is a commerce reporter for The Verge writing about the best deals and gadgets. He previously wrote for Business Insider, Rolling Stone, Futurism, and Popular Science.
Your desk should feel truly yours. If you want a boxed copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time for the Super Nintendo next to your high-end monitor for no reason other than it makes you happy, go for it. However, it’s important to balance fun with function; your desk space needs to be equipped to help you get work done. Everyone’s desk is going to look different, and it’s clear from our “What’s on your desk” series that every Verge writer’s setup is unique.
There are some common basics that we think every desk should have: a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a wireless charging stand, and perhaps a paper notebook and an analog timer, too. But there’s a whole lot more you can do to create an amazing setup. From a pot of flowers you’ll never have to water to color-changing light bars, here are some upgrades that we think will elevate your desk setup.