I used to love back-to-school shopping at Staples, selecting my pens and composition notebooks and binders with care. I loved the ritual of it. (Did anyone else look forward to covering her textbooks in contact paper or kraft paper?). Nowadays, I still get a thrill out of desk accessories. Below, my desktop favorites:
CARAN D’ACHE BALLPOINT PENS (I OWN IN ROSE GOLD)
DOTTED OR SQUARED LEUCHTTERM NOTEBOOKS
I USE A JULEP CUP TO HOLD A SPRAY OF LE PENS (SUPER FINE POINT AND GREAT COLORS IF YOU’RE INTO COLOR CODING) AND SHARPIES ON MY DESK
FISKARS SCISSORS FOR SURE — THEY CUT NEARLY ANY MATERIAL (INCLUDING FABRIC AND FELT) SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHER DESKTOP SCISSOR
SUGAR PAPER WEEKLY PLANNING PAD (BEST TARGET SCORE IN RECENT MEMORY)
POPPIN ACCESSORY TRAYS FOR MY DRAWER (A NICE SHORT HEIGHT SO IT CLEARS EASILY)
BIGSO DESKTOP FILE BOXES — I ACTUALLY LINE THESE UP UNDERNEATH MY DESK WITH IMPORTANT PAPERWORK; THEY LOOK PRETTY SLEEK FOR WHAT THEY ARE
A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE WATERCOLOR FROM MY TALENTED GIRLFRIEND INSLEE
I USE THESE INEXPENSIVE PENCIL BOXES TO STOW ALL OTHER OFFICE SUPPLIES (TAPE, PAPER CLIPS, PENS, ETC) IN MY DESK CHAIR, WHOSE SEAT CAN BE REMOVED TO REVEAL STORAGE (GENIUS) — THE CHAIR IS FROM BALLARD’S AND IS SIMILAR TO THIS BUT THEY NO LONGER MAKE WITH STORAGE BENEATH SEAT
OBSESSED WITH THIS STANDING IPHONE CHARGER
I am hoping to one day soon upgrade my desk (which I’ve had since college and is, frankly, on its last legs), and I would cherish one of the gorgeous custom ones from CEH. A few others I love at slightly more attractive pricepoints:
THIS FRENCH-INFLUENCED STUNNER FROM BUNGALOW 5
For a child or teen’s room, I love this leaning Sawyer desk from C&B. It’s so reasonably priced and so practical in a small space! You can even add leaning bookcases to flank each side and achieve a cool built-in effect for under $500. I’m a HUGE fan of the Sawyer collection, which they seem to have just relaunched because they were not available for a few months; we use their larger bookcases in our living room and always get questions about them. You cannot beat that price!
P.S. Nursery finds.
P.P.S. My favorite home organization gear and a snack you will not be able to stop eating.
This post feels like it was made for me! That back to school trip to Staples looms large in my memory … I’ve always been a big desk-accessory person. (And yes, I completely remember covering all my textbooks in kraft paper! Haha!)
Some of my other favorites include Muji gel pens, to which I am partial; MT brand washi tape; and Moleskine’s 12-month weekly planner, which I love because it has the week on the left-hand side and a blank page of lined paper on the right-hand side. I have used these faithfully since 2007! 🙂
We recently bought a little “craft table” to serve as a desk station during the week and an all-purpose art/craft station during the weekend and positioned it in front of a bay window in our living room. I’ve been working there this week and must say that I love it! I’ll need a desk lamp when the days get shorter, though … the JA one is compelling but above my price range! I’m going to investigate some other options but if you know of any interesting and less-expensive options, do let me know!
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Love all these!
Re: lamps. It sounds like a task lamp might be a good fit for your craft table/desk station (small footprint!) — this one is so cool:
https://www.kathykuohome.com/Product/Detail/68594-Claire-Industrial-Loft-Golden-Brass-Task-Table-Lamp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI78KEsoTs6wIVv-bjBx3I3wFpEAQYASABEgLNkPD_BwE
But you can find them at all pricepoints and they always look chic IMHO:
https://www.lampsplus.com/sfp/85Y38/?cm_mmc=GOO-SH-_-NA-_-NA-_-85Y38&sourceid=DFGPD85Y38&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI78KEsoTs6wIVv-bjBx3I3wFpEAQYBCABEgLtq_D_BwE
https://bit.ly/33A0DXZ
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OMG, yes — Anglepoise!! Brilliant. I used to work as a buyer at a furniture company and this was always one of my favorite designers. Can’t go wrong with something classic 🙂 Thank you for reminding me about it!!
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Yay!