15 Desk Decor Ideas to Create Your Own Aesthetic

Whether you've been working from home for years or recently found yourself carving out an at-home workspace in the kitchen, one thing's for certain: On a dreary, Monday morning, there's nothing worse than posting up at a sad, boring desk. We say, embrace that work-from-home life and decorate your desk in a way that will inspire and excite you—even when you're stuck in the snooziest Zoom meeting there ever was. From super minimalist to maximalist, and everything in-between, we've rounded up some cheerful, creative ways to decorate your at-home workspace.

Add DIY Touches

If you’re designing your home office on a budget, there are plenty of DIY ways to personalize your space without spending a lot. Turn an old table into a desk with paint. Add corkboard to a thrift store frame to create a DIY moodboard. Make a DIY terrarium to bring in a natural element.

Add a Pop of Color

You don't have to waste precious desktop real estate to liven up your workspace. Pairing a sleek, simple desk and minimalist accessories with a bold, but miniature wall mural or piece of art can make a serious statement—and add some more color to your day. Need to add some calmness to your workday? Decorate with blues, greens, soft pinks and purples, or grays to give your desk a super zen vibe.

Add Beachy Vibes

When you have a hectic work schedule with back-to-back meetings and a never-ending to-do list, an escape to the beach or your favorite city may feel a little out-of-reach. So, why not embrace your wanderlust with some fun desk decor? Give it a beachy vibe with cane furniture, a mini palm, and weathered wood, or honor your favorite city with a painting of its most famous architectural structures or must-see sites. Just because you're stuck at work physically, you don't necessarily have to be there mentally—or at least not for the full eight hours.

Decorate Seasonally

No matter the holiday, nothing can cheer up a boring meeting more than embracing seasonal decor. Dress up your workspace with miniature pumpkins, gourds, and a fall-scented candle for Halloween; a miniature tree and twinkly lights for Christmas; and a DIY heart-shaped paper chain for Valentine's Day. Even go for some desk accessories that remind you of nature and the outdoors in summer. Even if you're not taking a vacation day for your favorite holiday, the least you can do is celebrate it with some fun desk decor.

Choose Soothing Colors

If your work life is super hectic, your workspace shouldn't be. Opt for a simple, soothing color palette with lots of neutrals and natural textures. Think: a natural-colored wood desk with accessories in varying shades of white, cream, gray, beige, or brown. Add a plant or two for a totally natural touch of color and some extra fresh air, too.

Add Fresh-Cut Flowers

If you're susceptible to the 2 pm, post-lunch slump, try adding fresh-cut flowers in a pretty vase to your desk. They'll add some color and cheer to the space, and can make a great pick-me-up when you're nodding off or reaching for the mid-afternoon chocolate. (On the other hand, why not treat yourself to some fresh flowers and the mid-afternoon chocolate?)

Keep It Simple

What's black and white and chic all over? A minimalist color palette gets a major boost of interest and inspiration from furniture and accessories in different textures. Try pairing a sleek, metal desk with a cane or rattan chair in the same color palette, and gold accessories that are smooth, textured, tall, short, and everything in-between. We always recommend throwing in an easy-to-care-for plant for good measure, too.

Go Minimal

Your desktop doesn't have to be covered in tchotchkes to be inspiring throughout the workday. A simple, naturally colored desk paired with black and white accessories in different textures adds plenty of visual interest without cluttering a small space. If you want to add some artwork—but don't have the space on your desk—consider wallpapering the wall you face. It's a simple, stylish, and space-saving way to boost your office's personality.

Maximize Storage Space

Need to double-down on the storage in your home? Consider purchasing a leaning desk that can provide a solid workspace and display your favorite hats, books, framed photos, candles, and decorative accessories. That way, you can display all of your favorite things without sacrificing the surface or wall space throughout the rest of your house.

Embrace Maximalism

A long workday (or week) can leave many of us feeling uninspired. One solution? Top your desk with all of the things that inspire you—from plants, to paintings, to accessories, to art supplies that you can use to doodle throughout the day. If an item can rejuvenate and excite you, we say: Add it to the workspace.

Add Low-Maintenance Plants

The only thing sadder than a sad workspace on a Monday morning? A sad workspace on a Monday morning with a bunch of dead plants. If you don't exactly have a green thumb, low-maintenance options like cacti, succulents, snake plants, or aloe make excellent desktop greenery. What's more, the right plants can improve the air quality in your workspace.

Bring Nature Indoors

We know, we know: Being stuck inside and working on a perfect, 70-degree day is the absolute worst. Here's a solution for you would-be work truants: Bring nature indoors and into your workday with wood textures, plants, geodes, and photographs of your favorite natural places and spaces.

Remove Distractions

Many of us can have a hard time focusing on work when our workspaces are cluttered—or when our desk accessories are just way more interesting than the work task at-hand. A simple white desk with the bare necessities—like a comfortable chair, laptop, and writing supplies—can be dressed up (but not distracting!) with fresh-cut flowers or a scented candle.

Feature Your Favorite Artwork

Even the simplest, most minimal workspace can get a boost of color and personality with a framed photo, painting, or picture. Whether it's a beloved family photo, a painting your kid made in art class, or a line drawing of your dog, adding your favorite artwork to your desk can seriously liven up the space, and keep you inspired all day long.

Embrace Your Small Space

The smallest workspaces can make the biggest impact with the right accessories, like woven wall hangings, abstract artwork, and low-maintenance plants. If you have a small workspace but want to maximize its accessories, stick to items with a similar color palette. Decorating your desk with too many different colors can be visually jarring and distracting, and make the space look even smaller.

Mix Old and New

Just because your desk is super modern, that doesn't mean your accessories have to be. Try pairing a modern desk with vintage or traditional-styled vases, lamps, or artwork for an interesting blend of colors, patterns, and textures. Have a traditional desk? Top it with a super modern globe lamp, sleek vases, or an ultra-modern clock.

How do you decorate a desk in a way that looks elevated?

To elevate your desk decor, choose a stylish desk lamp that will provide practical task lighting while doubling as a design object. Opt for desk accessories that correspond to the style of your desk or home office and are made from quality materials rather than settling for basic plastic. Decorate the wall above your desk with a photograph or a piece of art and introduce a natural element like a plant or an arrangement of real or dried flowers.

What should you keep on a desk?

You should keep the things you reach for every day on your desk so that they are readily accessible, from pens to paper clips and device chargers and more. Use a desk organizer to keep items tidy and to ensure that you have enough clear space to work. Make sure to add a desk lamp so that you will have proper task lighting when needed.