Three Tricks For Decorating Your Desktop

It's bright and early and for most of you that means time to head to work! Having seen the inside of a cubicle or two myself (and, truthfully, never wanting to return), I thought I'd share a few of my favorite tricks for transforming your workspace.

Design Darling monogrammed acrylic pencil cup ($14) Container Store file folders ($3 for six) Design Darling #ThingsWeLove pencil set ($8) Design Darling monogrammed acrylic business card holder ($14) Design Darling acrylic tape dispenser ($12) Container Store lacquer box ($18)

1. First of all, add color. There's no reason your desk needs to be as drab as your cubicle mate's! File folders and lacquer boxes will help you get organized and provide a pretty pop of your favorite color.

2. Second, make it personal. The monogrammed desk accessories in my new boutique are a great place to start, but I also recommend bringing in a couple framed family photos and changing your desktop picture to a favorite shot from a recent vacation. You spend enough time at your desk — it might as well be a place that makes you happy!

3. Third, keep it clean — especially if your desk is in plain view of your boss or your clients. That means stacks of papers find their way into a (preferably hot pink!) file folder, stray supplies get tucked into a desk drawer, and every item on your desktop serves a distinct purpose. You're not styling a coffee table — decorative objects have little place on an organized desktop. But replacing your ugly black tape dispenser with a pretty acrylic option? Now we're talking.

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Of course these tricks are equally well applied to a home office (and I'd do well to follow my own advice!). If you need more inspiration, check out my "desk du jour" features (can you tell I have an office obsession?). What are your tricks for organizing your office space — and how does your desktop stack up?

It's bright and early and for most of you that means time to head to work! Having seen the inside of a cubicle or two myself (and, truthfully, never wanting to return), I thought I'd share a few of my favorite tricks for transforming your workspace.

Design Darling monogrammed acrylic pencil cup ($14) Container Store file folders ($3 for six) Design Darling #ThingsWeLove pencil set ($8) Design Darling monogrammed acrylic business card holder ($14) Design Darling acrylic tape dispenser ($12) Container Store lacquer box ($18)

1. First of all, add color. There's no reason your desk needs to be as drab as your cubicle mate's! File folders and lacquer boxes will help you get organized and provide a pretty pop of your favorite color.

2. Second, make it personal. The monogrammed desk accessories in my new boutique are a great place to start, but I also recommend bringing in a couple framed family photos and changing your desktop picture to a favorite shot from a recent vacation. You spend enough time at your desk — it might as well be a place that makes you happy!

3. Third, keep it clean — especially if your desk is in plain view of your boss or your clients. That means stacks of papers find their way into a (preferably hot pink!) file folder, stray supplies get tucked into a desk drawer, and every item on your desktop serves a distinct purpose. You're not styling a coffee table — decorative objects have little place on an organized desktop. But replacing your ugly black tape dispenser with a pretty acrylic option? Now we're talking.

- - - 

Of course these tricks are equally well applied to a home office (and I'd do well to follow my own advice!). If you need more inspiration, check out my "desk du jour" features (can you tell I have an office obsession?). What are your tricks for organizing your office space — and how does your desktop stack up?