A calmer desk in five small changes

A desk collects things because it is the easiest surface in the room. These five changes take an afternoon and keep it clear for months.

1. One notebook, always open

Keep a single notebook for the week instead of scraps of paper. We use the Linen Notebook, Sage: lay-flat binding, so it stays open beside the keyboard.

2. A home for pens

Two good pens beat a jar of dried-out ones. The Brass & Ink Pen Set lives in a small bowl at the edge of the desk, and nothing else goes in it.

3. Charge in one place

Cables are the main source of desk clutter. A single Halo Wireless Charging Pad for your phone and earbuds removes two leads at once.

4. Warm light after four

Overhead light is flat and tiring in the evening. A low lamp to one side, such as the Brass & Linen Table Lamp, is easier on the eyes and makes the desk feel like a place you want to sit.

5. Clear it before you leave

Spend two minutes at the end of the day returning everything to its place. Tomorrow starts with an empty surface instead of yesterday's mess.

If you want the lot in one box, the Desk Essentials Gift Set brings a linen notebook, a brass pen, the charging pad and wireless earbuds together.