A desk and chair form the foundation, but accessories complete a functional home office. The right tools improve ergonomics, organisation, and daily comfort in ways that add up over thousands of hours of work.
This guide covers accessories that genuinely improve home office life.
Essential Accessories
External Keyboard and Mouse
Laptop keyboards and trackpads work but compromise ergonomics. External peripherals allow proper positioning and more comfortable input.
Keyboard considerations:
- Wireless - Reduces cable clutter, enables positioning flexibility
- Size - Full-size for number pad; tenkeyless saves space
- Mechanical - Tactile feedback improves typing experience (optional)
- Ergonomic layouts - Split or curved designs reduce wrist strain (for dedicated users)
Recommended:
- Logitech MX Keys (GBP99) - Premium wireless, excellent typing feel
- Keychron K2 (GBP79) - Quality mechanical at reasonable price
- Apple Magic Keyboard (GBP99) - Best for Mac users
Mouse considerations:
- Ergonomic shape - Suits hand size and grip style
- Wireless - Bluetooth or USB receiver
- Sensitivity - Higher DPI for larger monitors
- Vertical mice - Reduce wrist strain for susceptible users
Recommended:
- Logitech MX Master 3 (GBP99) - Best overall for productivity
- Logitech Lift (GBP79) - Best ergonomic vertical mouse
- Apple Magic Mouse (GBP85) - Best for Mac gesture integration
Cable Management
Nothing undermines a professional workspace like cable chaos. Essential tools:
Cable tray (GBP15-30) - Mounts under desk, hides power strip and excess cable length. The single most impactful cable management purchase.
Cable clips (GBP5-15) - Route cables along desk edges or legs. Adhesive or screw-mounted options.
Cable ties (GBP5-10) - Velcro ties bundle cables together. Reusable unlike zip ties.
Cable sleeves (GBP10-20) - Fabric tubes contain multiple cables in clean bundles.
Recommended:
- IKEA SIGNUM cable tray (GBP15)
- Any brand velcro cable ties
- 3M adhesive cable clips
Desk Lamp
Proper task lighting reduces eye strain and improves focus. See our desk lamp guide for detailed recommendations.
Quick picks:
- BenQ ScreenBar Plus (GBP139) - Best for screen workers, no desk space used
- TaoTronics LED (GBP35) - Best value with adjustable colour temperature
- IKEA TERTIAL + smart bulb (GBP27) - Budget adjustable option
Highly Recommended Accessories
Monitor Arm
Monitor arms enable precise screen positioning, reclaim desk space, and allow easy repositioning. See our monitor arm guide for details.
Quick picks:
- Ergotron LX (GBP145) - Best quality
- Amazon Basics arm (GBP109) - Best value
- Arctic X1 (GBP50) - Best budget
Document Holder
If you reference papers while typing, a document holder reduces neck strain from looking down at flat documents.
Types:
- Inline holders - Position documents between keyboard and monitor
- Side holders - Mount beside monitor at same height
- Easel holders - Angle documents on desk surface
Recommended:
- 3M DH340 (GBP25) - Inline positioning, adjustable
- Fellowes document holder (GBP15) - Basic but functional
Footrest
If your chair doesn’t adjust low enough for proper posture, footrests help achieve ergonomic positioning.
Types:
- Fixed angle - Simple, stable
- Rocking - Encourages subtle movement
- Adjustable height - Accommodates different needs
Recommended:
- Fellowes Standard Footrest (GBP35) - Adjustable, reliable
- IKEA DAGOTTO (GBP25) - Budget option
Laptop Stand
If using a laptop (even with external monitor), a stand raises the screen to proper height, improving posture.
Types:
- Fixed stands - Set height, stable
- Adjustable stands - Variable height for sitting/standing
- Vertical stands - For closed-lid use with external monitor
Recommended:
- Rain Design mStand (GBP45) - Best for MacBooks
- Nulaxy adjustable (GBP35) - Best adjustable
- Twelve South BookArc (GBP50) - Best vertical stand
Webcam
Built-in laptop webcams typically produce poor quality at unflattering angles. External webcams improve video call presence.
Key features:
- 1080p minimum resolution
- 60fps for smooth motion
- Autofocus for sharp image
- Built-in microphone (backup option)
Recommended:
- Logitech C920 (GBP80) - Reliable workhorse
- Logitech Brio (GBP180) - 4K quality
- Elgato Facecam (GBP170) - Best image quality
Headset
Quality audio improves video call professionalism and personal comfort during extended calls.
Types:
- Over-ear - Best audio quality, comfortable for long use
- On-ear - Lighter, less isolation
- Earbuds - Minimal, less obtrusive appearance
Recommended:
- Jabra Evolve2 65 (GBP200) - Best overall business headset
- Sony WH-1000XM4 (GBP250) - Best noise cancelling
- Apple AirPods Pro (GBP249) - Best for Mac ecosystem
Useful Desk Accessories
Desk Mat
Desk mats protect surfaces, provide comfortable wrist rest areas, and unify desk aesthetics.
Materials:
- Leather/PU - Premium feel, easy cleaning
- Felt - Soft, acoustic dampening
- Cork - Sustainable, warm
- Rubber - Durable, grip
Size guidance: Large mats (80x40cm+) accommodate keyboard and mouse. Smaller mats sit just under keyboard.
Recommended:
- Grovemade Desk Pad (GBP120) - Premium leather
- Oakywood Desk Mat (GBP60) - Quality felt
- Amazon basics (GBP15) - Budget leather-look
Desk Organiser
Small items (pens, notes, USB drives) need homes. Organisers keep them accessible without clutter.
Types:
- Multi-compartment - Various sized slots for different items
- Single tray - Simple catchall for small items
- Drawer units - Hidden storage for supplies
Recommended:
- IKEA TJENA (GBP5) - Simple, effective
- Grovemade desk tray (GBP80) - Premium
- Muji acrylic organiser (GBP15) - Clean, visible
Monitor Shelf
Monitor shelves raise monitors to proper height while creating storage space beneath.
Considerations:
- Stability for monitor weight
- Space underneath for keyboard storage
- Material matching desk aesthetic
Recommended:
- IKEA ELLOVEN (GBP30) - With drawer
- Grovemade shelf (GBP180) - Premium wood
- Amazon basics (GBP25) - Budget option
Wireless Charger
Reduce cable clutter with wireless charging for compatible phones.
Types:
- Pad chargers - Lay phone flat
- Stand chargers - Phone visible at angle
- Multi-device - Phone + watch + earbuds
Recommended:
- Belkin MagSafe (GBP40) - Best for iPhone
- Samsung Wireless Charger (GBP35) - Best for Samsung
- Anker PowerWave (GBP25) - Best budget
USB Hub
Laptops often lack sufficient ports. USB hubs expand connectivity.
Features to consider:
- USB-A and USB-C ports
- HDMI/DisplayPort for monitors
- SD card slots for photographers
- Power delivery for laptop charging
Recommended:
- CalDigit TS3+ (GBP280) - Best for MacBooks, comprehensive
- Anker PowerExpand (GBP50) - Best value
- UGREEN USB-C hub (GBP35) - Budget option
Ergonomic Additions
Wrist Rest
Wrist rests provide padding during typing breaks. Note: You shouldn’t rest wrists while typing - only between typing sessions.
Materials:
- Memory foam - Moulds to wrists, comfortable
- Gel - Cool, supportive
- Leather - Premium feel, easy clean
Recommended:
- Fellowes memory foam (GBP15)
- Glorious wrist rest (GBP25) - Matches gaming keyboards
Anti-Fatigue Mat
For standing desk users, anti-fatigue mats reduce leg and foot fatigue.
Features:
- Varied terrain - Encourages subtle movement
- Adequate thickness - 19mm+ for effectiveness
- Easy cleaning - Closed-cell foam or rubber
Recommended:
- Ergodriven Topo (GBP100) - Best terrain variety
- CubeFit TerraMat (GBP80) - Good features, lower price
- Amazon basics (GBP30) - Basic but functional
Blue Light Glasses
If you experience eye strain from screens, blue light filtering glasses may help. Evidence is mixed, but many users report subjective improvement.
Recommendation: Try before investing heavily. Start with budget options (GBP15-30) to test whether you notice benefit.
Building Your Setup
Priority Order
- Essentials first: Keyboard, mouse, cable management
- Ergonomics second: Monitor arm, lamp, footrest if needed
- Productivity third: Document holder, webcam, headset
- Aesthetics last: Desk mat, organisers, decorative items
Budget Allocation Guide
| Budget | Approach |
|---|---|
| GBP100 | Logitech keyboard + mouse combo (GBP50), cable tray (GBP15), desk lamp (GBP35) |
| GBP250 | Above + monitor arm (GBP50), webcam (GBP80), desk mat (GBP25) |
| GBP500 | Premium keyboard + mouse (GBP200), quality monitor arm (GBP100), BenQ ScreenBar (GBP140), accessories (GBP60) |
Common Mistakes
Buying before understanding needs: Use your setup for a week before accessorising. You’ll understand what’s actually missing.
Prioritising aesthetics over function: Pretty organisers that don’t work are worse than ugly ones that do.
Overcomplicating cable management: Simple solutions (tray + clips) work. You don’t need elaborate systems.
Buying cheap keyboards/mice: Input devices are used constantly. Quality matters here more than most places.
Our Top Recommendations
Best keyboard: Logitech MX Keys - Premium typing feel, reliable wireless
Best mouse: Logitech MX Master 3 - Best productivity features, comfortable
Best monitor arm: Ergotron LX - Industry standard quality
Best desk lamp: BenQ ScreenBar Plus - Zero footprint, excellent light
Best webcam: Logitech C920 - Reliable, good quality, reasonable price
Best headset: Jabra Evolve2 65 - Excellent call quality, comfortable
Best desk mat: Grovemade Desk Pad - Premium quality, beautiful material
Best value overall: IKEA SIGNUM cable tray - GBP15 transforms desk appearance
The Verdict
Accessories complete what furniture starts. The right tools - proper peripherals, cable management, task lighting - improve daily comfort and productivity in ways that compound over thousands of hours.
Prioritise function over aesthetics. A tidy desk with proper lighting beats a pretty desk with tangled cables and eye strain. Start with essentials (keyboard, mouse, cables), add ergonomic aids (arm, lamp), then consider refinements.
Your workspace is where you spend significant life hours. Make it work properly before making it look nice. Usually, proper function creates its own aesthetic - organised, clean, purposeful.
Build thoughtfully. Your workspace will thank you daily.