Perfect Work from Home Desk Setup: Part 11 – Deskpads + Final Decor + Ambience

The final touch of any home office is of course.. character. As in personal style, preferences and creating the ambience you so crave. Making sure you have the right mood, via candles, lamps, even scent (not for me though), can be a real upgrade to a space so that it makes you feel like you want to stay calm and in the space.

Psst! If you have missed the first of the series, I fell down a literal rabbit hole a month ago, and am gathering all my insights into multiple part posts, with examples and actual product links, plus my take on them.

• Series: Cosy + Minimalist Aesthetic Desk Setups

I will give you what I see repeatedly pop up over and over again and what has endured through their hundreds of videos. I sometimes see paid partnerships or sponsorships from brands for certain things, but by the next video it is gone.

So I am also looking out for longevity in choice. I will also note afterwards, what I personally use / do and why.

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Deskpads

The easiest way to add art or colour without spending too much money or doing too much to your setup is to add a desk pad to write on. It also protects your table.

The main deskpad I see that is viral with many setups, is this Poi & Hun Arch Deskmat in vegan leather. It comes in SUPER aesthetic colours, all muted and dusty.

But if you want something different, here is a whole world of deskpads to brighten up your space:

DESKPADS I

• I absolutely love this tapestry-like mouse pad for your desk. For me, it is neutral yet fun. There are SO MANY OTHER OPTIONS here, here, and here. It is really hard to choose.
• If Old Masters are more your thing, I love this Van Gogh one which also comes in various sizes
• This anime-style Japanese city deskpad is really cute too and comes in various sizes. Here is another pastel style of a similar theme, yet another of a cat reading in front of a cafe, whereas this one is a dark black and blue night scene and this one is a pink night scene.
• This leafy green one with a little cat peeking out is beyond adorable. If you like leafy green themes, this one is really calming, and so is this one. This one is more of a dreamy, romantic dripping floral theme (so is this one) and this anime frog one is really cute, as is this leaping bunny one.

DESKPADS II

• As a reader, I approve of this deskmat.
• A world map is always a hit with me.
• You can go really dark and moody with some skulls and herbs. Don’t want the skulls? This one is a dark and moody floral.
• Vegan leather desk mat that is heat & waterproof, and washable, this one happens to have cork as its backing. If you need an extra long desk mat that is faux leather, this one works well. Personally if you are going this simple, I would go for the real leather version because it would look, smell and feel better. If you are icky about leather, there is a great felt version here.

MOUSEPADS

Most mice these days don’t need a mousepad, but you can use one if your table top is glass or something that interferes with your mouse.

• Everyone online has been obsessed with this cloud mousepad. You can get the matching keyboard wrist pad and coaster here. If you don’t like the built in wristpad, they also offer them separately.
• Greedy Farmers Pebble Mousepad – It looks so organic and comes in various colours
• Rainbow sunset – many other different patterns and colourways. You can also have the wristpad built into it.
• A beautiful piece of art, frankly. It doesn’t even look like a mousepad.

Want something a bit more functional?

This is a mousepad, with an attached 2-part charging mat and a little tray to put your pen and things. It even comes in many colourways.

 

Keyboard / Wrist Pads

• As I said earlier, everyone has been loving this cloud-style keyboard and wristpad set. It also comes in various colourways. You can also find them separately here and here. And this version is a pastel rainbow, while this one comes in gradients!
• Mosiso has a decent and elegant set of pads
• Can’t resist posting about this rainbow + cloud mousepad
• An animal wrist rest is beyond adorable

WANT ALL 3 ITEMS TO MATCH?

Here is a deskpad with matching mouse pad and wrist pad in a painterly style, along with a coaster!

My take on desk & Mouse pads

I think I will need all 3. I haven’t yet purchased anything as I am waiting for my dresser (that will serve as my standing desk) to arrive, and this will determine how large I buy the desk pad. For now, I am waiting until the electronics are set up, and then I will focus on this part.

Ambience Decor

And finally, all the extra little things to make a space a sanctuary or feel personal.

• Candle warmer lamps – this was a HUGE hit online. It apparently stops the candle from smoking because you are melting the entire thing into a liquid, and then burning it, plus the candle lasts longer.. and it acts as a lamp + giving ambient glow. Here is a retro version with a darker smokier lampshade, and the other version with a lighter glass lampshade. Want something more modern and black? Here is a linen-looking lampshade with a black stem, and this one is super modern.
• Ome Design Prism – My goodness this is pricey AF but it is basically a preserved moss terrarium. I am seeing online you can build it yourself as well. It is like having your own zen garden on your desk.
• Statues. Of course. This popular David Bust has been making the rounds, but you obviously can find plenty of these secondhand. He comes in two options – either with a hollow head so you can stick things inside, or fully formed.
• Small Vases – I recently got two secondhand and I am loving the way they have totally changed my room. I put these exact fake poppies in mine because I am in a shady part of the home (not much direct sunlight, if any), and I just chose the most realistic looking plants I could find. Be forewarned, the silk poppies have a green stem that sheds if you keep shifting the stems around … but it looks super realistic. I won’t lie, I am obsessed.

My take on AMBIENCE

Already way ahead! I didn’t realize how much I was missing greenery in my office until I added some fake flowers, and before you knew it, the whole space brightened up. I particularly like faux ecualytus leaves as they add a nice soft sage-y green to everything.

CORD COVERS

The last part I want to bring up is sometimes the cables are necessary, but hideous. Enter: Cable protectors.

Wrap those suckers!