More space at the desk: monitor mounts, lights, hubs & rear-view mirrors from 7 euros Space at the desk is tight – if you want to ensure more order around the monitor, you need the right accessories. TechStage shows what’s available. 8:00 p.m. tech stage
Space at the desk is tight – if you want to provide more work space and order around the monitor, you need the right accessories. Voonze shows which practical and curious products are available for the computer screen.
Whether in the office, home office or children’s room – the space on the desk can’t actually be big enough. However, thanks to numerous desk utensils and an ever-growing collection of gadgets related to the PC, there is often hardly any space left on the tabletop. Here it helps to provide more space with the right accessories. Other products increase comfort or relieve the eyes.
This article is part of the Home Office theme world . Here we show the best laser printers , the perfect keyboard for office and gaming or show what to look out for with height-adjustable desks . This guide is now about accessories for the PC monitor.
mounts
The most common accessories for monitors are the brackets, which are available in various forms. These serve several purposes at the same time. On the one hand, they increase flexibility with regard to alignment and positioning. In addition, they are comfortable and adjustable. On the other hand, as an alternative to the monitor stand, it provides more space on the desktop.
Ceiling and wall mounts, as you know them from the TV, create the most space here. With this solution, the monitor does not require any space on the table top. However, simple clamp brackets are much easier to install. These require only a few square centimeters of space and can usually be used without drilling. When using a multiple monitor mount, we would still bolt the mount to the tabletop for added stability.
There are also monitor mounts with a stand, but these only increase the ease of use and allow for more flexible alignment – this solution does not provide more space.
The original monitor stand needs significantly more space than the clamp mount.
Inexpensive monitor mounts are already available for less than 10 euros . In addition to classic brackets for wall mounting, variants for hanging from the ceiling, so-called rod brackets and the common table brackets with a clamping system are also available. Which type of assembly is best suited depends entirely on your own workplace.
Thanks to the clamp mount, there is enough free space even on this small desk.
Privately, we use a very comfortable low-budget holder for 30 euros with a gas spring and table clamp. This replaces the bulky monitor base, which provides significantly more space on the small worktop. The spring pressure can be conveniently adjusted with a wrench, so our 24-inch monitor holds very reliably and without wobbling. Thanks to the installed joints, the positioning of the screen is very flexible and easily possible with one hand. A worthwhile investment, especially for small desks. Experience has shown that those who use a larger monitor should invest a little more money. Even though many cheap mounts allow up to 30 inches (76.2 cm) and more, this can get shaky when in doubt. We recommend the price range of around 50 to 100 euros from 27 inches.
If you work with a notebook, you can create even more space if you park it on a swivel arm or extension arm. Combined monitor and notebook mounts are available from around 50 euros. In our experience, however, these systems are only worthwhile when using an external mouse and keyboard. If you work directly with the laptop’s keyboard and trackpad, it’s better to leave them on the tabletop. In practice, the movements are quickly transferred to the monitor, especially with cheap combination mounts, which makes it impossible to work properly.
monitor stand
Monitor stands provide at least a little more storage space. The small tables primarily provide a raised monitor and also create some storage space underneath. These monitor stands come in countless designs made from different materials. From a simple wooden table for 16 euros , to variants made of plastic from 17 euros or glass and metal from 25 euros , to a modern monitor stand with an integrated USB hub for 40 euros , there is something for every taste. Even those who want to create space under several screens will find what they are looking for. Dual monitor stands with an integrated wooden drawer are available from 38 euros.
Attachment to the monitor
In addition to monitor mounts, we also stumbled across numerous mounts for attaching to the screen. It starts with the bracket for headphones from about 7 euros. This simple plastic arm is attached to the top side of the monitor using double-sided adhesive tape. Attached there, it offers space for headphones that are otherwise lying around unnecessarily when not in use. Alternatively, rolled-up charging cables and the like can also be attached to the bracket.
A headphone holder for just under 8 euros. If you have a 3D printer, you can print it yourself.
If you want to store other small items, such as card readers, memory cards, USB sticks, pens, adapters or adhesive tape, you can also get universal shelves for mounting on the screen from around 12 euros. The attachment works similar to webcams by means of a clamping mechanism.
USB hub
Even those who want to get a grip on the gadgets around the monitor will find suitable accessories. It starts with the practical USB hub for connecting to the monitor from 26 euros . This is clamped to the underside of the screen with a screw and then takes up no more space on the tabletop. The solution is very convenient, but with frequent use the clamping screw has to be tightened regularly. The bright status LED also annoys us in practice.
Unfortunately, the hub does not hold on every monitor.
Our assessment: Classic USB hubs are often cheaper and offer more connection options, which is why we prefer them. More on this in our article USB-C docks, e-GPUs, monitors with a hub: HDMI, USB & more for PC, laptop and MacBook .
In our opinion, using a screen with an integrated hub is the most convenient. The monitors from 129 euros guide explains how this works: That’s why every monitor should have USB-C .
If in doubt, a light and inexpensive hub in combination with double-sided adhesive tape will do.
lighting
Although pen and paper are rarely used these days, the lighting should also be right at the PC workstation. So-called monitor lights or screen bars, simple LED lamps for mounting on top of the screen, are available from around 20 euros. These provide subtle illumination of the tabletop and are easy on the eyes. If you invest a little more, you can also get variants with colorful RGBs instead of simple LEDs – suitable for gaming PCs, for example. The lights should be at least dimmable. An adjustment option for the light color (warm or cold white) is also recommended.
We show other possibilities in the guide to screen bars from 20 euros: The best desk lamps that nobody knows .
The Yeelight Screenbar provides pleasant lighting.
Instead of the monitor lights, you can also use simple LED strips and stick them to the back of the monitor. This solution is recommended when the monitor is on the wall. Otherwise, the glued-on LED strips look cheap rather than cool. Very simple LED strips with a remote control are available from around 10 to 15 euros. Light strips for control with the language assistant are available from 25 euros. If you invest just under 36 euros, you can even get the cool Ambilight function on your PC workstation. The set consisting of power supply, USB controller and LED strip costs around 36 euros.
If you want to know more about this, you should take a look at the guide Cheaper than Philips Hue: The best smart LED strips from 20 euros .
rearview mirror
An admittedly curious monitor accessory is the rear-view mirror for the PC screen . We found the crazy gadget for around 8 euros on Ebay. If you sit with your back to the door, you can spot visitors and colleagues behind you at an early stage thanks to the small rear-view mirror on the PC monitor. Moments of shock when wearing the ANC headphones are much rarer. A similar clamp-on mirror with a larger field of view is listed on Amazon for 21 euros.
Monitor Rearview Mirror
KVM switch
If you work with more than one PC, you know the space problem well: monitor, keyboard and mouse need space and then twice. An end to this waste of space is promised by KVM switches from 30 euros , which connect monitor(s), keyboards, mice and other USB devices to several PCs at the same time. To select the desired computer, a short press on the selection button is enough. Whereas the switches used to be equipped with VGA and keyboard sockets, modern models have HDMI and USB on board and support up to 4K.
Only the toggle can be seen from the KVM switch.
Privately, we use a cheap model from Amazon for 33 euros , on which we operate a MacBook and gaming PC. Here switching is not only possible on the switch, but also via a small external switch. Adapters and cables then do not have to lie unnecessarily on the desk, which creates additional space.
Conclusion
If you are regularly annoyed by your desk being full, you can create space quickly and cheaply. Monitor mounts and monitor stands offer the most additional space and comfort. But shelves, KVM switches or headphone hangers also help to keep things tidy.
Unfortunately, the USB hub for monitors does not hold on every model – one of our screens, for example, is rounded on the back and so the clamp simply cannot hold it. The small rear-view mirror, while fun, is more of an unnecessary gadget than an essential accessory.
Other popular guides to do with PC workstations include the articles The most popular headsets for teams, Skype and Zoom from 10 euros , Buying a webcam: when 4K resolution, exposure and field of view are important, or our buying guide for the ideal office chair . There are more suitable tests, guides and comparative tests in our Home Office theme world .
