5 Best Desk Accessories That Make Work More Fun (2026)

Collection of desk accessories including a monitor hook, pen holder, memo boards and power strip on a desk

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Elena Living earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

A desk you enjoy sitting at is a desk you actually get work done at. The right accessories do two jobs at once — they clear the clutter that slows you down, and they add a bit of personality to a space you stare at all day.

These five picks cover both. Some are genuinely practical, some are just fun, and every one is rated highly by real Amazon buyers. They also happen to make some of the easiest gifts for anyone who works from home.

How We Chose These Desk Accessories

Each item here was selected on clear criteria: a strong Amazon rating with a meaningful number of reviews, a real everyday use at a desk, fair value, and consistent feedback from buyers. We research ratings, features, and what customers actually report rather than testing products ourselves.

1. Cat Tail Monitor Hook for Keys and Accessories  


Small items vanish on a desk — keys, headphones, a lanyard, charging cables. This little orange cat clips onto the edge of your monitor and its curved tail becomes a hook, putting those things back within arm's reach instead of buried under paperwork.

Why It Made the List

Rated 4.4★ by 1,000+ buyers, it uses space that's otherwise completely wasted — the side edge of your screen. It also works in other tight spots around a desk or shelf, and the cheerful design gives a plain monitor a bit of character.

What Buyers Say

Buyers most often praise how genuinely handy it is for headphones and keys, and how much they like the playful look. The most common note is that it's designed for lighter items rather than anything heavy.

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2. Golf-Themed Pen Holder for the Desk 

Pen holders are usually the dullest thing on a desk. This one leans into a hobby instead — a golf-themed holder that keeps a pen upright and adds a small talking point to an office or home workspace.

Why It Made the List

With a 4.7★ rating from 1,400+ buyers, it's the highest-rated novelty item on this list. It's most popular as a gift — for a golfing dad, a boss, a graduate, or anyone whose desk needs something more interesting than a plastic cup.

What Buyers Say

Buyers most often praise it as a gift that gets a genuine reaction, and note that it looks more substantial in person than they expected. It holds a single pen, so it's a decorative piece rather than bulk storage.

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3. Novelty Character Pen Holder for Fans  

If the person you're shopping for has a favourite film franchise, a character-themed pen holder is an easy win. This one is a popular pick for sci-fi fans and turns up often as a Father's Day, birthday, or stocking-filler gift.

Why It Made the List

Rated 4.4★ by many buyers, it does the basic job of holding pens while doubling as desk decor. Its appeal is entirely in the theme — this is a gift-first purchase, and it's usually priced accordingly.

What Buyers Say

Buyers most often praise it as a fun, well-received gift for a fan. As with most novelty holders, it's a decorative piece for a pen or two rather than a full desk organizer.

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4. Monitor Memo Board for Sticky Notes  

Sticky notes stuck directly to a screen block your view and peel off constantly. These clip-on memo boards attach to the side of your monitor and give your notes a proper home — visible, but out of the way.

Why It Made the List

Rated 4.4★ by 5,800+ buyers, this two-piece set gives you memo space on both sides of your screen. It's one of the more genuinely practical items here — useful for reminders, to-do lists, deadlines, and passwords you'd rather not type into a document.

What Buyers Say

Buyers most often praise how much desk clutter it removes and that notes stay visible while working. The most common note is to check your monitor's edge thickness before ordering so the clip fits properly.

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5. Tower Power Strip With Surge Protection   

The least glamorous item on this list is probably the most useful. A modern desk needs a lot of outlets — laptop, monitor, lamp, phone, headphones, speaker — and a vertical tower strip handles all of it without the tangle of a flat power bar hidden behind furniture.

Why It Made the List

With a 4.8★ rating from 5,300+ buyers, it's the highest-rated product on this list. It offers 11 outlets plus 3 USB ports (including USB-C), 1050J surge protection, a flat plug that sits close to the wall, and a 6-foot cord — a genuinely good spec for a desk, dorm, or office.

What Buyers Say

Buyers most often praise how many devices it handles at once and that the flat plug fits behind furniture without bending. Surge protection is the feature worth paying attention to here, since it's what protects your electronics.

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Which Desk Accessory Should You Buy First?

If your desk is genuinely cluttered, start with the power strip and the memo boards — those solve real daily problems. The monitor hook is a small, cheap win for keys and headphones. The novelty pen holders are gift-first buys: perfect when you need something fun for someone who's hard to shop for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best desk accessories for a home office?

The most useful ones solve a daily annoyance: enough outlets, a place for notes, and somewhere for small items like keys and headphones. Decorative pieces are a bonus once the practical basics are sorted.

What makes a good gift for someone who works from home?

Small, useful desk items land well because they get used every day. A themed pen holder suits someone with a clear hobby, while a power strip or memo board suits anyone whose desk is a mess of cables and notes.

Do monitor memo boards fit all screens?

Most standard monitors, yes — but check your screen's edge thickness before buying, as very thick or unusually shaped bezels can be a tight fit.

Why does surge protection matter in a power strip?

Surge protection helps shield connected devices from voltage spikes. If you're plugging in a laptop, monitor, and other electronics, it's worth choosing a strip that has it rather than a basic extension lead.

Final Thoughts

A good desk setup is part practical, part personal. The power strip and memo boards do the heavy lifting on clutter, while the cat hook and novelty pen holders make the space feel like yours. All five are backed by real buyer ratings — pick the ones that match how you actually work.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Elena Living earns from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our blog.

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