12 Cool Desk Accessories You Didn't Know You Needed

When you work in an office, it's easy to get so consumed by work that you don't put much energy into maintaining your actual workspace. Before you know it, you're like that sad employee from Office Space: Your desk is so cluttered you can't find anything on it (least of all your stapler), and it's covered in mountains of paperwork that contribute to your mounting stress.

What's the antidote to this gloomy scene? Taking the time to create a truly inviting workspace—a place where you want to work, not just a space where you have to work.

To get started, commit to keeping your desk organized and uncluttered. Research suggests that for many people, clutter can contribute to stress and inhibit productivity. On the other hand, an orderly workspace can make it easier for you to focus and get your work done.

The next step? Personalize your workspace with fun office supplies that help brighten things up, put a smile on your face, or say something about what makes you uniquely you. Mix and match these cool desk accessories and cute supplies for a personalized and well-designed workspace.

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Cool Desk Accessories

• All-in-One White Zigzag Organizer ($29.99)
  If you're committed to keeping your workspace neat and tidy, then this is one of the coolest office supplies you can use. This organizer has a dedicated space for everything from folders to mail, memos, printouts, paper clips, and thumbtacks, which allows you to stay tidy even in a small space.
• Aqua Scissors ($10.99)
  These bright, cheerful, uniquely colored scissors will make all your cutting tasks more pleasant. The pop of color stands out in a desk drawer organizer, so you know exactly where to reach whenever you need a pair of scissors.
• Character Flash Drives (from $29.99)
  Kids aren't the only ones who get obsessed with different media characters. Now grownups can have fun with their favorite characters (such as Hello Kitty to Mad Dog) with these unique flash drives. As an added bonus, you're unlikely to confuse your flash drive with a coworker's ever again. If you're not into characters but you still want your digital storage device to make a splash, check out these colorful flash drive designs.
• Colorful Grip Grass ($11.99)
  Grip grass makes for a contemporary, stylish alternative to the classic pen cup by enabling you to collect and hold pens, photos, business cards, and even your phone in an accessible and colorful way. It also allows you to create fun scenes on your desktop if you're so inclined. (A few Lego^® people with a pint-sized beach umbrella would probably love to lounge in the “grass.”)
• Colorful Mouse Pads ($8.99)
  Boring black or gray mouse pads are so early 2000s. In case you haven't heard, '90s fashion is back in—and that applies to mouse pads just as much as it does to the way people dress. The 1990s saw the rise of multicolored mouse pads in all kinds of whacky designs. Today, colorful mouse pads are back. These tasteful varieties allow you to join in on the color revolution without feeling like you're back in middle school.
• Cute Sticky Notes (from $2.99)
  Most of us use sticky notes to jot down to-do list items, which means they're often associated with something stressful. So why not disrupt that association by choosing the cutest, most cheerful sticky notes around? From flowers and hearts to cupcakes, paw prints, and stars, these creative shapes put a smile on anyone's face.
• Cynthia Rowley Gold Stapler ($4.89)
  If that guy from Office Space had owned this stapler, we'd understand why he was so obsessed. Sleek, classy, and compact, this chic stapler turns a simple office tool into a tasteful work of art. Best of all? The unique color means you'll know exactly who took your stapler if it ever goes missing.
• Multicolored Mouse (from $18.99)
  What's the perfect complement to a colorful mouse pad? An even more colorful mouse. Space-age designs, geometric patterns, and bold pops of color are all the rage. Get in on the action by taking your pick from any of these funky options.
• Post-it^® Pop-up Cat Dispenser ($10.99)
  This one's perfect for all the cat lovers out there—or anyone who would rather retrieve a Post-it^® note from a cheerful caricature of a cute animal than a topsy-turvy stack on the corner of their desk. More of a dog person? You can still enjoy fun Post-it^® dispensers in the form of a purse, apple, football, heart, or other fun shape.
• Scotch^® Flower Tape Dispenser ($10.99)
  Research has found that looking at real flowers can improve your mood and boost creativity. Once you unwind some tape from this pretty floral dispenser, you'll never want to go back to the plain variety. While this faux floral presentation may not have the same effect, we're betting it will help you feel a bit more cheerful.
• Sparco Removable Storage Drawer Organizer ($12.49)
  The see-through design and modular shapes incorporated into this storage drawer organizer make for a distinctly modern design. Fill up the drawers with colorful items such as multicolored paper clips, markers, and erasers to add a splash of color to your desk while staying organized. As an added bonus, the clear design is an extra incentive to keep drawers neat.
• Drawer Tray Organizer ($4.29)
  When you use your desk drawer on a regular basis, “out of sight, out of mind” doesn't really apply. That means it's important to create a pleasant workspace even inside desk drawers. Check out this thoughtfully designed drawer tray organizer, which provides dedicated spaces for rulers, scissors, tape, thumbtacks, paper clips, and more.

When it comes to cool desk accessories, these items take the cake. Of course, plainer office supplies get the job done, too. But if any of these cool office supplies make you happier at work, it's well worth the upgrade: You'll reap rewards both in terms of enhanced mental health and improved job performance.

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Laura Newcomer

Laura Newcomer is a writer, editor, and educator with multiple years of experience working in the environmental and personal wellness space. Formerly Senior Editor at the health site Greatist, Laura now lives and works in Pennsylvania. Her writing has been published on Washington Post, TIME Healthland, Greatist, DailyBurn, Lifehacker, and Business Insider, among others. She has taught environmental education to students of all ages in both Pennsylvania and Maine, and prioritizes living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. She's a big proponent of creating self-sustaining communities and accessible healthy food systems that care for both people and the earth. An avid outdoorswoman, she can often be found hiking, kayaking, backpacking, and tending to her garden.