Coat your desk with whiteboard paint and you'll always have a place to jot down quick notes, plan your workweek, or doodle.
That's what software engineer and maker Bob Clagett did with his huge, custom-built desk. Make sure the surface is nice and smooth before applying primer and the dry erase paint, Clagett advises in his very detailed post about this desk.
Beyond the useful desktop (a good alternative to the chalkboard desktop at Google HQ), the desk also features incredible organization (see image below) and built-in storage, including a secret compartment! Hit up Claggett's blog for more details.