Most standing desk accessories are a waste. These 10 are worth it

Under-desk headphone hook

Simple, versatile, and sturdy. A headphone hook is a good way to get a cumbersome headset off your desk and reclaim valuable house. They’re low-cost, too! A fraction of the value of bigger on-desk headphone stands that don’t truly prevent a lot desk floor house anyhow. Don’t consider me? My PCWorld colleague also agrees!

Under-desk hooks are additionally helpful for baggage, cables, or the rest that may assist its personal weight. It’s a stable accent for any standing desk.

Cable administration kits

Every standing desk producer provides cable administration equipment—and for those who’re going to make use of a standing desk, I extremely advocate some degree of cable management. Once you carry your desk up, it leaves your entire PC’s wires and cables on present, which might look untidy.

I personally just like the cable spine by Ergo Desks, nevertheless it isn’t accessible within the US. For one thing comparable, think about the PivyCord-Vez by Quality Clever or the Under Desk Vertebrae by Vivo. It has a weighted backside that retains your cables planted to the ground so that they don’t transfer round each time you increase and decrease the desk. (Really helpful for monitor cables!)

I additionally use cable runners alongside the ground to cover energy cables, and I’ve various hooks and clips connected to the underside of my desk in order that all the pieces seems to be as neat as potential.

Power grommet

The older I get, the much less I get pleasure from crawling underneath my desk to seek out an outlet, so including an influence grommet to my desk was a no brainer. My resolution of selection is the Uplift Power Grommet, however you’ll find off-brand varieties on Amazon (like this one) for those who don’t wish to spend that a lot.

Now I’ve each USB-A and normal AC retailers inside attain for at any time when I wish to plug something in. The underslung cable for the facility is a bit ugly, so it’s an excellent alternative to make use of these cable administration kits I discussed above. Learn extra about why I love my power grommet desk upgrade.

If your standing desk doesn’t have grommets, otherwise you need one thing extra versatile, then I like to recommend going with one thing like this Anker 8-in-1 USB-C charging station.

Walking treadmill

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The under-desk treadmill is the last word calorie-burning accent for standing desks. I’ve a WalkingPad Z1 that retains me shifting whereas I sort, and I’ve absentmindedly burned thousands of calories whereas working, chatting, and enjoying board video games on-line with pals.

You’ll want further cupboard space to place it away whereas not in use, and also you’ll need one which’s foldable so it’s a lot simpler to stow away. I additionally advocate comfy footwear whereas strolling. But for all its downsides, I like getting in a mile or two every day whereas busy.

Desk extender

Uplift

Standing desks are costly and there’s little worse than shopping for one solely to seek out out six months later you must’ve gotten an even bigger one. One choice is to purchase an even bigger high and mount it to the body, however that’s costly and difficult to put in. Another choice? A desk extender equipment!

Most main desk producers supply a minimum of a technique so as to add an additional part to the top of your desk. Said extensions are greatest suited to lighter equipment, however Uplift’s Desk Extension (the one I take advantage of) is rated for as much as 60 kilos. Shop round for those who want one thing load bearing.

Under-desk drawers

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You may assume standing desks are just for enhancing posture and mobility, however they’re additionally nice for comfort. You get entry to the identical floor house in your screens, peripherals, and desktop fidget toys, however you’re additionally standing—and that frees up a variety of house underneath the desk itself. Why not benefit from that underneath space?

I put in an under-desk drawer on mine and I’m loving it. They are available all sizes and shapes, however I’m a fan of a budget generic ones you’ll find on Amazon, like this one or this one. They present fast entry to batteries, instruments, ID playing cards, USB cables and flash drives, and different little equipment which can be simply helpful to have inside attain.

If you need one thing extra elaborate, you possibly can spend up on increased high quality choices, together with lockable variations, ones that slide out, ones that rotate out, ones with bigger shapes and slicker types. There’s sure to be an under-desk drawer that matches your tastes and desires.

Keyboard tray

The predominant cause I take advantage of a standing desk is that it helps prevent crippling back pain. It retains me standing up straight all day as a substitute of slouched in a chair, and it helps me preserve my eyes, arms, and shoulders at correct ergonomic positions. But a standing desk alone can’t do all of it.

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With keyboard tray, you may have higher management over the peak of your keyboard, uncoupling it from the peak of your desk and your monitor(s). This makes it simpler to place your screens at eye stage whereas additionally leaving your arms at a correct, comfy peak.

In the previous, I’ve lengthy used generic keyboard trays and so they served me fairly nicely. But I lately leveled as much as this faux-wood keyboard tray design by Vernal and I’m loving it much more.

It doesn’t fairly match my mouse pad—I’ll have to vary that down the road—nevertheless it retains my arms in good place whereas working and it lets me slide my keyboard and mouse out of sight when not in use. I additionally like that it attaches to the desk with screws from the underside, so there are not any cumbersome hooks or clamps taking over house on the desk floor.

Monitor arms

For a very long time, I scoffed on the concept of utilizing monitor arms. I didn’t perceive the enchantment as a result of I all the time discovered built-in monitor stands to be adequate. But as soon as I attempted it, I instantly obtained it.

With a monitor arm, you may have extra management over the place and how one can orient your shows. I’ve a secondary monitor that I run vertically, however I can immediately spin it into panorama mode when wanted. Similarly, if I wish to transfer a show out of the best way, I can simply swing it out with out the effort of shunting a stand round. Just push and it strikes.

The Huanuo Dual Monitor Arm Stand is a stable selection for dual-monitor setups. Otherwise, discover one which works nicely in your setup and finances. Just be certain that it matches your explicit shows in each measurement and weight capability, that your shows are mount-compatible, and that your show mounts are the identical sort (e.g., VESA).

Touch-up pen

I’ve by no means owned fancy furnishings, however my standing desk has a butcher block walnut floor and it’s lovely. I find it irresistible sufficient that even the leather-based desk pad that Ergonofis despatched me was solely on there for just a few days earlier than I went again to the actual wooden beneath.

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So you possibly can think about how minimize up I used to be once I lately discovered scuffs and scratches in it. Somehow I’d gotten one thing corrosive on it in locations too, and there have been just a few liquid-like blemishes on the floor. This is the place a touch-up pen can work wonders.

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Now, technically this explicit pen is for rubber, wooden, and laminate desks, however I’ve discovered it efficient at taking the sting off any marks or scratches I discover. It takes a bit finesse—and also you’ll find yourself with a bunch of pen in your fingers when you determine it out—however after a little bit of effort, the desk seems to be simply as new from a distance as soon as once more.

Further studying: Awesome desk organization gadgets under $50