13 Desk Pads That'll Make You More Productive at Work

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There are two schools of thought regarding desk setup. One adheres to the Einstein belief that a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, that it signals a genius who brews ideas after ideas. Another one follows the empirical evidence that a cluttered desk raises stress levels and kills productivity.

I was in the first group for a long time. Not because I was feigning creative genius, I was just too lazy to tidy up. My hand-me-down desk had scratches all over and looked hopeless of any salvation. So naturally, everything I put on it went unorganized. But then, WFH hit, and each workday morning, it felt like the clutter was yelling at me. Facing drink spills and USB cords tangled with sticky notes for hours took a toll on my focus. So I bucked up and neatened it out. And to stop myself from reverting, I knew certain methods of organization needed to be adopted. I don’t trust myself, but I do trust a good desk pad.

Desk pads, blotters, or mats—however you call them–help us stay organized. Everything looks orderly, but also, just busy enough. It doesn't advise too strongly on what goes where, but having one on my desk did induce me to arrange objects nicely within the rectangle. I was also impressed with the look upgrade my desk pad offered: sophisticated, spruced up, covered up (especially the signs of wear and tear). It made my workspace more inviting. And it’ll do wonders for yours too.

Below are 13 of the best desk pads to refurbish and protect your work desk. Can you feel your productivity level rising?

Smart Desk Mat

This blotter is actually a whole workspace set up that you can add onto and take away from as needed. It features a memo holder, book holder, cable organizer, wireless charging pad, tablet holder, and snap-on iPhone sticker. Keep all your notes and tech organized and easy to see, so you can stay neat and clean throughout your aggressive typing—and every coffee spill.

Brennan Leather Desk Blotter

For the desk pad that's worthy of gifting someone, Ralph Lauren's high-quality leather (the same as what's on their shoes and other accessories) levels up your standard desk accessory. Get it in a regal navy, saddle, black, or forest green, and get your initials (or that of whoever you're gifting it to) monogrammed on the corner. A CEO's finest.

Eco-Leather Deskmate

Deskmate is crafted in a polyurethane leather alternative to keep your desk neat without making you feel guilty. But it still has the premium, rich texture of genuine leather to streamline your workspace. And the color (also available in blue and brown) won't fade with long-term usage.

Leather Desk Pad Protector

The right desk pad for you isn't exactly rocket science. Just get one that ticks all the boxes: non-slip, waterproof, wrinkle-proof, easy to clean, and sleek-looking. Like this one.

Large Desk Mat

Lift the top layer and you'll find a secret stash to hide away your notes or store loose papers so they won't pile up. And you can slide the magnetic cable holder along the toolbar to keep your charging cable in place and untangled.

Wireless Charging Taskpad

KeySmart keeps things simple. No secret compartment or layer. But it knows that since your smartphone will be placed on the pad for a good while, you might as well be able to charge it while it rests. Practical and stylish, just like you.

Leather Desk Pad - Large

Here's a clean, modern option for a top-down professional makeover. It also comes with a 49" x 27" extra-large option that can fully cover enough real estate for a desktop, keyboard, monitor, and even some WFH décor.

Leather Desk Pad

This minimalist mat in luxurious calf leather is meant for the c-suite executive desk. It'll make the time spent working as opulent as your (real or imagined) job title. Plus, it comes with a cushion beneath to support handwriting on thin papers.

Classic Desk Pad

There's the accent of two side flaps which can be flipped open to add more width to the space. And the flaps come in different tones so your workspace won't be too monotonous. The fine-grain leather, lastly, offers a plush touch.

Felt & Cork Desk Mat

Oakywood adds a certain je ne sais quoi thanks to its merino wool felt texture and the warm color. The slip-resistant cork also makes sure it stays put.

Multifunctional Office Desk Pad

Blue side up for even days of the week and green side up for odd days. That's the fun you can get from this dual-sided desk pad. When one side becomes worn out, or you just need a new view, just turn it over to use the other.

Clear Desk Pad Mat Blotter

A clear desk blotter can blend seamlessly onto any surface while giving you the creativity to display photos, notes, calendars, and other important stuff underneath. This one is slip- and scuff- resistant, too.

Goliathus Extended Chroma Gaming Mousepad - Wide

It's technically a massive mousepad that can transform your computer space into a gaming zone by providing a smoother, more precise experience for gaming mice. Razer's signature Chroma lighting on the edge that reacts to what's going on in the game will also set the mood.

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