Five Steps to Organize Your Home Office

Whether you just started working at home, or you finally got fed up with using the kitchen table and decided to take over the guest room, these simple steps will help you organize the perfect home office. A room with a desk is a great start, but it shouldn’t stop there. For any business to be successful, there have to be clear processes in place. So invest in yourself, and spend some time setting up your office.

First, move the furniture.

Start by looking at the big picture, and just focusing on the largest items in the room. You probably need a desk, shelves, and a chair. You need things that are comfortable, big enough to meet your needs, and dedicated to work. Remove any pieces of furniture or decor that you don’t need; this is no longer a storage room but your office. It should only have the things you want in it.

Next, bring in what you need.

What gets frequent use during the workday? Set up a clean workspace with only your most used supplies readily available. Perhaps this will be a desk with a computer and a printer or a table with shipping supplies. Make your office work for you. Declutter and aim for a minimalist desktop and workspace. Only the essential items should be in view.

Establish a workflow.

Every business has a workflow. Do you know what yours is? Maybe it’s straightforward, and all you need is a writing area, a laptop and a printer in your office. Perhaps it’s more complicated, and you need places to create, package and ship your items. If it’s complicated, research the ideal workflow for your business and look at pictures of other workspaces. Think about what you want to accomplish, and set your office up accordingly.

Organize your storage.

As a reward for all the hard work you’ve already done, plan a shopping trip to buy some boxes or folders for organization. No matter what business you’re in, you’ll need storage for documents. Either set up a folder system that’s easy to use or get in the habit of scanning and shredding all your documents and receipts. Whichever method you choose, schedule time in your workday to deal with all the paper your business is creating. You’ll thank yourself at tax time when all you have to do is open a folder. You’ll also need a storage system for supplies, enabling you to keep them neatly in boxes or on shelves, and not all over your workspace.

Consider using a Wallpeg organization system with shelving units to organize office supplies as well!

Perfect the atmosphere in your office.

Aim for a bright, uncluttered, relaxing space in which you’ll want to spend time. Pick out a relaxing color scheme with your storage boxes and shelving. Get a simple piece of decoration like a succulent or a piece of art for the wall. That might feel like an extravagance for a small business, but you need to set the tone for your workday. This space is not a warehouse; it’s your office. Step back and look at it, making any needed adjustments so you can feel positive about going to work in there.

Spending some time organizing your home office and workflow will turn out to be one of the best investments in your business. It will help you to feel productive and be successful, and a good office will make you enjoy going to work each day.