September 16, 2026

Today: Lamps that would look great on any desk. Plus …

Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter

A good desk lamp will, of course, help you see what you’re working on and reduce eye strain. But a truly beautiful one can also transform your workspace’s entire aesthetic.

Over the years, we’ve tested 20 in our own homes, evaluating each one on its ease-of-use, stability, adjustability, and more. A couple of our favorites? A slim, minimalist option from an iconic brand and a classy, mid-century-inspired lamp that’s simple to use.

All the desk lamps we love, including a timeless $40 option→

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Source photos by Lava Lite Store, Jonathan Adler, MoMA, rikumo

Why not liven up your workspace with a little bit of whimsy? To brighten their 9-5s, Wirecutter journalists rely on fidget toys, lava lamps, and glow-in-the-dark figurines.

Dachshund-shaped cord organizer, anyone?→

The best office chair Our favorite is supremely comfortable, impressively versatile, and we’ve loved it for more than a decade→

Get yourself a really good pen For all your note-taking needs: Our favorites are affordable and incredibly satisfying to write with→

A tiny tweak that will save your neck This very stable, ergonomic laptop stand was the desk upgrade our editor-in-chief needed→

Comfortable wireless keyboards for click-clacking They’ll help you type faster on all your devices→

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

Music and phone calls sound great on these headphones — and they’re comfortable enough to wear for hours on end. A bonus? In our testing, we only needed to charge the battery every other week or so.

They’re 35% off right now→

Little Otsu, ALEX AND ANI, Stanley; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

“Each year, as leaves start to singe, my joie de vivre starts to bloom,” gifts editor Hannah Morrill writes. “September is a blank sheet of loose-leaf I look forward to turning.” To celebrate the season, Hannah has found a bunch of delightful, nostalgia-twinged gifts that channel that energy.

Including a funky take on a classic composition notebook→

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