Personalize Your Desk

Personalizing your desk isn't just fun - when you make a workspace your own you are less stressed and more productive. The key is to incorporate personal touches while keeping it organized. Choose décor carefully to avoid creating clutter or distractions. Consider your work climate as well: for example, in a corporate office, keep your desk neat and professional. In a home office or bedroom, you have total creative freedom.

Steps

Organizing the Space

1. Use a desk caddy, bins, or stylish trays for small items. Wall space can also be used for storage with options like open shelving, cubes, or pegboard to organize loose paperwork and hang tools like scissors.
   • Be creative with storage: use decorative glasses to hold pens, repurposed and repainted food jars to keep paper clips, or even spray-painted muffin tins to keep a drawer organized.
2. Try bookends to keep folders, books, and binders in place. Unique sets are often found in thrift stores but you can also repurpose pieces of wood, marble or other heavy materials to make your own.
3. Manage your schedule with a calendar. A large, markable version is easy to use and can be personalized with pictures and drawings.
   • DIY a perpetual calendar: attach 3 mug hooks to an inexpensive wood plaque, write the twelve months of the year as well as two sets of numbers (0-9) on blank gift tags. The tags hang on the hooks to display the date. Paint and customize the wood and tags to suit your taste.
4. Choose daily use supplies in colors and designs you like. Unique magnets and push pins can be playful and useful. Customize pens and pencils, tape dispensers, staplers and other items you already own with patterned washi tape.

Decorating with Style

1. Display personal photos. Use a bulletin board or a wire with clips to eliminate bulky frames. If you're in an office environment, limit the number of images and make sure that they're appropriate.
2. Incorporate color. Calming, natural tones like soft blues and greens can reduce stress and anxiety. Pops of energizing colors like orange and red can stimulate creativity.
3. Add plants to your workspace. Indoor plants like the Peace Lily, English ivy, Golden pothos and Sansevieria improve air quality. They can also thrive in the low light of an office.
   • Lower care options also include moss terrariums, a vase of fresh flowers or a sand zen garden.
4. Bring your own chair and lamp. When possible, this is a great way to express your individual style.
   • Chairs should be compact and made for use with a desk; add a small decorative pillow or cushion for added comfort.
   • A desktop lamp will provide soft lighting if you're in a windowless environment and also counter harsh fluorescent lights.
5. Hang “wallpaper”. Attach printed material like wrapping paper, fabric, art prints or posters to walls or cubicle dividers to brighten up a dull space - just make sure it's removable to avoid a mess later.
6. Use a one-of-a-kind mug or water bottle. Simple personal items bring joy to daily routines, especially if they feature quotes and images, or have a special memory attached to them.

Working Efficiently

1. Employ necessary tools that combine form and function. A desk blotter and mouse pad can be customized with photos, reminders and encouraging quotes that keep you focused. A computer screen wallpaper image can calm and inspire you.
2. Get a timer or clock. Timepieces can be attractive - but more importantly they keep you on task and help you avoid the distraction of picking up your phone.
   • DIY your own desk clock easily: purchase an inexpensive clock kit and follow the instructions, using virtually any material you can drill a hole into for the clock face.
3. Keep books at your desk for reference. Choose titles that are related to your studies, your company mission, or even inspirational texts.
4. Invest in a simple desk toy or puzzle. Although it may seem like a way to end up off-task, quick but challenging puzzles and games can actually spark creativity and wake up sluggish brains.

Tips

• Clear your desk of clutter and trash. Recycle used paper products whenever possible and store any food or beverage items elsewhere.
• Maintain organization by following the rule that every item has a “home” - and unless it's being used, that's where it should be.

Warnings

• In an office setting, avoid scented items like potpourri, candles or room sprays as they can trigger allergic reactions and create safety hazards.
• At work, limit objects that display controversial topics, such as aggressive religious or political messaging.

Related Articles

• Customize Your Cubicle at Work
• Make an Office Setup With a Small Space
• Design a Home Office
• Make Your Own Side Desk

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get a Basic Wardrobe (for Girls)
• Decorate Your Desk
• Hide Your Diary from Siblings
• Decorate Your Room As a Kid
• Accessorize a Nightstand
• Arrange Bedroom Furniture
• Make Your Room Look Cool
• Feng Shui Your Bedroom
• Have a Really Awesome Room
• Redecorate Your Room

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