Should I get a desk mat or a mousepad?

Get a desk mat, not a mousepad. A small mousepad won’t work if your keyboard shares the surface—you need a big rectangular mat covering mouse space plus about 60% of the keyboard zone. Look for 30x15 inches or bigger, 2-3mm thick, cloth for quiet comfort. Avoid tiny gaming mousepads; a desk mat solves the space puzzle and looks cleaner.