Home Office Organization: Diy Style

A tidy home office can improve focus and productivity, but it's easy to let things get out of hand. Whether you're working with a spacious workstation or a small setup, there are plenty of DIY ideas to help you organise your home office. From colour-coded filing systems to desk accessories, there are many ways to keep your space clutter-free.

DIY storage solutions

Wall-Mounted Storage

Use your wall space to create functional storage. Mount a corkboard, whiteboard, chalkboard, or magnetic surface to the wall. This can be used to pin current projects, inspiration, calendars, to-do lists, memos, and more. You can also use wall space to hang filing systems, shelving, and cabinets.

Desktop Storage

Keep your desktop clear and organised by using desk organisers, paper trays, and other accessories. A simple wooden pot lid stand can help organise your most current paperwork. You can also use decorative tins, such as cookie tins, to store office supplies, photos, and other small items.

Drawer Storage

Keep your drawers organised by using drawer dividers and small containers to separate items like paper clips, push pins, and rubber bands. You can also use plastic organiser trays to keep items separated and easy to find.

Bins and Baskets

Use bins, baskets, and containers to store office supplies and hide them away in closets or cabinets. This will give your office a decluttered look. You can also use wicker baskets on the floor for extra storage that looks chic.

File Folders

Create a mail organiser with labelled file folders for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills, and family members. You can also use file folders to organise paperwork by category, such as insurance, taxes, credit cards, and bank statements.

Colour-coded filing systems

Choose your colours

First, decide on a colour for each category. For example, you could use green for money-related documents, red for urgent items, and blue for medical files. You can also assign a unique colour to each family member.

Separate documents into categories

Next, sort your documents into broad categories. For example, you might have categories for client invoices, sales receipts, financial statements, and tax documents.

Label your folders

Purchase coloured folders, or plain folders with coloured stickers or labels, to match your chosen categories. You can also colour-code digital folders using software such as Folder Marker Pro.

File your documents

Place your documents into the corresponding coloured folders, and then place the folders into your filing cabinet. Organise the folders to suit your needs, with frequently accessed categories at the front. You can also alphabetise files within each category, giving each letter its own colour.

Maintain your system

Regularly review your filing system to add, remove, or combine categories as needed. File new documents promptly to avoid clutter building up.

By implementing a colour-coded filing system, you'll be able to locate documents more efficiently, reduce clutter, and improve your overall productivity.

Wall space optimisation

Wall-Mounted Storage

One of the best ways to optimise wall space in your home office is to install wall-mounted storage solutions. This can include floating shelves, cabinets, and file organisers. Floating shelves are a great way to add extra storage without taking up floor space. Cabinets with doors can help to keep items out of sight and create a more streamlined look. File organisers, such as wall-mounted folders or pockets, can help to keep important papers and documents easily accessible and organised.

Vertical Space for Supplies

When trying to optimise wall space, it's important to think vertically. Utilise wall space by hanging supplies such as scissors, headphones, or glasses on hooks or a hook board. This keeps frequently used items within reach while freeing up space on your desk.

Wall-Mounted Organisers

Wall-mounted organisers such as corkboards, whiteboards, chalkboards, or magnetic boards can help you keep track of important information, deadlines, and to-do lists. These can be customised to fit your specific needs and style. For example, you can paint a chalkboard calendar on your wall or use a pinboard with a special calendar feature.

Wall-Mounted Desk

If you're tight on space, consider mounting your desk to the wall. This can help save floor space and create a dedicated work area. You can also install a fold-down desk, which can be tucked away when not in use.

Wall-Mounted Lighting

To free up space on your desk, consider using wall-mounted lighting instead of a traditional desk lamp. This can help create a more streamlined and spacious feel to your home office.

Paperwork management

Paperwork can quickly pile up and overwhelm your home office. Here are some tips to help you manage your paperwork and keep your office space organised and functional:

Create a Mail Station

Sort your mail by creating a mail station with labelled folders for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills, and one for each family member. You can use simple office bins attached to a slat wall or a folder organiser box to hold your mail folders. Go through the folders once a week to ensure the system stays up to date.

Set Up a Printing Station

Designate a space in your office for your printer and printer supplies. If you have a wireless printer, you can place it in a cabinet or another area to free up space on your desk. You can also build a "fauxdenza" to conceal the printer and any miscellaneous items and paperwork.

Use Colour-Coding

Colour-coding your filing system is a great way to keep things organised and easily identifiable. You can separate your files into five colour-coded categories:

• Green for financial documents
• Red for medical records
• Orange for personal files
• Yellow for insurance
• Blue for house-related documents

Make Use of Wall Space

Utilise your wall space by mounting corkboards, whiteboards, chalkboards, or magnetic surfaces. You can use these to pin up current projects, inspiration, calendars, to-do lists, and memos.

Create an Action File

Keep your action items visible by storing them in an open tray on your desk or in a folder that you can easily access. Go through this file at least once a week, taking the necessary actions and then recycling or shredding any unnecessary papers.

Organise Your Drawers

Use drawer dividers to keep small items like paper clips, push pins, and rubber bands separate and easy to find. You can also use plastic organiser trays in your drawers to keep things tidy and easily accessible.

Store Supplies Out of Sight

Put your office supplies in containers, drawers, baskets, or bins to give your office a decluttered look. You can also use clear plastic shoebox containers and label the fronts so you know what's inside. Stack these on closet shelves or in cabinets to keep them out of the way.

Go Digital

Store your contact information and business cards digitally for easy access and organisation. You can also take photos of important documents and store them digitally, but be sure to keep physical copies of essential papers like passports and social security cards in a fireproof box or safe.

Sort and Discard

Go through your paperwork regularly and sort it into five categories: action, archive, household, recycle, and shred. The "action" category includes items that need to be addressed, like bills or appointment reminders. The "archive" category is for important documents that you need to keep but don't need to reference often, like tax returns or medical records. The "household" category includes coupons, receipts, and user manuals. The "recycle" category is for papers that don't contain personal information, like junk mail or envelopes. Finally, the "shred" category is for papers with personal information that you no longer need, like old bank statements or credit card offers.

Use Desktop Accessories

Keep your desktop tidy and organised by using accessories like paper trays, letter trays, and desktop inbox trays. These can help you manage your current projects and important papers while keeping your workspace clutter-free.

Desk organisation

A tidy desk is the foundation of a productive home office. Here are some tips to help you organise your desk and improve your focus and productivity.

Keep it simple

Keep only the essentials on your desk. The fewer items you have, the less opportunity for clutter. If you're short on space, consider a minimalist setup with just a notepad and pen. If you're working from home, allocate rarely used items to storage boxes and place them on a designated bookshelf or in a closet.

Utilise storage solutions

Use drawers, containers, baskets, and bins to keep your office supplies out of sight and create a decluttered look. You can also use a combination of shelves, caddies, and wall hooks to clear clutter from your desk and give your everyday essentials a designated home.

Manage paperwork

Create a mail station with folders for incoming and outgoing mail, mail to file, bills, and family members. Use a colour-coded filing system to separate paperwork into categories such as financial, medical, personal, insurance, and house. Invest in a good label maker to label your files, drawers, and boxes for easy organisation.

Get creative

Think outside the box when it comes to storage solutions. For example, you can use a utensil organiser as a drawer divider, a towel bar with S-hooks to hang items like scissors and glasses, or a hanging closet organiser for extra office supplies.

Go vertical

Don't forget to utilise your wall space. You can hang filing systems, calendars, whiteboards, shelving, and more to create additional storage without taking up valuable desk space.

Frequently asked questions