Home Office Makeover: Declutter Your Space

A cluttered home office can be overwhelming, and it's easy to let things slide when you're busy. However, a tidy workspace can boost productivity and efficiency, so it's worth taking the time to get things in order.

First, remove everything that doesn't serve a purpose. Be ruthless. If you don't need it, relocate it, donate it, or throw it away. Only keep the essentials on your desk, such as your computer, printer, and modem. Next, sort everything else into categories: relocate, donate, recycle, trash, sentimental, action, file/scan, and shred.

To keep your desk clear, utilise wall space with shelves, wire baskets, and bulletin boards. Go vertical with floating shelves or a wall-mounted caddie system if your office is small. If you have lots of books, consider a bookcase or shelves to keep them tidy and create a sense of order.

For a calm and streamlined look, hide clutter away in drawers, cupboards, or cabinets. Corral cables and cords with cable management systems, or go cord-free with Bluetooth or WiFi-enabled devices. Colour-coding can also bring harmony to your space, making it easier to locate items.

Finally, schedule regular maintenance to keep your office clutter-free. A few minutes at the end of each day, or a larger block of time once a week, will help to maintain order.

Remove unnecessary items

Removing unnecessary items is a crucial step in creating a clutter-free and organised home office. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Start from scratch

Take everything out of your office space, including items from the desktop, drawers, and shelves. This may seem daunting, but it will help you gain a fresh perspective on what you truly need. As you remove items, create three piles: "keep", "archive", and "junk". The "keep" pile should include items you use daily or weekly, while the "archive" pile is for important documents that don't need to be accessed regularly. The "junk" pile is for items you can throw away or donate.

Be ruthless

When deciding what to keep, be ruthless. Only keep the things you truly need and use regularly. If you haven't used an item in over a year, chances are you won't use it again, so get rid of it. This will free up valuable space and improve your productivity by reducing distractions.

Create a paper management system

Paper clutter is a common issue in home offices. To tackle this, set up a paper-processing station with three baskets: one for archiving, one for immediate action, and one for trash. Additionally, digitise your notes and documents by scanning or typing them out. There are also smartphone apps that can help you quickly scan and store documents.

Manage cables

Cables can quickly create visual clutter and become difficult to manage. Invest in a cable management system, such as a Dymo Labelling system or a Cablox system, to keep your cables organised and tidy. If you're looking for a temporary or creative solution, try using velcro strips to affix cables to the underside of your desk or use cable ties to wrangle excess lengths.

Utilise storage solutions

Make use of storage solutions such as shelves, drawers, and cabinets to keep your office organised. Divide and conquer clutter by using drawer organisers and small containers to keep loose items tidy and contained. If you have limited space, consider vertical storage solutions such as floating shelves or wall-mounted caddies.

Utilise wall space

If your home office is on the small side, think beyond bulky filing cabinets, cupboards, and bookcases. Transform your wall space into a storage hub. Floating shelves, hanging filing systems, or a panel of wall-mounted caddies can all help to create a sense of spaciousness in your home office.

Floating shelves are a great way to utilise wall space and create extra storage. They can be used to store books, files, and other office supplies. If you want to add a decorative touch, you can also use floating shelves to display plants, photos, or other items that inspire you.

Hanging filing systems are another option for wall storage. These can be purchased or DIY-ed with household items such as film containers, paper holders, or shoeboxes. Hanging filing systems are a great way to keep your important documents organised and easily accessible.

Wall-mounted caddies are a modular storage solution that can be customised to fit your specific needs. They are often magnetic, allowing for easy rearrangement as your storage needs change. Wall-mounted caddies can be used to store office supplies, documents, and other small items.

In addition to storage, you can also utilise wall space to create a functional and inspiring workspace. A message board, for example, can serve as a quick reference guide for appointments, to-do lists, and ideas. A whiteboard or magnetic chalkboard is a great option as it allows you to write and display papers.

When utilising wall space in your home office, it is important to consider the amount of visual clutter that will be on display. If you are sensitive to visual clutter, cabinets with doors or drawers may be a better option for storing items out of sight. Additionally, aim for cohesion in your wall storage solutions by choosing pieces that work together and selecting a colour palette that complements your space.

Get cables under control

Cables can quickly turn into a spider's nest of doom, especially in a small space. Here are some ways to get them under control:

Firstly, consider creating a cable-free workspace. This might involve using wireless devices and connections where possible, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can also look into using devices with built-in cables, such as a keyboard or mouse with a retractable or integrated cable.

Secondly, for the cables that cannot be avoided, there are numerous solutions for managing cable clutter. One idea is to use rain gutters as cable managers. You can also try cable trays, which are designed to keep cables organized and off the floor. Cable sleeves are another option; they can be used to group multiple cables together, making them easier to manage and hide. Additionally, cable clips and ties can be used to bundle and secure cables, keeping them tidy and out of the way.

Another tip is to label your cables. This will help you identify which cable is which, making it easier to unplug the right one when needed. You can use colour-coded labels or tags, or even just a piece of tape with the cable's name written on it.

Lastly, if you have a lot of cables that need to be plugged into a power source, consider using a power strip or surge protector. This will not only help with organization but also protect your devices from power surges. You can also use a cable management box to hide and organize the power strip and any excess cable length.

Create a paper-processing station

A paper-processing station is a great way to keep your home office clutter-free. Here are some tips to create an effective paper-processing system:

Set Up a Sorting System:

Start by setting up a simple sorting system for your papers. You can begin by dividing your papers into two main categories: papers to keep and papers to throw away. You can further sort the papers you want to keep into subcategories such as "Action", "Archive", "Pending", "Do Now", "Do Later", etc. This will help you decide what to do with each paper and prevent piles of paper from building up.

Choose a Storage Solution:

Depending on the volume of papers you need to keep, choose a storage solution that works for you. This could be file folders, magazine holders, or filing cabinets. Label each section clearly and limit the number of categories to only the essentials, so you are not tempted to save papers you will likely never use.

Go Digital:

To reduce paper clutter, switch to digital formats for your documents whenever possible. Opt for paperless billing and digital statements for your utilities, bank statements, etc. This will help reduce clutter and also prevent identity theft, as mail is less likely to be stolen. You can also use a scanner app or scanning service to digitize your important documents and store them on your computer, hard drive, or the cloud.

Recycle and Shred:

Set up a paper recycling bin near your desk to make it easy to recycle papers you don't need. Additionally, invest in a paper shredder to dispose of sensitive documents securely. Anything with personal or financial information, such as bank statements, credit card applications, receipts, old IDs, etc., should be shredded.

Maintain Your System:

Schedule regular time to maintain your paper-processing station. Set aside a few minutes each day or a larger block of time once a week to go through your papers, recycle or shred what you don't need, and file away the rest. This will help you stay on top of the clutter and ensure your system remains effective.

Make a colour-coded organisation system

A colour-coded organisation system is a smart and visually appealing way to bring a sense of harmony to your home office. It's a simple yet effective way to locate and retrieve items quickly and effortlessly.

Determine the Areas to Colour Code:

First, decide which areas of your home office would benefit from colour coding. This could include your filing cabinet, calendar, clothing and shoes in your closet, craft area, or even your email inbox. By assigning specific colours to different categories, you can easily identify and locate items.

Establish a Colour Coding System:

Assign unique colours to different categories, persons, objects, tasks, or purposes. For example, you could use green for money-related items, red for "red-hot" bills that need immediate attention, blue for medical bills, or yellow for important documents. Each colour should be distinct and represent a single purpose. However, you can use the same colour for different areas or projects.

Choose the Right Tools:

There are various tools available to help you implement your colour code. This includes coloured file folders, sheet protectors with coloured borders, poly project pockets, coloured labels, or even coloured stickers. You can also find third-party software addons for Windows that allow you to add colour to your digital folders.

Create a Colour-Coded Calendar:

Apply colour codes to your calendar to visually distinguish between different types of appointments, tasks, or events. For example, use red for speaking engagements, orange for client or vendor meetings, green for team-related activities, and so on. This will help you quickly identify what your week or month looks like at a glance.

Organise Your Closet by Colour:

Sort your clothes by colour, going from brightest to darkest. You can follow the ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) sequence to make it easier. This system will reduce the time it takes to put together outfits and help you identify any missing colours in your wardrobe.

Colour Code Your Emails:

In your email platform, such as Outlook, create flags or categories with different colours to highlight important emails or categorise them by sender, topic, or project. This will help you quickly identify and locate specific emails, especially when searching through a crowded inbox.

Remember, the key to a successful colour-coded organisation system is consistency. Ensure that everyone in your team or household knows and follows the system to maintain a harmonious and clutter-free home office.

Frequently asked questions