In a world where technology reigns supreme, and we cannot survive without our digital tools simple analog desk accessories are often ignored. But they do have an undeniable charm and straightforward utility that cannot be overlooked. If you’re someone who has to deal with the constraints of a small workspace or compact desk, then these timeless tools can be a complete lifesaver for you. A collection of well-designed and functional analog desk supplies can create an efficient, organized, and conducive work environment for you. Irrespective if you’re a remote worker, office worker, or student, the right selection of analog accessories can help you maximize your compact workspace to the best. We’ve curated a collection of 10 essential analog desk accessories for you, that will convert your crampy workspace into a comfortable and conducive work environment.
1. Cork Boards and Sticky Notes
Corkboards are always a wonderful addition to a compact workspace since they’re ideal for pinning notes and important reminders. And if they’re portable, they’re all the better, as they can be easily moved or mounted. Portable cork boards function as flexible spaces to neatly organize your thoughts and pin up important information. Today you can even find compact cork boards with multiple functions, allowing them to serve as more than one useful product. Cork boards also can add some character and warmth to your desk.
The sPINmemo Lamp
Named the sPINmemo lamp, this unique lamp combines traditional lamps and multifunctional designs to create an innovative and space-saving solution. Besides lighting up your workdesk, it features a rotating cork body that serves as a unique cork board. You can personalize the cork section with notes, reminders, and photos. It is an interactive element of the lamp, which offers a platform to pin your notes and thoughts. The concealed cavity on top of the lamp can also store your small items, making this a true gem for your small workspace.
What we like
- The rotating feature ensures your notes and reminders are easily accessible
- Aesthetically-pleasing design
What we dislike
- The surface available for pinning is a bit limited, which may be inadequate for some users
2. Multi-Functional EDC for Desk
Tools with multiple functions are a godsend in a compact workspace. If you’re looking to add such tools to your arsenal, you may want to add multi-functional scissors to the list. Multi-functional scissors are pretty essential since they merge cutting capabilities with some additional useful features. They perform their basic duty of cutting but also double up as bottle openers, box cutters, screwdrivers, and more. This makes them versatile products, which eliminate the need for multiple tools, ensuring space is saved, and your desk is organized.
Cut & Slice Scissors
Dubbed the Cut & Slice Scissors, this nifty desk accessory features a sliding mechanism, which pushes one of the blades ahead, creating a handy box cutter, which offers a smooth cutting process. It is equipped with an easy-to-use sliding mechanism, which makes using the cutter a breeze, and also pretty safe to store. You can utilize the scissors handle as a blade handle as well.
What we like
- The scissors have an innovative form with drop-shaped handles in transparent resin
- Prevents sticky residue from building up, since the blades are coated with fluorine
What we dislike
- The blade isn’t easily replaceable
3. Whiteboards for Brainstorming
When you’re setting up a workspace, a whiteboard is a must-have. It is a versatile tool that is excellent for brainstorming, streamlining your thoughts, and organizing your goals and tasks. Portable and compact versions are great for small spaces, and also great for carrying them with you if you’re working outside the office. These whiteboards occupy minimal space, freeing up desk space for other products and tasks. A whiteboard is often beneficial since it provides a larger writing surface as compared to a notebook or diary. This will help you in properly planning and visualizing your tasks.
Personal Whiteboard
Quite rightly called the Personal Whiteboard, since it has a cute and compact size that makes it easy to use, especially in a small workspace, this unique whiteboard is the perfect product for taking notes and jotting down what’s important. Its easy-to-carry design ensures you can take it with you if you leave the office as well. It features an eraser, letting you easily write things down, erase them, and then write again!
What we like
- Equipped with a Mag Force system
- Portable design that is no hassle to carry around
What we dislike
- You cant use a permanent marker on it, only a dry-erase or whiteboard pen
4. Planters to Add Some Life
Our work desks can often get mundane and dreary, and adding a touch of green works wonders to elevate aesthetics and the work environment. Mini, fun-sized planters are perfect for small desks. These little plant holders add an element of nature to your workspace, without occupying too much space. They’re great at holding small plants like succulents or air plants, and these require minimum maintenance. Adding plants to your workspace can improve quality, elevate your mood and productivity, and bring down stress. They serve as a refreshing element, that will spruce up your desk and mood.
Grovemade Wood Planter
A great way to add green to your desk is by incorporating the Grovemade Wood Planter. It includes a detachable, stainless steel liner cup made from solid walnut or maple hardwood. You can choose between black walnut or hard rock maple hardwood. The planters are available in three sizes – long, wide, and short. Pick the size that suits your working space, and your indoor planter will perfectly fit in.
What we like
- The planters are meticulously handmade
- Available in three different sizes
What we dislike
- There are no drainage holes, which creates the risk of overwatering
5. Miniature Clocks
Analog clocks make for classic, functional, and elegant additions to your desk setup. And the miniature versions are an ideal match for smaller desks. Compact little clocks offer a glance at the time, without the hassle of getting distracted by your digital gadgets. Having a clock helps you manage time better, and eliminates the temptation of checking your phone for the time, which can get you distracted and lead to some doom scrolling on Instagram. A well-designed analog clock can also add some style and elegance to your desk.
Rolling World Clock
Named the Rolling World Clock, this one-hand device doesn’t simply tell the time of your city, but different countries as well. It is a boon if you work on international time, helping you deal with different clients in different time zones. It has a clean and sleek ethos, which allows it to serve as a visually pleasing addition to your compact workdesk.
What we like
- Reduces the need to check your phone for the time
- Makes time-telling a simple and joyful affair
What we dislike
- The clock only includes 12 time zones, so you will need to calculate the time zones outside the clock’s interface
6. Space-Saving Pen Holders
A sleek and compact pen holder is important for your desk. It ensures your pens and other writing tools are organized and easily accessible. Choosing a vertical and space-saving design can ensure that precious real estate isn’t occupied by it. If you pick the right pen holder, it will keep your pens organized and tidy, ensuring they don’t roll off your desk or get lost easily. A well-designed pen holder also adds an aesthetic and sleek element to your desk space.
Serenity Pen Stand
Named the Serenity Pen Stand, this unique pen holder has a compact and minimal form with a lovely metallic touch. It offers easy and constant access to your pen, safeguarding it, and never letting you lose track of it. It is built from aluminum and copper and features a well-balanced cylinder. The aesthetically pleasing and space-saving pen stand adds a dash of color and character to your sturdy desk.
What we like
- Features a heavy copper bottom which provides it with a stable form
- Sleek, minimal, and aesthetically pleasing design
What we dislike
- Pretty small in size, so you may misplace the pen stand if you’re careless
7. Pens and More Writing Instruments
Working in a small workspace, you need everything to be small and sleek. You need reliable and elegant writing tools. If you choose sleek pens, you’re in for a treat, since they merge functionality with a sophisticated design, making them an excellent addition to your workdesk. These pens make your writing experiences smooth and seamless while adding some elegance and charm to your desk. Since they’re sleek and streamlined, they occupy minimum space and are also easily accessible.
Stilform INK
Say hello to Stilform INK, this award-winning fountain pen features a unique self-aligning cap and a brand-new mechanism. The new version is made in DLC-coated aluminum. By giving the cap a simple twist, it automatically gets pushed off by a strong magnetic force, making the pen pretty easy to handle. Since the pen features a unique magnetic closure, the distinctive flat sides along the pen will always align perfectly.
What we like
- It also serves as a fidget toy
- Offers the most comfortable holding position
What we dislike
- The magnetic mechanism may not appeal to everyone, certain users may want the traditional click or twist mechanisms
8. Compact Notebooks & Journals
Note-taking is something we have now confined to digital note-taking apps, but there is something truly therapeutic and powerful about using a pen and paper to jot down your thoughts and ideas. The mundane yet humble notebook is always an excellent choice to note down your thoughts and create a streamlined vision. A notebook that is compact yet sturdy is a great option to add to your arsenal of analog desk accessories. Not to mention, writing by hand encourages creativity, and improves memory retention, ensuring you don’t forget important details and points.
The Passion Planner
Say hello to the Passion Planner – the one space for all your thoughts and ideas. The Passion Planner isn’t simply an ordinary notebook, it goes one step ahead – it includes an appointment calendar, goal-setting guide, sketchbook, journal, and personal and work-to-do list. It was created keeping your personal goals and passions in mind, allowing you to create the ideal balance between personal reflection, goal setting, and functionality. It has a slim all-black aesthetic ensuring it occupies minimal space which is what you need in a small workspace, and merges with any kind of desk aesthetic.
What we like
- Equipped with a durable and low profile soft faux leather cover with an elastic enclosure strap
What we dislike
- The visioning place of the notebook is a tad bit small
- The design of the planner may be a bit boring for those who prefer more colorful aesthetics
9. Multi-Functional Desk Organizers
Maintaining a neat workspace can often be difficult, but this is where multi-functional and nifty desk organizers come in. These organizers often feature multiple compartments which hold and organize your different belongings. A handy desk organizer can carefully segregate and store your pens, paper clips, sticky notes, etc. Organizers are great at reducing clutter and ensuring you find what you need with ease, so you don’t need to worry too much about losing your favorite stationery items.
Inbox Tray Trio
Named the Inbox Tray Trio desk organizer, this aesthetic-looking flexible leather organizer includes multiple leather trays that will organize your desk, while adding some style to it. Designed by hardgraft, each tray features a leather and felted wool insert or lid that can be utilized as dividers. It allows you to place important notes and letters at the bottom, and store paper clips and pens on the top, providing plenty of storage space, which is a boon for small workspaces.
What we like
- Features small trays to hold the tiny accessories and tools
- Made using stunning vegetable-tanned leather
What we dislike
- An expensive price point, that may not be preferred by the budget-conscious customer
10. Foldable Lamps
When you’re working at a desk, proper lighting is extremely important. As useful as traditional desk lamps can be, they almost always occupy a significant amount of space. To ensure most of your desk space isn’t occupied by your lighting of choice, you can opt for foldable lamps. Foldable lamps offer sufficient lighting, without taking up much space on your desk. A foldable lamp will reduce your eye strain, and enhance your focus while giving you the luxury to adjust it to cater to your different working requirements. Foldable lamps are also portable, which is useful if you often work remotely.
R9 Desk Lamp
The R9 Desk lamp is created especially for creative individuals and designers. It provides precise lighting, especially in circumstances where natural light is limited. It features adjustable custom-made LEDs, which offer precise color rendering and versatile illumination, which is much-needed for detailed artwork. It features a lightweight and foldable design, which is great for small workspaces, as it doesn’t occupy much real estate.
What we like
- Users can customize the lighting to their preferences
- Offers exceptional color accuracy
What we dislike
- It is a niche product intended for artists and creative professionals, and may not cater to the general users