Don't buy the mesh, Do buy the acrylic desk accessories at Crate & Barrel
The latest Crate & Barrel Best Buys catalog, the small scale mailer with new basics and fresh start ideas for Fall, arrived in the mail the other day. In it were some standards that work well in any home, but I’m disappointed by a few items, one especially that I can’t discourage enough. In fact, I’ve decided to start a new series of posts called Buy This Not That! Seriously, avoid mesh. Just like wearing white after Labor Day, mesh metal paper trays and pencil holders are a major mistake. They look like a dying trend from the ’80s, and no, it’s not coming back in fashion. My previous boss had this set sitting on his desk and the sad part about it, he thought it looked good. We all make mistakes, but the challenge is to learn from them. Don’t date your desk or yourself.
Instead, I was happy to see a great alternative in the same catalog. Crate & Barrel offers an acrylic set of paper trays and pencil holders that are very affordable. The letter tray is $19.95 and the pencil holder is $7.95. What’s great about clear acrylic is its glowing edges and floating quality. Have some fun and buy some color paper for one tray. Find one type of pen in a 10-pack and use it to make a color statement for the clear cup. You’ll have a streamlined desk in no time and a workplace that shows you’re hip with the rest of us.
Buy the acrylic desk accessories at Crate & Barrel’s retail stores or online .
The Desctop 