With more and more people working remotely, home offices have become an important space in today’s homes. Unfortunately, home offices can quickly become a catch-all for paperwork, supplies, and everyday clutter. But with a few simple strategies, you can create a workspace that feels organized, functional, and beautiful-without spending hours tidying up. Here are my top four tips for a tidy home office:

1. Develop a Routine

Set up a few systems for how you deal with all the “life-stuff” in your office-paperwork, mail, bills, work documents, etc…Think about all the items that currently clutter your work surfaces and create a few systems for how to handle everything.

2. Designate a Home for Everything

I think the best way to stay organized is to make sure everything has a place to go when you are not using it…for me, PAPERWORK is my biggest problem, so I have three designated baskets for various papers: 1- HOUSEHOLD/FAMILY, 2- WORK, and 3- PERSONAL. I also have baskets for various office supplies (since my current office has no drawers or closed storage).

3. Declutter Regularly

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!

4. Decide to Stay Organized

Finally, once you have developed a routine, designated a place for everything, and worked hard to declutter your space, you have to 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…if you need any help creating a functional, personal and beautiful home office, CLICK HERE to learn more and set up a Complimentary Discovery Call!