It's funny how just a few items here and there can clutter a workspace. If color is not your thing, then a few glass containers will do the trick of having a place for all the little things that you frequently need - like a pen or change for an afternoon snack. Glass is such a flexible style - you can find something like this vintage-looking glass tumbler from Anthropologie to hold pens, or you can go for something more simple such as

this small bowl or square container from Target as a nice catch-all.