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home officeWhen you peek into your home office and see stacks of paperwork falling off the desk, boxes of tax documents forming a pyramid, and your kids’ craft supplies strewn across every surface, you may just turn off the light and close the door rather than dealing with the mess.  But if you require a functional home office space in which to pay bills, run your business, or help the kids with homework, then it’s time to get organized.  Here are some tips to help you get started.

  1. Get a shredder and get to work.  One of the worst offenders when it comes to office organization is paper.  This pulpy culprit can clutter up every inch of space if you let it, so don’t!  Get yourself a decent shredder to take care of sensitive documents (old tax returns, bills that list your personal information, medical reports, and so on).
  2. Learn to love filing.  Your next step is to get a filing cabinet (and use it!).  Having an inbox is great, but it simply can’t offer the organizational capabilities of a filing cabinet.  Once you’ve got it stocked with labeled folders for everything, you’ll always have a place to store (and easily find) important paperwork.
  3. De-clutter.  Wading in to the melee to begin sorting is the hardest part, but once you’re in there you’ll have to make some executive decisions concerning what stays and what goes.  Start small and work your way up; recycle used paper that you don’t need to keep, choose a few of your favorite pieces of kid art to frame and hang in the office (ditch the rest; there is no doubt an abundant supply of scribbles), and donate office supplies, equipment, and furniture that don’t belong in your space (extra stuff and items that are old or too large).
  4. Use functional furniture.  Unless you have the space for a giant executive desk, you’re probably better off sticking with modular furnishings, which are inexpensive, easy to assemble, and best of all, expandable.  They also provide a lot of storage and organizational solutions.
  5. Make a space for everyone.  Unless you want your kids cutting tax documents into paper chains, it’s probably best to give them their own work space (preferably not on your desk).  So include a kid-sized desk or table for crafts and homework.
  6. Assign storage.  Now that everyone has their own space, seal the deal by providing each member of the family with assigned storage.  It’s a good way to ensure that items don’t get mixed up and it will certainly help to limit clutter.
  7. Use upper levels.  Shelving can be a huge boon to the family that has a small office space.  Add shelves to upper levels as a way to make more space for furnishing and keep usable surfaces (desktops) clean and clear.
  8. Get busy with bins.  You’ve likely heard the expression “a place for everything and everything in its place”.  Bins make this mentality possible.
  9. Use your label-maker.  Okay, so you don’t exactly need the security stickers used by your business office.  But having labels on bins and shelves will help to ensure that you can find any item lickety-split and return it just as easily.
  10. Clean sweep.  Even the best-organized space can quickly get mussed, but frequent cleanings can ensure that clutter is kept at bay and your home office is a functional and healthy space for your family to live and work in.

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