As the year draws to a close, and with the likelihood of increased remote work, now is the opportune time to spruce up your space. If you own a business where employees work remotely year-round, this is a great time to give them a stipend to elevate their home office spaces as well. For any corporate office locations, the end of the year is also the perfect time to think about de-cluttering and reorganizing on a larger scale.
While the task of organizing your spaces may seem daunting, it’s not just a nice-to-have. It improves productivity. A cluttered space sends signals to your brain that there’s extra work to be done and triggers a stress response. In other words: clear space, clear head.
How to keep your office organized
You see the minimalist influencers on social media with their beige décor and everything perfectly organized, and you might feel like it’s impossible. However, there are some tips that can help you get there, or get to your most organized and productive office space.
Consider new layouts and start fresh
Before you begin, ask yourself a few questions to open your mind to all the possibilities for your space. Is your desk in the best spot? In the best layout? Could your office floorplan be improved?
Here are a few tips for freshening up your space.
- Let in natural light
Think about which part of the room gets the most natural light. That’s likely the best spot for your desk, as natural light provides so many benefits for mood and productivity. For a full office plan, ensure each employee’s work area is in an area that receives sunlight.
- Consider L-shaped office desks
The L-shape uses two desks to provide one surface for computer work and one for writing or reviewing paperwork. If you regularly alternate between these two types of work, this may be just what you need.
- Sort through paperwork and personal objects
Empty drawers and clean off surfaces of any loose paper or knick-knacks, then sort through everything and get rid of anything you don’t need. Encourage employees to do this as well.
Organize your desk
You want your workspace to be open and clutter-free, starting with your desk. Here are a couple ways to achieve it.
- Hide wires
More technology comes with more wires and cables, but cable clips and wraps can help you avoid a tangled mess. Ensure each employee has enough of these.
- Organize your desk surface
You likely need to keep papers, pens, pins, etc. on your desk. Find the right desk organizers and racks to keep these items nice and tidy. A laptop stand with storage underneath can be a helpful option as well.
- Organize your drawers
Don’t let your desk drawers become junk drawers with loose items rolling around. Drawer organizer trays with compartments will keep everything in its place.
Make use of your wall space
Look around you. There’s potential for storage everywhere, without boxing you in.
- Wall organizers
Wall file organizers are a good starting place. These are great for organizing mail and keeping important documents close at hand.
- Pegboards
If you’re looking to utilize your walls even more, a pegboard can give you an aesthetically pleasing way to both create more storage and display photos and other decorations. In a home office, you can use this to hang up headphones, chargers, keys and pin notes for yourself. In a communal workplace setting, you may want to focus on team inspiration for this wall. In either case, you’ll end up with a nice-looking, functional display.
Invest in under desk storage
Think about the storage solutions you already have, ones you could add, and open your mind to new possibilities for housing everything. If you decide to eliminate some containers or boxes, check with people you know if they could use them or consider donating them to a local nonprofit, school, or other community organization.
Now let’s look at a few storage options you might want to add or upgrade to.
- Filing cabinets
Even in a highly digital workplace there are often still papers to file. Luckily there are many filing cabinets that will fit perfectly under a standard-size desk to help save space. Mobile/rolling filing cabinets provide even more versatility.
- Storage boxes
While you don’t want your office to be filled with boxes, some storage boxes are unavoidable and transparent boxes can give you easy visibility into all of your items. Stackable boxes can be a space-saving option to explore as well.
Label everything
This is the final step to set yourself up for success. Designating where things live makes you and others less likely to put them back in the wrong spot. Pick up a label maker and go wild.
Stay organized all year long
Now that your space is organized, you don’t want to lose momentum. Stock up on sticky notes, planners, and calendars to keep a clear and focused mind all year.
Get everything you need for an organized home office and workplace from Quill with fast, free shipping*, and keep up with more business tips and resources on the Quill Blog.
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