Five ways to organise a home office

Whether you run your own business, have a flexible work arrangement or just need a dedicated place for study, a well-organised workspace is an essential requirement in many homes.

You might be lucky to have a dedicated room for your office, or maybe you’re working from a corner of the living room or at the end of the kitchen bench. Whatever your setup, keeping things organised and clutter-free will do wonders for your productivity and stress levels. Consider these tips to get the most out of your work zone.

Declutter your desk

The key to a hardworking office space is a desk or bench that’s free of all unnecessary stuff. Because rifling through a stack of paperwork or rummaging around for a pen is not good for your stress levels, not to mention a massive time waster.

Bring some calm to your work area by setting aside an hour or two to sort through its contents and discard any obsolete items that are adding to the clutter.

Once you’ve done your cull, implement some smart storage solutions for the remaining items, ensuring that everything has a place. Try a monitor stand with built in drawers for notebooks and sticky notes, document trays for important files, a rotating caddy for pens, scissors and glue sticks, or magazine racks for binders. Or if you’re feeling handy, you could make your own timber desktop paper tray.

At the end of each workday or study session, take a few minutes to put everything back in its dedicated spot so you can start the next day with a clear desk and a clear mindset.

Use your walls

Smart storage solutions will help keep your work area tidy and efficient, but rather than taking up precious space on your desk, sometimes it pays to look up. Wall storage solutions will keep your office essentials within easy reach without cluttering up your desk space.

Try open shelves for books and folders, hooks for bags and headphones or a pinboard and whiteboard in one for important timetables and reminders.

If you’re renting, look for items that attach using adhesive strips or a desktop shelf system that sits above your computer. Simple and effective, without jeopardising your bond.

Go undercover

The space under your desk also presents some handy storage possibilities – just be sure to leave plenty of leg room. Try a compact filing cabinet or set of drawers, a pull-out shelf for your keyboard, a storage cart on wheels or a small table for your printer.

No space for a desk? No problems. Why not try building a hidden desk into a storage unit?

Tidy up your tech

Many of today’s tasks require the use of a few modern-day necessities, such as laptops, monitors, tablets, phones, headphones or printers. And each one comes with its own charger or cord. Cue: a tangled nest of cables!

To make sense of this mess, start by working out which lead goes with which device, and get rid of any surplus cables. Label each cord and then use cord clamps or organisers to keep them neat and tidy. Wireless keyboards, headphones or mouses can also reduce your cord count.

Personalise your space

The best part of working or studying at home is that you can control the decor. No more sterile cubicles or monotone walls to zap your creativity.

Colour can set your workspace apart from the rest of your home while giving it an inspiring, calming or professional ambience. Try painting walls or joinery in warm colours like reds, oranges or yellows for an energetic space or soothing shades of green and blue to encourage focus. Renters can get a similar effect using beautiful stationery, evocative artworks or indoor greenery.

If you’re working in a communal space, like the living room or dining room, consider decor and furniture that sits well within the existing scheme. Custom solutions – like this clever filing cabinet in disguise – serve their purpose without ruining your home’s aesthetic.

Need to step up your home office set-up?

If you’re looking for a dedicated work space outside of your home, take a look at this clever shed conversion.