Top 10 essential work gear for your home office

Whether you’re working from home, or in a corporate office, the one thing that’s pretty much consistent in both these scenarios is a desk! A desk is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture in our modern lives, only because we spend the majority of our day on it. You may be typing away to glory, munching away on a snack, or simply fidgeting with a random object – you do end up spending hours on your desk. And hence, it’s really important that your desk be neat, tidy, and uncluttered. Not only will this improve your work routine and productivity, but it will also help you maintain a clearer and more streamlined mindset. And, I’ve discovered that adding limited, quality, and innovative products to my desk setup can help me in achieving these goals! The desk accessories you place on your desk are an integral part of your home/corporate office. From a note-taking desk accessory that puts a small twist to your productivity to a recyclable, minimal and functional keyboard – these ingenious desk accessories are all you need to achieve your desk setup goals!

1. The Altar I

The London-based electronics startup Electronics Materials Office has unveiled its first product made from sustainable materials. To be precise crafted out of post-consumer waste-derived plastic. The low-profile keyboard is a unibody aluminum framed peripheral.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Altar I’s keycaps are also forged out of recycled polymers, thereby making it a sensible accessory that goes with the sentiments of nurturing the planet. The company’s vision is to be a “future-oriented consumer hardware corporation” that’ll be centered around designing durable electronics made out of earth-friendly materials.

What we like

The accessory tailored for touch typing can be used with two devices simultaneously
Rates high on aesthetics and sustainability

What we dislike

There’s no word on the pricing or availability as of now

2. The Levitating Pen

Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and super easy to hold and creates a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!

Why is it noteworthy?

When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!

What we like

The pen is super fun to interact with
Quite easy to hold and write with
Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster

What we dislike

No option of personalization or custom color variations are available

3. Note

Paper can be simple, and apps can be quick, but not everyone needs all the commitment that these two different note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those that just need to jot down quick notes or even draw a diagram that can be discarded before the day is over. Note, which is the most generic name ever, is pretty much a small desk whiteboard that lets you do that with efficiency, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that a bit of spice and fun to your work.

Why is it noteworthy?

The “whiteboard” twists or rather flips over, giving you twice the space to write your notes down. One side can have a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other can be plain, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it, in case scribbling notes down on paper is quicker for you.

What we like

What makes Note unique is the addition of a multi-purpose vertical screen to its left side, this allows you to also have a view of the time, the calendar, and your appointments which are synced from your phone

What we dislike

The screen doesn’t show videos, a function that some people may need for their work

4. The Slope

The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.

What we like

If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
Smooth and easy to use

What we dislike

You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote

5. Hexcal Studio

British company Hexcal created the Hexcal Studio desktop organizer, which aims to be the ultimate desktop organizer and workspace accessory you need!

Why is it noteworthy?

Designed to be a monitor stand and a desktop organizer, the Hexcal Studio attempts to eliminate clutter, hide wires and provide shadowless lighting. The goal is to create a neat, tidy, and destressing workspace where wires are smartly hidden, and multiple screens can be installed to support a conducive work environment.

What we like

The organizer’s distribution system can support up to 14 devices, including those on AC, DC, and wireless power
Its patented cable management system will make all your wires disappear, providing you with a wire-free desk

What we dislike

Large + space-consuming design. It will take up a lot of space on your desk

6. Fusion

To-do apps are a dime a dozen these days, and they exist on phones, computers, and everything in between. This allows people to make rapid changes that sync between devices, increasing their efficiency and productivity. Tapping or clicking on checkboxes, however, doesn’t exactly have the same satisfying feedback as checking it off from a list, and you might find yourself driving on autopilot, mindlessly tapping things even unintentionally. Fusion is a combination of hardware and software that tries to bring that active participation to your electronic to-do list without going back into the pen-and-paper territory.

Why is it noteworthy?

The concept is divided into two parts, with the first being the simpler and more straightforward half. This is an E-Ink display the size of a large, wide phone that displays your task list. This can be magnetically attached to a wall mount so that you can have an eye-level view of what’s on your plate. The e-Paper technology means that the screen won’t consume much power even while it’s on, making it more power-efficient and environment-friendly.

What we like

Easy-to-use and effortless experience

What we dislike

E-ink display means we have no option to use colors to differentiate or highlight the tasks

7. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil

Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen your pencil at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.

Why is it noteworthy?

At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.

What we like

It uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you

What we dislike

It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques

8. Create

Designed by Naya, Create is the kind of keyboard that will ensure you don’t need any other additional peripherals! It is highly customizable to perfectly cater to every person’s individual self-expression. It eliminates the issue of a cluttered desk, which can often occur when you constantly need to switch between different peripherals.

Why is it noteworthy?

The split keyboard with the customizable form factor and various configurable modules onboard can seamlessly fit into any workflow. Thus, it intends to become a go-to option for casual keyboard enthusiasts and serious creative professionals.

What we like

The keyboard is split and customizable
The creator in you can leverage the convenience of 9 degrees of freedom with the 3D navigator

What we dislike

Some users may find Create more complex to operate than a conventional keyboard

9. Summy

Summy is a dedicated device designed to keep students connected while still setting up limits to how many interruptions they can do. At its most basic, the device is a voice messenger, a timer, a daily planner, and a sort of social network among friends, most likely students in the same class or level. The idea is that you only get to send short voice messages to those in your circle, at least only when they’re available.

Why is it noteworthy?

The device uses a UI made of concentric circles and icons represented by old-school monochrome 8-bit characters. Tapping on a friend’s icon allows you to send a voice message, which is more limited and less disruptive than a voice call. You can view other friends’ daily schedules, and if they’re free, you can send a “Study with Me” request so that both of you can set a synchronized timer to study for the same time period.

What we like

Summy creates a rather playful atmosphere around the concept of studying together
Summy can also be a fun gadget to keep tabs on their own time and maybe have a retro display on their desk to keep them entertained

What we dislike

It can also be quite a distracting device if misused

10. Reck_Cone

Reck_Cone is a concept design that tries to combine different products into a single artful piece. It is, of course, a headphone holder, but you might not immediately identify it as one because of its shape. Unlike typical holders, it does hang the headphones down but instead lets them wrap around the almost conical structure.

Why is it noteworthy?

The headphone holder, however, can also serve as a container. The large empty space in the middle is an obvious place to put items, and it’s easy to imagine it holding pens, rulers, and other long objects. The base, however, also separates from the body to reveal a shallow basin where smaller items like paper clips and pins can be hidden