Can a pretty office desk help you work better?

Colourful postcards, ornate photo frames, lush green planters, motivational quotes, aesthetically pleasing stationery, quirky stickers, and personal notes are the new work staples now. No, they are not limited to a bland calendar, a pen, and a notepad anymore.
Millennials and Gen Zers are sprucing up their work desks with all things beautiful, even if it comes with the side of spending significant money. And it turns out, the move is not solely driven by the motive of acing the social media game; it is helping them be more productive at work too.

Employees are giving their work desks a personalised makeover with unique artefacts and peppy decor items. (Photo: Getty)

22-year-old Pragati Sharma started decorating her desk with a ‘Star of the Month’ certificate, which she says was great acknowledgement. She then added more personalised items like a letter from a long-distance friend, some colourful creatives she designed at work, and a ‘Main apni favourite hoon’ dialogue.
“Having a well-decorated and organised desk was a total game changer. It kept me motivated and made everything feel so much more pleasant. And when I needed a break from the screen, the colours and decor were a nice visual treat,” Pragati tells India Today. She currently works from home and direly misses her work desk.
“My decorated desk definitely boosted my productivity. Seeing my certificates and designs reminded me of my achievements and motivated me to strive for even more. It was like a little cheerleader every time I glanced over,” she adds.
Psychologists agree that beautifying the workspace can indeed have a positive impact on mental health and productivity. Research suggests so too. A study conducted by the University of Exeter’s School of Psychology found that employees who have control over the layout of their workspace are not only happier and healthier—they’re also up to 32 per cent more productive.

Plants are among the most favourite work desk accessories. (Photo: Getty)

“While it (decorating work desks) may seem like a really commercialised trend, the act actually has concrete cognitive and emotional benefits to the brain since it reacts positively to familiar and comforting elements and thus boosts mental well-being,” says Dr Rahul Chandhok, head psychiatrist mental health and behavioural science, Artemis Hospitals.
“Decorating a workplace helps one to create a place of comfort where they are in charge. Such an environment strengthens the relationship between a person and their identity, creating psychologically confident and emotionally less stressful conditions, improving morale, and making them less stressed in the workplace,” he adds.
Parmeshwari, a marketing professional based in Mumbai, says that a personalised and decorated work desk makes her feel that she belongs in the company. She has put up memorabilia gathered from work events, decorative items, beauty products, and a DIY embroidery hoop on her desk.
“My desk makes me feel that I belong, gives people a peek into who I am, and also cheers me up in moments when I look around compared to a blank desk,” she says.

A marketing professional’s work desk ft. a plant, embroidered hoop, a cutesy calendar, travel memorabilia , and beauty products. (Photo: Parmeshwari)

Sohini Rohra, a counselling psychologist and author, meanwhile, shares how a pretty desk helps people with work:
Some statement decorative pieces also make for great conversation starters, attracting attention from new people and helping to build relationships at work. The embroidered hoop on Parmeshwari’s desk does the trick.
While many brands offer a wide range of decorative pieces, there has been a notable rise in those specialising in stylish office stationery, such as planners and organisers. These can be effective tools in being more productive at work.
“Desk organisers and planners help to regulate clutter and reduce distractions in the workspace for a smooth flow at work. In general, a well-decorated desk is synonymous with an enjoyable and efficient working environment and enhances productivity in the long run,” says psychologist Sohini Rohra.
Anisha, a Gen Zer and an entertainment journalist, shares that a well-decorated desk is synonymous with a well-organised mind.
“It’s kind of therapeutic to come and find everything in its place and serves as a reflection of what defines me. I also prefer keeping a plant as a part of my whole desk. It adds value and life to a lifeless piece of organised wood,” she tells us.

A pretty and organised desk boosts productivity due to several factors. It goes beyond the feel-good factor. (Photo: Pexels)

A pretty and organised desk boosts productivity due to several factors. It goes beyond the feel-good factor. It surely induces a sense of comfort and belonging that makes people stay more engaged and focused, but that’s not all that happens.
“Subtle suggestions like objects or colours can stimulate creativity or concentration. For example, plants on a desk improve mood and cognitive functions; it has been found that people experience less fatigue and improved attention when they have some greenery around,” explains Dr Chandhok.
“Simultaneously, while personalising spaces causes less brain strain because the ambience is less clinical and more mundane, it increases mental clarity. An aesthetically organised and clutter-free desk can also create organisational and effective time management skills. Therefore, an artfully decorated desk is not only an expression of personality but also a device for enhancement at work to better focus and become more efficient,” he adds.
It is not for no reason that some psychologists believe decorating your work desk “is not only a fashion statement but an investment in overall satisfaction and productivity.”