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Organizing Your Work Space

It’s a good idea to think things through before you reconfigure your workspace. Just as an efficient kitchen has an easy flow for food preparation, a home office should be planned for maximum productivity. Make room for your equipment and leave enough surface space for the tasks at hand.

A few carefully chosen pieces can help keep things neat and tidy. Trays help you sort papers and other items, while decorative boxes and bowls hold everything from envelopes to paper clips.

Begin your day with visual aids such as stackable letter trays for incoming and outgoing mail. A daily planner and a monthly calendar will help you stay on track. Fill a framed corkboard or chalkboard with reminders of upcoming meetings and events.

Make it a habit to purge anything that isn’t needed on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and keep all of your necessities within easy reach. For active files, opt for a portable file box instead of a hard-to-reach drawer.

Maximize the potential of a small space with vertical storage. A bookcase can corral surplus office supplies, while an extra dresser can store wires and chargers. A nightstand comes in handy for a printer and paper. Install some shelving above your desk for any overflow.

Don’t forget to factor in some fun. Your home office doesn’t have to be all work and no play. With the addition of some artwork and accessories, you might be inspired to get things done on a daily basis.

Home Office Trends

Smaller desks are in big demand these days as laptops continue to gain popularity. A dressing table in a bedroom can double as a work space when you go with a wireless network.

Technology changes in the blink of an eye. With
inventions like an all-in-one printer/scanner/copy and fax machine, the need for big, bulky storage may become a thing of the past.

No drawers? No problem. A lack of storage can be a good thing thanks to the endless possibilities that exist today. Now, you can stash your stuff in plain sight for easy access. File baskets and decorative boxes top the list.

Industrial-style desk chairs are not the only game in
town. Today’s fashionable finds run the gamut from
beautifully upholstered pieces to multicolored varieties. Make sure whatever you choose is ergonomically correct for the end user.

Lighting has gotten a lift, too. Clip-on lights allow you to illuminate your computer screen, while other adjustable options, like pharmacy lamps, offer plenty of flexibility as well.

The more we go wireless, the more wires we seem to have. Many desks come with drop-holes designed to hide the pesky plug-ins. Charging stations are another way to stash everything together in style.

Tips for Sharing a Space

The need to share a workspace may arise for different reasons. Limited square footage is one motive for carving out a home office that works for more than one person in your household. A central location for everyone to hang out together is another way to share a room such as a kitchen. This type of arrangement might be ideally suited for homework, bill paying, and more.

A kitchen island can double as a conference table for meetings, while a corner desk is a great solution for a small space that needs to accommodate two or more people.

For the best value, look no further than the latest furniture designed for more than one purpose. A dining table can easily be transformed into a sprawling desktop. A curio cabinet can be used for impromptu storage. A variety of seating options may be required for different users. Pick those with something in common, such as color, for a more cohesive space.

If space is truly at a premium, try to stagger your work hours with other family members whenever possible. Everyone needs to take a break at some point, so that can be one way to alternate the needs of multiple people.

The old “now you see it, now you don’t” approach also can work wonders in a shared environment. Whether it’s a computer armoire or a closet-turned-office-space, these solutions take up little room, making your home office work harder for those who need it.

The right lighting can make or break a work space. Overhead or recessed fixtures are not enough for one person, let alone an entire family. An ample amount of task lighting is necessary for the work at hand, especially if the space will be used in the evening.

Written by Jeanine Matlow.




						The need for a home office has been on the rise for quite some time. Because organization is a crucial part of any work environment, it makes sense to assess your space to ensure it is well-suited for you. The faster you can find things in a pinch, the more productive you will be in the long run.