I Clamp Every Accessory I Can to My Desk To Avoid Clutter, and You Should, Too

For most of us, desk space is at a premium. Between the computer, keyboard, speakers, and maybe a few photos of your family or a mesh Wi-Fi node, things can quickly feel a little cramped. Desk-mounted accessories make your workspace look and feel better. Mounted office accessories are perfect for standing desks because everything stays firmly in place when you lift and lower your position. Even if you stay seated, these devices can clear some of the clutter off your desktop—and maybe clear your mind a bit by giving yourself some space to focus. As a dedicated clamper, closing in on three decades at a desk, I’ve tried every desk-mounted accessory I could get my hands on. I have a few favorite devices which I'll share below.

Before you buy any desk-mounted accessory, make sure that you measure your desk and scope out a suitable spot for the clamp. Don’t assume it will fit, since they all have a thickness range, and some desks don’t play nicely with clamps. There’s also a risk that the clamp will discolor or mark your desktop over time, especially if it’s softwood or in direct sunlight.

Monitor Arms

Number one on my list of desk-mounted accessories is monitor arms. With no need for a stand, you can free up a lot of space, and monitor arms enable you to fix your screen at the ideal height and position, making it easy to adjust the angle should you need to. I’m a fan of the dual-monitor setup with a wide-screen in landscape orientation and a portrait monitor on the left because it’s perfect for my workflow.

I like Ergotron’s monitor mounts because they are seriously sturdy, yet allow for a wide range of movement to get your screen into the sweet spot (the top of the screen should be at eye level and your monitor should be roughly at arm’s length). I use the LX Pro alongside the older Ergotron LX ($189), which has a wider base and can handle more weight. What I like best, compared to other monitor arms I’ve tried, is that my monitors stay properly still once positioned. With some arms, the slightest bump on your desk has your screen vibrating.

Pet Perch

While a dog might be content to curl up at your feet, cats like to be up high. My cats are always jumping on my desk, walking in front of the monitor, and scratching the back of my chair. They also love nothing more than to steal my warm seat when I get up for a coffee. But there is a clamping solution to the pet problem.

If you want to work in peace, you must cater to your cat, and one way to discourage them from sitting on your desk or keyboard is to snag an irresistible perch. Clamped to the back of my desk, the Desk Nest Cat Bed affords my cat Rocket a perfect view out of the window, but lets him stay close, and so he uses it frequently. The only problem is, his route to climb in and out is over my keyboard and under my monitor.

Desk Lamp

A nice lamp can reduce your risk of eye strain and create a warm atmosphere, or help you focus. It’s the perfect foil to the harsh glare of your monitor screen.

This iconic design, first released in 1935 and brought to life in Pixar’s animated logo, is an absolute classic. It’s the perfect blend of form and function, with a beautiful angular design, contrasting silver springs with metallic black, and it is highly adjustable, making it easy for you to get light where you need it. Yes, you can get far cheaper lamps, and you have to buy the clamp ($50) accessory separately, but Anglepoise lamps are timeless and built to last.

If you want something more modern that can double as a task light and a light for video calls or streaming, the Lume Cube Edge Light 2.0 has you covered. What I like about this lamp is that it has controls for brightness and color temperature. It works well-fixed to the back of your desk, and even has USB-C and USB-A ports for charging phones or plugging in other small gadgets.

Headphone Hooks

After running over or standing on several sets of headphones, I got into the habit of placing them on a stand, but I found most stands weren’t very sturdy and took up too much space on my desktop. There’s a better way: hooks that clamp onto your desk.

If you want to go the stylish route, I don’t think you can do better than this. A simple oak peg that clamps onto your desk and will comfortably hold any set of headphones or a gaming headset.

Cheap but effective, this rotating under-desk clamp works just as well, and I love that you can turn the hook through 360 degrees to find the best position for your hanging headphones.

Extra Shelves and Holders

The idea here is to get things off your desk, and I have discovered a handful of other smart ways to do it with these nifty clamping accessories that add pockets, shelves, and even a cup holder.

A perfect pouch to store your print copy of WIRED magazine, and maybe some cables and your iPad. This organizer hangs from two clamps and comes in various different felt finishes with rods made from different types of wood, but it is on the pricey side.

Thanks to a simple, smart design, these shelves clamp to your desk and provide two roomy metal trays that are suitable for storing anything from pens to plants. You can set them to sit in the center or extend in either direction, depending on your desk and surroundings.

You can eliminate the risk of spilling a drink on your keyboard with this clever clamping cupholder. I like the ash veneer finish, but it comes in black, too, and there’s a nifty opening down the side for your mug handle.

As some of the biggest hogs of desk real estate, computer speakers can be annoying, but these clamping shelves enable you to get them out of the way. They are pricey, and you’ll need two of them for a pair of speakers, but you can angle the shelf however you like, as the clamp supports five different positions, and they look lovely.

You can reverse the clamps on this cable management tray to hide a power strip under your desk or add a handy accessible basket to the side.