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Are you tired of stepping into your home office to pay bills and finding a room that looks like it’s been hit by a tornado? You hardly know where to sit with the stacks of paper littering the desk, dog hair sticking to every surface, and craft supplies spread all over the space (not to mention, it looks like a glitter bomb recently exploded over the desk). But with just a few easy organizational tips, you can have a home office that looks like it came straight from the pages of Martha Stewart Living. Here’s how to make your dream office a reality.
 De-clutter. The first order of business when organizing any space is to get rid of unnecessary clutter. This could mean shredding documents that are no longer relevant, tossing craft supplies that are no longer usable, getting rid of storage bins that are broken, and even replacing furniture that is simply too bulky for the space.
Clean frequently. Once you’ve de-cluttered, you need to make sure the space stays neat, and part of that process involves frequent cleaning. Clutter will build up if you let it, but when you’re making time at least once a month to dust and vacuum, you’ll start to keep the space clean and clutter-free on a daily basis simply so you don’t have to move piles of stuff each time you want to run a dust-rag over surfaces.
Designate spaces. Since you share your office with a spouse and kids, it behooves you to ensure that everyone has their own workspace. Set up separate desks for yourself and your partner and give the kids a craft table to work at. This way you can ensure that at least your own space stays just the way you left it.
Modular furnishings. Some people say that this modern brand of room décor is cheap. This is more or less true. But when you think about it, an antique roll-top, while good looking, simply doesn’t fit the needs of a modern home office (and it’s expensive). Modular furniture is great for growing families because it offers the storage solutions you need along with the ability to expand.
Filing cabinets. This is an absolute must for any home office. You need at least a couple of organized drawers to house files for important papers, such as medical and school records, tax documents, and anything else that needs to be saved.
Shelving. Shelves provide an excellent way to maximize your space by allowing you to use the upper level of the room for additional storage. Built-in cabinets will provide even more options (including the ability to hide everything).
Closet space. People tend to shove things into closets willy-nilly, but to help you resist the urge to overstuff you may want to stock your cabinet with bins for designated items like office and craft supplies (use lower shelves to house items for kids).
Desk organizers. The first place clutter takes over is on your desk, so don’t hesitate to populate your space with organizers that will keep your papers, pens, and stockpile of staples neat, contained, and out of the way.
Labeling. If you’re having trouble finding things even once you’ve gotten more or less organized, consider security labels, labeling bins, folders, and even shelves as a way to find anything you need a lot more quickly (and return it just as easily).
Online tools. Once you’ve gotten organized in the office, think about trying some of the many online tools available to help you reduce your dependence on paper. Online calendars, to-do list managers, e-coupon organizers, and even online bill-pay will all help you to keep your physical clutter to a minimum, as well as make your office as green as it is clean.
Carol Montrose writes for SeaReach, a manufacturer of labels, tags, and security documents.
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