12 top-rated desk accessories under $20 to upgrade your work space
Your desk decor should work as hard as you do.
Credit:
Wayfair/Amazon
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
You spend the majority of your work day at your desk—why not make it pretty to look at, and an overall pleasant place to be? With a few strategically placed accent items like faux florals, ambient lighting, and sweet sayings, your work-from-home setup will be somewhere you even want to hang out—gasp—when work hours are over. Here, the top desk décor pieces you can buy online for less than $20 according to ratings and reviews.
1. These colorful pots
When in doubt: a super cute potted plant.
One way to add a splash of color to your space is to grab a handmade earthenware plant pot and load it up with either a real or fake succulent (both yield that same calming effect!). They look elegant either hanging from the ceiling or perched on a shelf. With a near-perfect rating, customers rave about its lovely design: “Beautiful and sturdy. Kinda small but perfect for a shelf or console table. Colors are so easy to combine with other décor.”
Get the Iris Rainbow Pot at Anthropologie for $10
2. This decorative vine
It's like working outdoors but the WiFi is stronger.
If you don’t work near a window, bring the outdoors indoors with this faux hanging vine leaf that adds a dash of life to any room. As a top seller boasting over 760 reviews, customers note how well it spruced up their work-from-home space: "I love my purchase, it made my office way more stylish, the color is that of real vines. the flexibility of them is nice too," says one reviewer.
Get the Decorative Vines Set at Urban Outfitters for $14
3. This elegant pencil holder
Fashionable and functional.
Everyone has a pencil holder on their desk. Make yours stand out with this popular one that has tons of personality and edge (along with hundreds of glowing reviews!). Made of durable ceramic and available in a variety of pretty prints like marble and an abstract design, the pencil holder looks more expensive than it actually is and can be used for everything from pens to brushes to silverware (i.e. you can reuse it later on).
Get the Waveyu Pen Holder on Amazon for $10.59
4. This mini tetherball game
Decor or a distraction? You choose.
If your desk is already peppered with photos and statement items, opt next for something small and functional. Instead of twiddling your thumbs while you try to think of an idea, let out some of that pent-up angst with a nine-inch desktop tetherball pole and ball. The toy is complete with a 32-page handbook on history, trivia and rules of the game (because god forbid you cheat while playing against yourself!). With over 500 reviews, costumers love how it takes them down memory lane: “When I ordered this, there were only a small number of reviews, which usually dissuades me, but at the low price, I went for it. This little thing did not disappoint! The base is weighted, so under normal play, it stands up. The ball is dense foam and seems sturdy. I took it to work, and my coworkers loved it. Fun and nostalgic.”
Get Desktop Tetherball: It's a Wrap! on Amazon for $9.95
5. This trendy terrarium
This down-to-earth decor is just what your desk setup needs.
Terrariums of any size are a great way to infuse some vacation vibes into your workspace when you’ve a) ran out of vacation days and b) global travel is banned. Because this terrarium—which has over 700 rave reviews—is only six inches wide, it doesn’t eat up a lot of desk space, leaving you room for even more plants (insert praise hands emoji). Just add soil, moss and plants to create your own mini oasis.
Get the NCYP Brass Glass Geometric Terrarium on Amazon for $20.99
6. This homage to your pup
Because after all, Fido has been your main coworker for the last few months.
Nothing is more motivating to get you through a long day than knowing you can have endless hours of fun in the sun with your dog when the workday ends. This desk accent comes in 20 different varieties featuring quotes that’ll resonate with any pet parent. Boasting over 1,400 reviews, most folks appreciate how it lights up any room with a dose of humor: “I saw this on Amazon. I sent one to my sister across the country and sent one to myself. We received them on the same day. Cute gift idea at an excellent price!!
Get the Primitives by Kathy Pawprint Box Sign on Amazon starting at $8
7. These stunning faux lilies
These faux lilies add the sweetest touch.
This dainty faux lily bouquet available in six gorgeous hues is the ultimate way to feel like someone sent flowers directly to your office. You get eight in a bundle, and you can scatter them through various areas of your home office or bundle them together in an elegant vase. Of its 1,300 Wayfair reviews, many note how they look so real, visitors never suspect they'll last forever.
Get the Willa Arlo Interiors Calla Lily Stem Bundle at Wayfair for $15.99
8. This gorgeous vase
It features two ideal decor trends in one.
Since this vase is designed specifically for fake plants, you now have something to pair perfectly with those lilies! This modern ceramic vase featuring a marble design and gold accent is the ultimate addition to any workspace. It earned its 4.6 rating thanks to reviewers’ notes about it looking high-end despite the incredibly affordable price.
Get the Scott Living Mable Ceramic Table Vase at Wayfair for $17.64
9. This invigorating candle that keeps selling out
Add some pep to your step—and work space.
A candle doubles both as a source of motivation (hello, refreshing lemongrass and eucalyptus) and a décor item that ties the room together. It supposedly lasts up to 50 hours, and it’s one of the most popular scented candles on Amazon boasting nearly 8,800 reviews. The verdict? Folks say it looks as great as it smells. You'll definitely want to get your hands on this scent—most of the brand's other scents are so popular they have completely sold out or are low stock.
Get the Chesapeake Bay Awaken+Invigorate Scented Candle on Amazon for $11.99
10. This customizable frame
Always get your message across.
This Amazon’s Choice décor item makes for the smartest use of space because it doubles as both a collage (i.e.: eight frames all in one) and a customizable letter board (that you were going to get anyway because it’s welcoming, trendy and all-around awesome). It comes with 144 letters and characters so you can change up your motto by the day. Nearing 1,000 reviews, customers are sharing the heartwarming ways in which they put this collage to use: “I like the look of this frame a lot. I bought it for an anniversary type of gift. Over the first year of dating, any time I would send flowers to her work or to her home, she'd always send me a selfie with her and the flowers. I saved all of those photos and threw them in this collage with a cute quote in the middle.”
Get the Melannco Customizable Letter Board with 8-Opening Photo Collage on Amazon for $19.99
11. This must-have accent lamp
When they're this tiny and sweet, you're best off getting more than one.
A lamp is a great opportunity to introduce a new design motif without taking up too much space. One of Target’s most popular accent lamps is made of textured ceramic and includes a bright LED lightbulb that’ll save you energy and keep you focused at work. Reviewers love how it's so bright enough for reading or working, you won't need an overhead light.
Get the Threshold Textured Ceramic Mini Accent Lamp at Target for $15
12. These lotus candlestick holders
These light up any room.
Name something classier than candlestick holders—I’ll wait. These make a huge statement because candlesticks often take a backseat to massive scented candles. Go back to basics with plain white unscented candles, and all that’s missing is a quill feather to write with by the light of the moon. With over 200 reviews and a 4.7-star rating, reviewers note how surprisingly good quality these candlesticks are: “I was looking for lotus candle tea light or votive holder and stumbled across these beauties. They are absolutely GORGEOUS! Very heavy, no chips, packaged great and a nice card came in the box. This is exactly what I pictured to go next to my meditation buddha in my office. When you put tea lights in it, the sparkle is beautiful. I am getting two more sets to have around my house. The price is amazing for this quality. I can't believe how inexpensive they are. What a deal!”
Get the Shannon by Godinger Lotus Crystal Votive Pair Candle Holders, Set of 2 on Amazon for $18.30