I Clamp Every Accessory I Can to My Desk To Avoid Clutter, and You Should, Too

For most of For us, office space is limited. Between the computer, keyboard, speakers, and maybe a few photos of your family or a mesh Wi-Fi node, things can quickly feel a little cramped. Desk-mounted accessories make your workspace look and feel nicer. Mounted desk accessories are perfect for standing desks because everything stays firmly in place as you raise and lower your position. Even if you stay seated, these devices can remove some of the clutter from your desk and perhaps clear your mind a little by giving you some space to focus. As a dedicated desk clerk with nearly three decades in the office, I’ve tried every desk accessory I could get my hands on. I have a few favorite devices that I’ll share below.

Before purchasing a desk accessory, be sure to measure your desk and determine a suitable location for the clamp. Don’t assume it will fit, as they all have a thickness range and some desks don’t play well with clamps. There is also a risk that the clamp will discolor or mark your desk over time, especially if it is softwood or exposed to direct sunlight.

Monitor arm

Number one on my list of desk accessories are monitor arms. Without the need for a stand, you can free up a lot of space and the monitor arms allow you to mount your screen at the ideal height and position, making it easy to adjust the angle if you need to. I’m a fan of the dual monitor setup with a widescreen in landscape orientation and a portrait monitor on the left because it’s perfect for my workflow.

I like Ergotron’s monitor stands because they are very sturdy, while still allowing a wide range of movement to place your screen at the ideal point (the top of the screen should be at eye level and your monitor should be at about arm’s length). I use the LX Pro alongside the older Ergotron LX ($189), which has a wider base and can support more weight. What I like the most, compared to other monitor arms I’ve tried, is that my monitors stay very still once positioned. With a few arms, the slightest shock on your desk causes your screen to vibrate.

Pet perch

While a dog is happy to curl up at your feet, cats like to be up high. My cats always jump on my desk, walk in front of the monitor and scratch the back of my chair. They love nothing more than to steal my warm seat when I get up for coffee. But there is a clamping solution to the pet problem.