If I try really hard, I can actually see my desk top! I am really bad at having a lot of clutter to the right of my machine.
I have an old, arborite(sp?) topped desk from a bank. It is extremely heavy, and has three drawers on the left side and a shelf at mid calf level along the backside.
My machine sits to the right of centre. I considered cutting out the top to sink my machine in flush but decided I like the flexibility of being able to move the machine or use the desk for something else.
I took an old keyboard drawer we weren't using and had it mounted beneath my machine to keep often used supplies like seam ripper, scissors etc.
It works great and in addition, it was a gift from a dear friend who was moving and didn't want it. As she has since passed away, I find myself thinking of her often when I sew.