Desk Accessories to Help Maximize Productivity

Crafting the perfect desk setup for college students is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating a personalized space that fuels productivity and focus. This is the space where you’ll be prepping for exams, writing term papers and pulling all-nighters, so it needs to be a study desk setup that works for you. In this guide, we explore some helpful desk accessories that can enhance your study experience, helping to ensure that your workspace is not only functional, but also conducive to academic success. Use our printable checklist of college desk accessories to help learn about some of the items you may find helpful for your study desk.

A good printer is one of the useful desk accessories that can significantly help improve your workflow. A reliable printer is a valuable accessory for a productive study desk setup, helping you to print assignments, notes, and those all-important resources at your own desk, rather than having to trek to a centralized printer located elsewhere. If you’re seeking a good printer for college, we have some recommendations. The Canon PIXMA TS7720 Wireless¹ All-in-One Printer comes with an intuitive LCD touchscreen for easy navigation and can print automatically on both sides of a sheet of paper (you may need to set this function up in your “page setup” settings). The Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 Wireless¹ All-in-One Printer is another excellent choices for a printer that can print, copy and scan in color or in black quickly and efficiently.

You’re most likely searching for an affordable printer for students; if so, you should take into consideration not only the cost of the printer itself, but also the cost of ink for the printer.  You can potentially spend less on ink with the Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270 printer, which can print up to 6,000 pages in black or up to 7,700 pages in color with a single set of replacement ink bottles, as compared to a Canon printer that uses standard-size Canon ink cartridges².

Both of these printers can fit well into almost any study desk setup in dorm rooms and apartments of all sizes. And if you are always on your mobile device, being able to print from it is like having a superpower. Both the PIXMA TS7720 and the MegaTank PIXMA G3270 printers allow you to send print jobs from your compatible smartphone via the Canon PRINT³ mobile app. All you need is to have your printer and compatible mobile device on the same wireless¹ network, and with just a few taps, you can bring essays and projects from screen to reality without breaking stride in your busy day.

With all the new and exciting experiences college brings, you might want a few tangible reminders of your favorite moments, and for that, a good portable printer can be valuable. The Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer can print peel-and-stick photos of memorable occasions from a compatible mobile device⁴ —  anything from that party you threw, to that all-nighter you and your besties spent cramming for finals. This mini portable printer’s peel-and-stick photos can be placed on almost any surface of your choosing, like the cover of your notebook or the walls of your dorm room or apartment. And you don’t need to worry about ink because the printer uses Canon ZINK photo paper that comes with all the colors you need. Remember to add Canon ZINK photo paper to your list of favorite desk supplies so that you never run out of printing paper. Plus, if you want to enhance your photos by adding emojis and frames, or create collage prints, the Canon Mini Print App⁴ has an array of photo editing tools to help you build a fun collection of memories.

Help block out dorm or apartment chatter and hallway bustle with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Having some noise-cancelling headphones for studying can help transform your study desk into a productivity haven, especially on the days you need to create a personal study bubble to beat a deadline. Plus, pairing your headphones with some of your favorite background tunes can help set the perfect mood for hitting the books – the combo may help you maintain a relaxed, yet focused vibe and make those study marathons a bit more bearable.

To help you stay on top of all your upcoming deadlines, test dates, appointments and weekend getaways, a planner for students can be your new best friend. You don’t need to make a trip to the store to get a calendar for college students. Just print your own custom calendar — free online calendar templates are readily available in a variety of formats and designs that you can download and use. Once you’ve made your pick, you can print your customized calendar using a printer, then fill it in with all the important dates that the academic year ahead holds.

The right study desk setup for you can help make learning easy and fun and some of these desk accessories can help transform your study sessions into productive, enjoyable experiences. With the right tools for you, every study challenge becomes an opportunity to excel and to make the most of your college years.