The easiest way to waste money on desk accessories is to buy them before you know what is bugging you. This guide works the other way around. Start from the problem you notice at the desk, then see what, if anything, is worth adding. It rests on HSE and OSHA workplace guidance and on one standards body’s page. Gimaxo has not tested any product, so there are no model picks and no prices. If something hurts or keeps hurting, ask a health professional, because no accessory treats that.

Photo: Bedirhan Gül, Unsplash, published October 13, 2025, Unsplash License. A real desk underside shown as an example of cable storage. Not tested or chosen by Gimaxo.

Cables are in the way

Cables are the most common reason people reach for an accessory. HSE’s workstation checklist says cables should be tidy and not a trip or snag hazard. That is the goal. The rest is up to your desk.

A few ways to get there, all of them our suggestions:

• Pick a spot for the power strip first, under the desk or at the back edge, and run everything to it.
• Keep a bit of slack in every cable. Then you can move the screen or the desk without pulling a plug.
• Use clips, a tray or hook-and-loop ties to hold the bundle. A holder like the one in the photo keeps a spare length coiled instead of loose on the floor.
• Label the end of any cable you unplug often.

Your feet do not reach the floor

HSE says there should not be too much pressure from the seat edge on the backs of your legs, and that a footrest may be helpful, particularly for smaller users. Its workstation checklist adds that if your feet are not flat on the floor, a footrest may be needed. OSHA says to provide a footrest if needed.

Check the chair height first. If the chair is already at the right height for the desk and your feet still do not reach, a footrest is a sensible fix. Look for one that is stable and does not slide on your floor.

Your wrists feel stuck

OSHA says opinions vary on wrist and palm supports, and that proper use has been shown to reduce muscle activity and to make neutral wrist angles easier. It also says that resting the wrist on a support while typing may limit its motion and could make awkward postures worse. Its advice on use is specific: keep your hands free and above the pad while typing, and rest on the heel or palm of the hand, not the wrist, when pausing. OSHA says a pad should be at least 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep, fairly soft and rounded.

HSE’s checklist says users of thick, raised keyboards may need a wrist rest, and its leaflet says a space in front of the keyboard helps you rest your hands when you are not typing. Sometimes sliding the keyboard back from the edge gives you that space for free. None of this treats pain. If your hands tingle or hurt, see a health professional.

The mouse slides badly, or the desk glares

HSE’s checklist says to check that the work surface suits a mouse, and that a mouse mat may be needed. It also says mats or blotters can reduce reflections and glare from a work surface. In our view a desk mat can cover both. Cloth and hard surfaces feel different under a mouse, so match it to your mouse and how you play. Extras such as lighting or charging are conveniences, not comfort features. Check the maker’s specifications for them.

Too much stuff on the desk

HSE’s checklist asks whether the work surface is large enough for the equipment, and whether you can reach everything you need comfortably. Its suggestions include moving things that you do not use often elsewhere, and bringing frequently used things within easy reach. Start there before you buy storage. If a headset keeps landing on your keyboard, a stand or an under-desk hook gives it a place. That is practical advice, with no standard behind it.

You want to charge your phone

A charging pad is one option. Qi2 is a wireless-charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). The WPC says Qi2 brought 15 W charging to mobile devices that are certified for interoperability and safety, and that Qi2 devices use magnetic attachment to align device and charger for improved energy efficiency. It also describes a higher-power version, Qi2 25W. The WPC says only Qi Certified products can show the Qi or Qi2 logo, and it offers a certified products database. Check that your phone supports Qi2 before you buy.

Monitor arms and risers

A monitor arm is an accessory too, but it has so many checks of its own that it has a separate guide. Look there before you buy one.

Pick in this order

1. Fix what blocks comfort first: a footrest or a keyboard that is out of reach.
2. Then what saves space: cables, storage.
3. Last, the nice-to-haves: stands, charging, extras.

Moves before purchases is a good habit. If rearranging the desk solves it, you keep the money.

For the order of decisions around the whole desk, see our gaming desk setup guide.

Sources

Named here as plain text. Pages read in November 2026.

• HSE, Display screen equipment (DSE) workstation checklist (CK1)
• HSE, Working with display screen equipment (DSE): A brief guide (INDG36)
• OSHA eTool, Computer Workstations: Wrist/Palm Support
• OSHA eTool, Computer Workstations: Desks
• Wireless Power Consortium, Qi