When it comes to decorating, don’t forget about your desk! Whether you work in the corner of a basement or the corner office of a high-rise, you can personalize your workspace with pretty yet practical desk accessories. We found 12 easy DIY projects that’ll take your office decor up a notch as you continue to climb the corporate (or non-corporate) ladder.
Paint clothespins to coordinate with rainbow-hued pocket folders for a cheerful way to keep track of lists and paperwork. This color-coded filing system can be used to manage your daily to-dos or to organize important documents. Depending on your needs, use a mini alphabet stencil, black cardstock, and glue to label your colorful clothespins with the days of the week or action verbs like “scan,” “file,” and “pay.”
(Photo Source: The Craftables)
A seriously simple DIY, this cork mousepad takes a glamorous turn with an application of metallic paint. You can choose any color to match your office, but we dig the earthy vibe of pairing bronze or gold with natural cork. For a straight line, mark off a section of your mousepad with masking tape before using a paintbrush to apply a thin layer of shimmering color.
(Photo Source: Pure Sweet Joy)
Help your favorite student (or teacher!) keep her desk in order with a mason jar pencil holder. Inspired by the iconic composition book, this eye-catching organizer requires only two paint colors — black and white — plus a fan brush for the signature speckles. Fill it with a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencils, and you’ve got yourself the perfect gift.
(Photo Source: Mason Jar Crafts Love)
Random bowls, jars, or small vases make chic catchalls for small office items like paper clips and rubber bands after a quick spritz of gold spray paint. Cover the bottom with construction paper to keep it clear and then create stripes, dashes, or other patterns around the sides using Washi tape. These desk organizers are so pretty, you may want to make a few extra to scatter around the house.
(Photo Source: Pottery Barn)
This painted wooden box is the perfect size to store office supplies or even a stash of secret treasures! After adhering a pretty piece of patterned paper to the top with acrylic sealer, paint the bottom half in a coordinating shade. We love the look of watercolor-style flowers paired with apple green paint, but you can chose any combination of print and color to match your office.
(Photo Source: Delineate Your Dwelling)
If you’re sick of the sight of your extension cord (and really, who isn’t?), perhaps it’s time for a mini-makeover. Jute rope not only camouflages the cord, but it also adds chic natural texture to your space. Simply wrap the rope around your extension cord and secure with several dabs of hot glue.
(Photo Source: The Vow)
A wall of clipboards is an easy way to display and rotate artwork, but for a bigger statement, hang clipboards made of colorblock canvases instead. After attaching metal clips, paint the bottom of your canvases using a pretty palette of satin paints. Arranged in a grid, this collection of canvas clipboards is fast way to fill a large space for just a little bit of money.
(Photo Source: Damask Love)
Displaying your colored pencils on your desk rather than in a drawer is a quick way to add a pop of color to your office. And the chicest way to display them is this DIY geometric pencil holder made from air dry clay. You’ll need a box cutter or sharp kitchen knife to create the facets of the gemstone-like design and some white paint to give it a clean, crisp look. If you want it to shine, try coloring in some of the sides with a metallic paint marker.
(Photo Source: Lines Across)
This year, skip the fancy stationery store and create your own desktop calendar with watercolors. Even beginners can manage using watercolor brushes to make paint chip-inspired squares atop cold-pressed paper. Once you work your way through the rainbow, let the paint dry, add the months and days using a fine felt-tip pen, and display on a miniature easel.
(Photo Source: Homemade Banana)
Not sure what to do with that package of decorative buttons? Why not turn them into fanciful thumbtacks! This DIY couldn’t be easier; just dab on some tacky glue, and voila! Plus, these button thumbtacks are so simple to make, you can quickly craft a new collection based on your mood, the season, or the holidays.
(Photo Source: Elizabeth Joan Designs)
Thanks to the magic of Mod Podge, in just thirty minutes you can transform a plain storage box into a colorful container for office odds and ends. Rather than cover the entire box in wrapping paper, simply cut out large shapes like flower bunches and position them randomly. Best of all, your scissor skills don’t need to be precise; the borders of your designs can be a bit imperfect.
(Photo Source: The Crafted Life)
Finally, a DIY that’s out of this world. With the help of a silver paint marker and some strategically placed rhinestones, you can enjoy the view of constellations from the comfort of your desk chair. The instructions explain how to make these organizers out of post office boxes, but you can skip those steps by painting cardboard book holders with black acrylic paint before dotting on your stars.
(Photo Source: Mark Montano)