6 Useful Home Office Organization Ideas
August 25, 2020A home office can be a great addition to your custom home design. But, every home office has the potential to get messy and cluttered. Designing your home office with organization in mind can help you keep things in order. Here are a few useful home office organization ideas to help inspire you and get you started:
1. Create Themed and Organized Stations
As you’re thinking about the design of your home office, take some time to think about all the things you’ll be doing when you’re using the room. Will you use the space to go over mail, pay bills, etc.? Will you need to scan, print, and copy items?
If so, then it may make sense to create separate areas for these activities. A mail station gives you a place to hold, sort, and deal with mail while keeping it organized and contained to its own area. Slots for separating mail, small shelves for stamps and address labels, and more can help you stay organized and create a productive area that has everything you need.
You can also create a printing station with a shelf that keeps the printer off of your desk and out of the way. It also gives you a dedicated place for extra toner and ink, extra paper, and more. This can help free up desk space and keep things uncluttered while you work. This is one way to think about additional storage, which can help you design a productive home office.
2. Think About Your Filing System
Stray papers pile up quickly. And, without some sort of filing system in place, it can be impossible to find anything. By thinking about your current filing system and planning out a better one for your new home office, you can corral papers and still find what you need when you need it.
Creating separate, labeled folders for each part of your life can help you organize things and find them later. You can even color-code things as well for an extra visual categorization. One of the home office decor ideas is to add pops of color and color-coding things can be a great way to add some flair and get organized.
With all of the various types of binders, folders, and more available, you’re bound to find something that works well for you. Plus, if you know what you’re using as a filing system, then you can also make sure there is enough storage for it or the right space in your desk, a filing cabinet, or other furniture to keep it out of sight, organized, and easy to access when you need it.
3. Consider Bookshelves
Bookshelves are useful for organizing and storing books, but they can be used for so much more. Although combining a home office with a home library can be a great option, you also don’t have to use bookshelves only for books.
One of the home office storage ideas is to include bookshelves and use them for more than just book storage. If your filing system includes the use of binders, bookshelves can be a great way to contain, sort, and organize them. You can also include decor and other items on bookshelves in addition to books, binders, etc. to help liven up the space.
4. Make Good Use of the Wall Space
The desk, computer, shelves, etc. usually get all of the attention when it comes to a home office. But, when it comes to organization ideas, don’t forget about the wall space you have available. An open wall can be a great place for hanging filing systems, a whiteboard or chalkboard, a calendar, floating shelves, hanging containers, and more.
Whether you have a smaller desk or just like keeping your desk as clear as possible, using the wall space can help you keep small necessary items nearby without taking up surface space on your desk. Ignoring details like these is one of the common mistakes to avoid when designing a home office. By thinking ahead about all aspects of your home office and making use of available space in creative ways, you can create a productive and organized home office that truly works for you.
5. Use Containers to Categorize and Organize
Containers, baskets, and bins come in various shapes and sizes, which makes them useful for containing and organizing items. Small containers can be used inside drawers to separate items and keep them where they need to be as you open and close the drawer.
Containers can also be attached to a pegboard, a corkboard, or a wall to store pens, pencils, and other small items you need. You can also use containers to help you create and further organize your mail, printing, etc. stations.
6. Plan for Cord Management
Another one of the useful home office organization ideas is to plan for cord management. Every device in your office will have at least one cord associated with them, even if they’re wireless. Cords can quickly get out of hand and become messy and tangled. On top of that, they often also become tripping hazards.
Instead of waiting for your cords to become a mess, come up with a plan to manage them from the beginning. Cord covers and tubes, zip ties, labels, and more can all help you contain cords, keep them out of the way, and make them easily identifiable as well.
There may be pros and cons of a home office, but these home office organization ideas can help you keep yours clean, clutter-free, and having more pros than cons. And, they’ll work for you whether your home office is inside the house or one of the ways to use a shed in your backyard.
If no amount of creative ideas, remodeling, or redecorating makes your house work for you, it may be time to consider a custom home that is designed and built to suit your needs. If you’re ready to bring your dream home to life, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!