Now that it’s March, I’m dreaming of spring – chambray shirts, rosé, the smell of snowmelt, and spring cleaning. As a somewhat messy person, spring cleaning is deeply satisfying to me – a chance to start over, to purge, to try new things, and, of course, a chance to evaluate or update the decor in my space.
Oftentimes, we think of spring cleaning as a thing we do at home, but if you spend roughly one third of your week at work, it’s nice to take a little time to spring clean your desk, too! Not only will it help you purge the unnecessary stuff that’s piling up (do you really still need that notebook you filled up two years ago?) but it will give you a chance to make your desk space your own.
{RELATED POST: How to Decorate Your Dorm or Apartment Desk Space So You’ll Actually Want to Spend Time There}
Whether you work from home, you have a cubicle, or you’re working in an open-office concept, it can feel like your space is impersonal. And while there’s not much you can do about your cubicle walls, there are a couple of things you can lean on to personalize your desk at work. You may not have that corner office yet, but you can sure as heck make your little space boss.
Table of Contents
Inspirational Art Print
Top row: Etsy | Etsy | Society6, Bottom row: Etsy | Etsy | Society6
When I first starting working full time, I splurged a little and bought myself a print of the v famous Parks and Rec quote, “Work a little so you can ball a lot” to hang at my desk. On the tough days, looking at that quote reminded me to work hard and work through the tough stuff, but also to remember that work isn’t the only thing.
What I love about little art prints like this is that they rarely are over $30 (unless you are buying a huuuuge print), and they give you a chance to really show off your personality and what inspires you. On websites like Etsy and Society6 you can find basically any quote under the sun, but just in case, you can often get custom quotes made as well. Just make sure that, if you’re working in an office, your quote is profanity-free and work-appropriate!
Cute Mousepad
Row 1: Etsy | Amazon, Row 2: Etsy | Amazon, Row 3: Etsy | Etsy
Often, your office will provide you with a ~generic black mousepad~, but let’s be honest here – who knows how many people used that before you. Sanitary reasons aside, mousepads are a great way to add a little bit of color and personality to your most likely sterile desk space.
Obviously, abstract prints like painterly brushstrokes, marbled stone, and geo prints are colorful, feminine, and inoffensive for office spaces, but don’t be afraid to branch out a little if that floats your boat. From cat ears to memes to pictures of your own cat, mousepads are also highly customizable and options are available in abundance on places like Etsy and Amazon.
Chic Organizer
Top Row: Container Store | Target | Target, Bottom Row: Chairish | Ikea | Container Store | Nordstrom Rack
You’ve purged your desk, but you still need something to help you keep on top of the influx of documents, mail, notebooks, and other miscellany that comes from working in a office. Why not get a desk organizer that does double duty – keeping your space not-insane while looking sophisticated and cute?
A holder for pens and pencils is always a good call, like the acrylic and wood options shown above, while letter holders or document trays keep your documents in control. If you receive clients in your office or you collect a lot of business cards, consider a business card holder in a chic clear acrylic. And while they might not store your stuff for you, consider investing in a cute stapler/tape combo so you’re never without.
Sassy Mug
Top Row: Dollskill | Society6, Middle Row: Target | Etsy, Bottom Row: Bloomingdale’s | Anthropologie
Whether you’re on your first cup of coffee in the morning or sipping on some chamomile tea in the afternoon, your mug hangs out at your desk and almost acts like a piece of decor on its own. There are a ton of cute mugs out there, from inspirational quotes to sassy sayings, to beautiful stoneware and silly prints, so why not find one that makes you smile and brightens your work day a little bit?
Like my point of caution for art prints, be sure that any saying on your mug is inoffensive and profanity-free.
Bonus: Plant Friend!
If your office allows you to have live plants at your desk, considering keeping a low-maintenance plant in to literally bring some life to your desk. Plants like cactus, jade plants, succulents, bamboo, snake plants and aloe vera all do well without much watering, and some, like bamboo, require little light. Just make sure to set an alarm in your calendar to water it!
What do you think?
What sort of things do you use to personalize your desk at work? Any tips for making your workspace more your own? Let us know in the comments below!