9 Hacks for a Clutter-Free Home Office
Transform a chaotic study into one more conducive to work with these clever ideas
The home office is often prone to clutter, as tidiness tends to be collateral damage when deadlines are looming and you’ve got a million and one things to do. But let’s face it, you can’t do your best work if your work space is a disaster. Save your sanity and make your home office a more organised, pleasant and productive space in which to work by adopting these strategies. From how to conquer paper clutter to clever cord-taming tricks, these hacks will help you whip your work space into shape in no time.
2. Create order with drawer organisers
Are your desk drawers in total disarray? Divide and conquer the clutter by kitting them out with drawer organisers that will keep small, loose stationery supplies tidy and contained. If you can’t find an insert that fits your drawer perfectly, create a custom set-up by lining the base with a selection of small containers, trays and bowls that slot in next to each other like a jigsaw puzzle.
Are your desk drawers in total disarray? Divide and conquer the clutter by kitting them out with drawer organisers that will keep small, loose stationery supplies tidy and contained. If you can’t find an insert that fits your drawer perfectly, create a custom set-up by lining the base with a selection of small containers, trays and bowls that slot in next to each other like a jigsaw puzzle.
3. Corral chaotic cables …
Unruly wires that snake across and down your desk not only get in the way but create visual clutter too. Introducing a cable management system into your home office is one solution that will allow you to regain control over your cords.
This picture-perfect work zone features an integrated cable management and power system, which is hidden inside the white oak cabinets below the desk. The computer cords run along the base of the desk into the cupboard, which also houses peripheral devices, keeping the desktop free of distracting, dust-collecting wires.
Unruly wires that snake across and down your desk not only get in the way but create visual clutter too. Introducing a cable management system into your home office is one solution that will allow you to regain control over your cords.
This picture-perfect work zone features an integrated cable management and power system, which is hidden inside the white oak cabinets below the desk. The computer cords run along the base of the desk into the cupboard, which also houses peripheral devices, keeping the desktop free of distracting, dust-collecting wires.
If you’re a renter and require a temporary solution that’s fuss-free and won’t leave any damage, try a stick-on cord organiser such as the one pictured above. Alternatively, use velcro strips to affix your cords to the underside of your desk or cable ties to wrangle excess lengths of wire together. Remember to label each plug so you know which cord belongs to each device.
10 ideas for keeping your tech organised
10 ideas for keeping your tech organised
4. … or go completely cord free
If you want to eliminate unsightly cables from your home office completely, invest in rechargeable, Bluetooth, or WiFi-networked electronics. Working wirelessly will make your office look less cluttered and more streamlined, and cleaning will be a breeze – you won’t have to fight pesky cables when wiping or vacuuming dust from your desktop or floor.
If you want to eliminate unsightly cables from your home office completely, invest in rechargeable, Bluetooth, or WiFi-networked electronics. Working wirelessly will make your office look less cluttered and more streamlined, and cleaning will be a breeze – you won’t have to fight pesky cables when wiping or vacuuming dust from your desktop or floor.
5. Get colour coding
Introducing a colour-coded organisation system is a smart (and visually punchy) way to bring a sense of harmony to your home office. After all, visual cues are easy to read, which makes locating and retrieving items and documents categorised by colour a quick and fuss-free task.
A colour-coded approach is especially effective for filing systems. Assign different hues to different file categories – this will ensure you can find specific documents with ease. For example, you might like to use green folders or labels for financial paperwork, red for medical documents, blue for household bills and other property-related papers, and yellow for personal items.
The case for a colour-coded home
Introducing a colour-coded organisation system is a smart (and visually punchy) way to bring a sense of harmony to your home office. After all, visual cues are easy to read, which makes locating and retrieving items and documents categorised by colour a quick and fuss-free task.
A colour-coded approach is especially effective for filing systems. Assign different hues to different file categories – this will ensure you can find specific documents with ease. For example, you might like to use green folders or labels for financial paperwork, red for medical documents, blue for household bills and other property-related papers, and yellow for personal items.
The case for a colour-coded home
6. Establish zones for maximum efficiency
Take cues from this immaculate space and divide your office into task-related work zones. This activity-driven approach will maximise space and make the area easier and more efficient to use.
As you can see here, this study features three distinct sections: the work zone (with the desk and computer), the reference zone (home to manuals, reference books, binders, filing cabinets, etc), and the supply zone (where office supplies and paper are kept).
Take cues from this immaculate space and divide your office into task-related work zones. This activity-driven approach will maximise space and make the area easier and more efficient to use.
As you can see here, this study features three distinct sections: the work zone (with the desk and computer), the reference zone (home to manuals, reference books, binders, filing cabinets, etc), and the supply zone (where office supplies and paper are kept).
This approach is just as effective in offices that are more modest in size. Case in point? This pocket-sized work zone. Here, overhead cube shelving serves as the reference centre (and a display nook for bright, funky decor), while the space below comfortably accommodates the work and supply zones.
7. Set-up a paper processing station
A small stack of paper can quickly spiral out of control. The trick to combating clutter is to adopt a paperwork action plan and follow it diligently, to prevent mail and other papers from piling up.
This simple yet effective set-up has the right idea and is easy to implement in any home. It consists of three separate baskets: one for papers that can be archived, another for correspondence, bills and forms that require immediate action, and a third for documents that can be thrown out.
A small stack of paper can quickly spiral out of control. The trick to combating clutter is to adopt a paperwork action plan and follow it diligently, to prevent mail and other papers from piling up.
This simple yet effective set-up has the right idea and is easy to implement in any home. It consists of three separate baskets: one for papers that can be archived, another for correspondence, bills and forms that require immediate action, and a third for documents that can be thrown out.
Another solution that will solve all your paper clutter woes is to go paperless. Signing up for online statements, bills and renewal notices will reduce paper wastage and, because many companies now charge a fee for sending hardcopy bills, possibly save you money too.
Give paper the flick for good
Give paper the flick for good
8. Go vertical
If your home office is on the small side, think beyond bulky filing cabinets, cupboards and bookcases and transform your wall space into a storage hub instead. Think floating shelves, hanging filing systems or a panel of wall-mounted caddies, like the modular system pictured here. Besides being space savvy, wall organisers are also very practical and convenient because all your files and supplies remain visible and easily accessible.
Urbio Magnetic Modular System: The Container Store
If your home office is on the small side, think beyond bulky filing cabinets, cupboards and bookcases and transform your wall space into a storage hub instead. Think floating shelves, hanging filing systems or a panel of wall-mounted caddies, like the modular system pictured here. Besides being space savvy, wall organisers are also very practical and convenient because all your files and supplies remain visible and easily accessible.
Urbio Magnetic Modular System: The Container Store
For a wall storage set-up that wows, choose an attention-grabbing organiser, shelving system or message board that’s as visually punchy as it is practical. This chic geometric pinboard arrangement gets two big thumbs up. It provides ample surface area to attach notes, bills and other important papers, and transforms the surface into an arresting accent wall too.
9. Schedule regular maintenance
So you’ve finally whipped your home office into shape – now it’s time to make sure it stays that way! The easiest way to ensure your study doesn’t slide back into a state of chaos and mayhem is to do daily or weekly maintenance. Allocating a few minutes at the end of each day (or a larger block of time once a week) to doing a quick tidy up and paper purge will help keep clutter at bay in your office for good.
So you’ve finally whipped your home office into shape – now it’s time to make sure it stays that way! The easiest way to ensure your study doesn’t slide back into a state of chaos and mayhem is to do daily or weekly maintenance. Allocating a few minutes at the end of each day (or a larger block of time once a week) to doing a quick tidy up and paper purge will help keep clutter at bay in your office for good.
Once your study is shipshape, don’t forget to dedicate some time to cleaning up files on your computer, tablet and smart phone. Emptying your trash, removing unused add-ons and apps, deleting temporary files, installing updates, and running a full antivirus and system utilities scan are a few things you can do to free up space on your devices. This will also improve their performance, which will allow you to work faster and more efficiently too.
TELL US
What’s your top home office organisation tip? Share your advice in the Comments below.
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What’s your top home office organisation tip? Share your advice in the Comments below.
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How to Declutter Your Office Space
Working From Home? Set Up an Office That Gets You in the Flow
The Home Office Detox … That’ll Prep You for a Productive New Year
A noticeboard will ramp up the efficiency and appeal of any home office. Not only will a message board act as a quick reference guide to important appointments, to-do lists and must-revisit ideas, but it will also serve as a visual muse that boosts your creativity and productivity too.
For added practicality, choose a message board you can write and display papers on, such as a whiteboard or magnetic chalkboard, such as the one that lines this compact office nook.
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