Home Office Makeover: Smart Storage Tricks

Working from home is great, but it can be hard to stay focused and productive if your home office is cluttered and disorganised. The key to a functional home office is to implement organisational systems that work for you and to make the most of the space you have.

Create a command centre with a printer, corkboard, files, and a calendar

A command centre is a designated area to keep a family calendar, important information, to-do lists, and more. It is a great way to keep the entire family organised and ensure everyone is on the same page. Here are some tips to create a command centre with a printer, corkboard, files, and a calendar:

Location

When choosing a location for your command centre, consider using a small, empty wall or an unused corner in your home. This could be in a closet, behind a cabinet or closet door, in the kitchen, or even in your mudroom. If you have limited space, you can also create a "hanging office" by utilising wall space and vertical storage solutions.

Storage

Use a combination of open shelves, built-in cabinets, and bins to store your printer, files, and other supplies. Built-ins are a great way to streamline your space and reduce clutter. If you opt for shelves, decorative storage baskets can be placed on them to hide messier items. You can also use cute baskets to store smaller items and keep your command centre looking tidy.

Organisation

To organise your files, consider using a colour-coded filing system. You can separate the files into different categories such as financial, medical, personal, and insurance. Create labels for each category and use a label maker to label your files, drawers, and boxes. This will make it easier to find what you need and keep your space organised. You can also use desktop paper holders and sorters to keep loose papers off your workspace.

Calendar and Corkboard

Include a calendar and a corkboard in your command centre to keep track of important dates, events, and to-do lists. You can use a traditional wall calendar or create a DIY calendar using a chalkboard or whiteboard. A magnetic calendar is also a great option, as it allows you to easily make changes. The corkboard can be used to pin important notes, reminders, and even inspiring clippings or artwork.

Additional Features

You can also add some personal touches to your command centre, such as inspirational quotes, fun embellishments, or a family name initial. If you have a lot of electronic devices, consider creating a charging station for your family's gadgets. Don't forget to include lighting in your command centre to make it functional at all times of the day.

Utilise storage solutions such as drawers, containers, baskets, and bins

When it comes to organising your home office, utilising storage solutions such as drawers, containers, baskets, and bins can be a great way to keep things neat and tidy. Here are some tips to help you maximise your space and create a functional and efficient work area:

Assess Your Storage Needs

First, take inventory of the items you need to store and organise in your home office. Consider the amount of paper, supplies, equipment, and other materials you need to keep within easy reach. Do you need shallow or deep drawers? Would a mix of both work best? By understanding your storage needs, you can choose the right combination of drawers, containers, baskets, and bins.

Choose the Right Storage Solutions

Select storage options that suit your needs and space constraints. If you have a small home office, built-in storage solutions can help streamline the area and reduce visual clutter. You can opt for custom-built cabinets or modular systems that can be adjusted as your needs evolve. Floating shelves or vertical cabinetry can also maximise storage space while keeping the room feeling open and spacious.

Utilise Drawers, Containers, Baskets, and Bins

Now, let's delve into the specific storage solutions:

• Drawers: Separate small items like paper clips, push pins, rubber bands, and staples with drawer dividers. You can also use drawers to store items you need easy access to, such as notepads, sticky notes, pens, and pencils.
• Containers: Clear or opaque containers can be great for storing office supplies, such as extra notepads, staplers, scissors, and tape. You can also use containers to organise items on shelves or in cabinets. Look for ones with lids to keep dust out.
• Baskets: Decorative baskets can add a stylish touch to your home office while keeping things organised. Use them to hold messier work items, crafting supplies, or even folders and files. Place them on shelves, in cubbies, or on top of cabinets.
• Bins: Bins are perfect for storing larger items or groups of items. Look for bins with handles to make them easily portable. You can use bins to hold incoming and outgoing mail, files that need to be addressed, or even items you want to keep out of sight, such as power strips or cleaning supplies.

Label and Colour-Code

To take your organisation to the next level, invest in a good label maker. Label your files, drawers, containers, baskets, and bins. This will make it easier for you and anyone else in your household to find what they need. You can also colour-code your filing system to make it more efficient. For example, use green for financial documents, red for medical, orange for personal, and yellow for insurance.

Maintain and Adapt

Finally, remember that your home office organisation is a living system. Regularly declutter and reassess your storage solutions to ensure they meet your needs. Don't be afraid to make changes or adapt your system as your work and storage requirements evolve.

Install a wall of built-in cabinets

Installing a wall of built-in cabinets is a great way to improve organisation and make use of vertical space in your home office. This is especially useful if you have a small space and want to reduce visual clutter. Built-in cabinets can be customised to fit your room and storage needs, and can be designed to include countertops for extra workspace.

When planning your built-in cabinets, consider the types of storage you require. Do you need space for paper organisation? Or perhaps you need room for samples, products, and equipment? Determining your storage needs will help you decide on the mix of shallow and deep drawers, as well as the overall configuration of your cabinets.

To install built-in cabinets, you will likely need to remove existing baseboards and cut out sections of the wall, such as parts of the baseboard or areas for outlets. Measuring and marking the wall is crucial to ensure your cabinets are level and aligned with any existing features. You may need to build a frame for the cabinets to sit on, using materials such as 2" x 4"s and plywood. Clamps, wood shims, and various screws are also essential for securing the cabinets to the wall and to each other. Filler pieces can be used to fill any gaps between the cabinets and the wall, creating a seamless built-in look.

For a more detailed guide, you can refer to online step-by-step tutorials that outline the tools and materials needed, as well as provide instructions for installing built-in cabinets in your home office.

Differentiate your working and living spaces

Differentiating your working and living spaces is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here are some tips to achieve this separation:

Create Physical Separation

Try to create a separate workspace, even if it's just a dedicated corner in your living room. Use furniture to create a "wall" around your desk, providing a physical barrier between your work and living spaces. If possible, set up your workspace in a quiet area of the house, away from distractions.

Establish Boundaries

Communicate your work hours and expectations to your household members. Let them know when you are "on" and "off" work, and request that they avoid interrupting you during work hours. This helps set clear boundaries and ensures you have uninterrupted work time.

Utilize Storage Solutions

At the end of the workday, put away your work materials, such as your laptop, notebooks, and pens, in a designated storage area. This could be as simple as storing your laptop on a shelf or in a cupboard. By removing work items from your immediate environment, you can mentally disengage from work-related thoughts and tasks.

Develop Transition Rituals

Establish rituals to mark the transition between work and personal time. For example, you could go for a short walk at the beginning and end of your workday to simulate a commute. This transition time allows you to mentally shift gears between work and home life.

Maintain a Consistent Routine

Stick to a consistent daily routine, just as you would if you were commuting to an office. Get ready for the workday by dressing appropriately—this simple act can positively impact your mindset and productivity. At the end of the day, implement a log-off routine, such as turning off notifications, checking in with colleagues, and tidying up your workspace.

Take Advantage of Co-working Spaces

If you find it challenging to separate work from home, consider using co-working spaces, even on a part-time basis. These spaces provide a dedicated workspace outside of your home, helping you establish clearer boundaries between work and personal life.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively differentiate your working and living spaces, leading to improved productivity, focus, and overall well-being.

Create a filing system for important documents

Creating a filing system for important documents is an essential step in organising your home office. Here are some detailed steps to help you create an effective and efficient filing system:

Determine the Categories:

Start by deciding on the broad categories for your files. These could include "Financial", "Legal", "Medical", "Insurance", "House", or any other categories relevant to your needs. You can also create subcategories within these broad categories for more specific types of documents.

Choose a Sorting Method:

There are a few common ways to sort and arrange your files:

• Alphabetically: Sort files alphabetically, either by name, subject, or a combination of both.
• Chronologically: Arrange files by year, with the most recent documents in front.
• By Importance: For undated documents, organise them by their level of importance or how frequently you need to access them.

Colour-Code Your Files:

Assign a unique colour to each broad category to easily identify different types of files. For example, you could use green for financial documents, red for medical files, and so on. You can also use colours to differentiate between files you use regularly and those that need to be archived.

Label Consistently:

Use clear and consistent labels for your folders and subfolders. Label each hanging and manila folder with the same naming convention to ensure that everyone using the system knows where to return the files.

Store Documents in One Folder:

Instead of having separate folders for spreadsheets, reports, and proposals, consider creating a special folder for each major project. This way, all the documents related to a specific project are in one place, making retrieval easier.

Create Subfolders:

If a folder becomes too thick, break it down into subfolders or subcategories. For example, you can divide a "Household" folder into subfolders like "Utility Bills", "Tax Statements", "Receipts", and so on.

Purge Unnecessary Documents:

Regularly shred or recycle irrelevant documents to prevent clutter and maintain organisation. Set up a system for pending papers that need to be addressed, and make it action-oriented (e.g., "to be filed", "to be reviewed", "to be shredded").

Keep a Stack of New Folders:

Place a stack of extra folders near your filing system so that you can easily add a new folder when needed without disrupting your existing system.

Current Work Accessibility:

Keep any ongoing or current paperwork within easy reach, such as on your desk, until you complete it. Once a task is finished, move the relevant documents into their appropriate file folders.

Mount Wall Organisers:

Instead of cluttering your desk with files, mount wall file holders near your workspace and label each space according to the type of files that should go there.

Store Digital Copies:

Scan important paper documents and create digital copies to store on your computer or in cloud storage. Organise these digital files using the same categories and sorting methods as your physical files.

Annual Review:

Set aside time once a year to go through all your files and shred or recycle any unnecessary documents. This will help keep your filing system up-to-date and ensure it doesn't become cluttered with old or irrelevant paperwork.

Remember, consistency is key. Ensure that everyone using the filing system understands the organisation method and follows the same labelling and filing conventions.

Frequently asked questions