Tips for a Tidy Home Office

I get asked all the time- how do you keep your home office/desk so neat all the time?

First of all, I would NEVER photograph my office for the blog if it was super messy, so I do straighten up a bit right before take pictures!  Secondly, my office is smack dab in the front of our house and VERY visible to everyone who comes, so I have a little “extra incentive” to keep it neat;)  That said, here are my top tips for a tidier home office…

Not sure if I’m the only one who does this, but everyday I check the mail and immediately throw out all the undesired items in the trash can.  Next, I throw whatever can wait a few days into my “In Box” basket.  Also in this basket goes any school or family handouts, schedules… then once a week, I go through my “In Box” pay bills, respond to requests, file paperwork, etc…

I think the biggest way to stay organized is to make sure everything has a place to go when you are not using it…in my office PAPERWORK is usually the biggest problem, so I have three designated baskets for various papers: 1- HOUSEHOLD/INBOX, 2- CLIENTS/PROJECTS, and 3- PERSONAL. I also have baskets for various office supplies (since my desk has no drawers). Recently, I purchased a small 2 drawer filing cabinet to REALLY help me stay organized- it’s just off to the left of my bookcase.

If you need to organize clutter or paperwork, baskets are your best friend! I love baskets and actually have several in my office bookshelves. I also like using trays and I keep a small black tray on my desk for all my most urgent paperwork or in-progress projects. Many people have drawers or cabinets which are also great for staying organized, whatever you decide- make it pretty!

You can have the prettiest office and the best storage, but if you have more “stuff” than “space” you will never be organized. Schedule a day or few hours to dig into your office space and clean out your stuff! Old files can be relocated, discarded or shredded…old office supplies and miscellaneous items need to go as well! I find I need to thoroughly declutter my office once a year and usually like to do it in January when I am gathering items for our annual tax returns.  Staying on top of the extra clutter will really help your space look its best!

Finally, once you have developed a routine, designated a home for everything, designed attractive storage solutions, and worked hard to declutter, you must decide to stay organized! The biggest way to keep your office neat and organized is to actually USE your storage by regularly putting things away.

I hope these tips help you with your own home office… have a wonderful week!