Is your home office spilling over into other rooms, like storm debris washing ashore, because you lack organization? Worse yet, are your children poking fun at you for being the messiest one in the house? Then it’s time to declutter your workspace with these simple tips:

Get organized with furnishings

  • Filing cabinets need not be cold and impersonal to be functional! Look for cabinets that match the style of your home office, or just fit your eclectic tastes.
  • Shelving is a great way to create extra space for storage boxes, books and office supplies that often wind up cluttering your desk.
  • Arm your home office with an armoire. When you need to work, open it up. When done, close up shop. A folding screen next to it creates a room within a room, providing you with privacy to get your work done.

Add a splash of color

If U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is playing in your head, it’s time to separate the business filing system you rely on by adding a splash of color. Smead suggests these color-coded categories for starters:

  • Green for financials
  • Red for customers/clients
  • Yellow for all forms
  • Blue for vendors

Regardless of the colors you choose, file documents as soon as you can to avoid more clutter.

Design your office ergonomically

  • Position your equipment by how often you use it. If the printer is used daily, put it within easy reach. If the desktop computer tower isn’t needed for accessing, don’t have it share desk space with your monitor but place it underneath or next to the desk instead.
  • Use your wall space to hang calendars, whiteboards, pegboards, wall-mounted files, and just about anything else where hanging is appropriate. Just think of all the extra space you’ll create by going vertical!
  • Corner clutter with a corner work desk. Stick it in the corner, and you create two desks instead of one!

Let your imagination run wild with things you can do to organize your home office for a simpler, clutter-free lifestyle. Free your office and free your mind!