Guest Blogger: How to Organize Your Home Office for Increased Productivity

Guest Blog #232, Entry #730, October 28, 2011

Some of us have trouble paying our bills on time because they get lost in the clutter on the desk; and when tax time rolls around it’s complete chaos.  Perhaps your problem is that everyone shares the office space (kids included), so that you’re contending with not just your own disorganization, but that of your whole family.  And if you’re one of the many people who simply doesn’t have the faintest idea about how to use storage effectively (or you simply don’t have enough), then it’s no wonder you’re facing problems with productivity.  Working from home could make the situation even worse.  However, there are tons of ways to get your home office organized in order to become the punctual and productive individual you know you can be.  Here are a few tips to get you started.

Organize your office for increased productivity

Use the space you have

A lot of people attempt to squeeze oversized or antique furnishings into a space that really isn’t meant for them.  Your office is probably the smallest room in your home so you need to fill it accordingly.  This means not only finding furnishings that fit the space, but also procuring functional furniture and using every inch of available space (not just the area at desk level).  For example, a square room might benefit from a corner desk unit while a long, narrow room calls for a long desk situated on one side of the room.  And remember that there is empty space above your head, so consider installing shelves or cabinets up to the ceiling for storage.

Create individual spaces

Unless you want to sit down to pay bills or plan a work proposal at a desk covered with glue and glitter, you need to give the kids their own workspace.  If they’re small, set them up at an appropriately sized desk or table and give them dedicated storage (lower cabinets) for their craft supplies.  Older kids may warrant a larger desk, but if your space is small they’ll simply have to share.

Opt for modular furniture

Modular furniture is ideal for home offices because it comes in many shapes, sizes, and storage solutions.  But it also has the added benefit of allowing you to increase your storage potential at any time with pieces that are sure to match your existing setup and fit in seamlessly.

Modular furniture can help your office space

Make a place for everything

If you want to avoid clutter and stay organized you really need dedicated spaces to house everything.  This means a filing cabinet for important documents, shelving for books and media, and cupboards with bins to house office and craft supplies.  You may also want to get drawer and desk organizers to ensure a clutter-free workspace.  The more you compartmentalize, the easier it will be to find what you need (and return it to its rightful place when you’re done).

Label

You may see asset labels at your corporate office and think it’s a great idea for your home, but you don’t need to track items so much as identify them, so a simple label maker should do the trick.  Use it to create quick, easy-to-read labels for shelves, bins, and even file folders.  This, more than anything, will help you to stay organized once you’ve gotten everything in order.

For more home office ideas on Stagetecture, click here.