly stacked pieces of paper, keep them nice and organized. Pressing mail can be slipped into the envelope holder, while any pending documents can be arranged neatly in a lucite tray or sleek leather magazine rack.
2. Minimize Desk Clutter A nice pen cup or organizer will prevent you from scrambling through your drawers in search of a writing instrument. And... 2. Minimize Desk Clutter A nice pen cup or organizer will prevent you from scrambling through your drawers in search of a writing instrument. And if you are feeling really compulsive, Anthropologie's multi-compartment version separates out pens, pencils, highlighters, and anything else you have on your desk.
3. Write Your Life Down in a Decent Notebook Syncing up your calendar on your phone is helpful, but going low-tech and jotting down important dat... 3. Write Your Life Down in a Decent Notebook Syncing up your calendar on your phone is helpful, but going low-tech and jotting down important dates or big ideas in a sleek notebook is easier in meetings. Whether you prefer a super-fine gel-ink pen or a perfectly weighted mechanical pencil, Muji has the best inexpensive options.
4. Don't Forget the Staples Don't forget about a stapler. Ditch the flimsy black plastic ones in favor of sleek lucite or brightly colored metal ... 4. Don't Forget the Staples Don't forget about a stapler. Ditch the flimsy black plastic ones in favor of sleek lucite or brightly colored metal to complement the rest of your desktop.
5. Cut and Paste Better Besides looking pretty in your fancy pen cup, gold-handled shears are also handy for cutting open packages. And if you're... 5. Cut and Paste Better Besides looking pretty in your fancy pen cup, gold-handled shears are also handy for cutting open packages. And if you're sitting there taping receipts for expenses to a piece of paper, you might as well have a nice tape dispenser.
6. Drink Water in a Proper Glass Rather than making frequent trips to the water cooler, get a glass bottle and cup. It's more sanitary than an un... 6. Drink Water in a Proper Glass Rather than making frequent trips to the water cooler, get a glass bottle and cup. It's more sanitary than an uncovered pitcher and looks more refined than a plastic Nalgene.
7. Toss a Throw Over Your Chair Temperature control is impossible in an office. You could keep a cardigan on the back of your chair, but if you'd... 7. Toss a Throw Over Your Chair Temperature control is impossible in an office. You could keep a cardigan on the back of your chair, but if you'd rather add an element of design to your space, a throw pulls double duty.
8. Add Some Desktop Decorations Little knickknacks incorporate a personal touch to your space, whether it's a surreal dish, framed photo, or spar... 8. Add Some Desktop Decorations Little knickknacks incorporate a personal touch to your space, whether it's a surreal dish, framed photo, or sparkly paperweight.
9. Hang Up a Pretty Print Staring at plain white walls or gray cubicle upholstery gets really depressing, so why not pin up fun art? You could go... 9. Hang Up a Pretty Print Staring at plain white walls or gray cubicle upholstery gets really depressing, so why not pin up fun art? You could go for typography, a motivating gold statement, or, if you have the space, a framed print.
10. Bring in Some Nature If you happen to be by a window, a real plant is an instant mood-booster. If not, you can fake the scent of the outdoors... 10. Bring in Some Nature If you happen to be by a window, a real plant is an instant mood-booster. If not, you can fake the scent of the outdoors via a candle or fire-code-friendly diffuser.
11. Don't Forget the Little Details Little desk accessories make a big difference. Washi tape and gold clips add decorative touches to documents ... 11. Don't Forget the Little Details Little desk accessories make a big difference. Washi tape and gold clips add decorative touches to documents and walls while a lamp creates a more welcoming environment. And don't forget the screen-cleaner: This version includes a sponge to wipe down your computer.
12. Block Out Distractions If you want to drown out chatty workers or listen to your favorite Spotify playlist, a pair of office headphones that ... 12. Block Out Distractions If you want to drown out chatty workers or listen to your favorite Spotify playlist, a pair of office headphones that blocks out noise and offers killer sound is crucial.
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Tags:

  • office space
  • cubicle culture
  • goods
  • desk accessories
  • desks
  • design
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