Get a desk mat, not a mousepad.

A traditional small mousepad won’t cut it if your keyboard has to share the surface. You need a big rectangular desk mat that covers the whole area—mouse space plus about 60% of the keyboard zone. That way your keyboard sits flat on the mat (no wobbling) and your mouse glides on the same surface.

Look for something around 30x15 inches (75x38 cm) or bigger—brands like Logitech, SteelSeries, or cheap Amazon basics do the trick. Thickness matters: 2-3mm is fine. Thicker feels cushier but can be annoying with low-profile keyboards. Material? Cloth is quiet and comfortable; hard plastic is faster but louder.

Avoid those stupid tiny “gaming mousepads” that barely fit a mouse. They only work if your keyboard lives off the pad entirely—which you don’t have room for. Desk mat solves the space puzzle and looks cleaner.

Your desk will feel less cramped, and your mouse won’t hang off the edge.