Upgrade Your Desk Space for Under $100

Whether you’re addicted to printouts or recycle 90 percent of what gets handed to you, you need a system for filing away physical documents, reports, receipts and the like. Poppin’s hanging file box is the right size for most digital-minded workers. And yes, it’s incredibly stylish, but we’re still going to encourage you to tuck it into a drawer. When it comes to desk décor, less is more.

Do not underestimate the power of a well-stocked yet thoughtfully edited desk drawer. We’re not just talking about staples here, but chargers, pens, deodorant, mints, a lint roller, you name it. The trick is to stock only what you need (or what will save you in a personal hygiene emergency), not squirreling away 600 paperclips when you use, at best, three a year.

Your desk is clear, your drawers are organized, now comes the fun part: Swag. A politically correct yet motivating print can do a lot to make your precious vertical real estate feel less “correctional facility,” more “creative hub.” Art startups like Society6 make the process cheap and easy—or just print something in the highest res from the internet.

Speaking of positive vibes, you need a plant by your side. Plants fill empty desk space and make your whole environment feel like home. If you’re someone who struggles with the office blues, they can also be a good reminder of life outside the fluorescent lights. Just be sure to buy one that’s meant for indoor life and needs little in the way of water. A dead desk plant is a metaphor you don’t want to put out there.

A cool tray or catchall is a good way to round out your workspace’s home-sweet-home vibes while also corralling anything you absolutely need on your desk at all times into one tidy collection. Think: A pen, your glasses, your cell. Resist the urge to display every last desk accessory at your disposal. Unless you use a three-hole punch daily, it doesn’t belong on your desk. Stick with the stuff that you reach for frequently while you work.

Bringing your own drinking vessel to work is borderline pretentious, we will admit, but if it helps you hit your H2O goals, keeps your space looking sharp, and makes you feel a little more at home, who TF cares. This carafe and glass combo is deeply stylish, but pick the drinking receptacle that speaks to you.