Welcome back to “organization station”! This time around we will focus on office space. As we mentioned in our first “Extra! Extra! (Storage!)” post, it is always wise to get a visual of the amount of “stuff” you are looking to organize. This can also help with the categorization so it will be easier to pick out the best items to help you store your belongings. Easy access for those things you need to reach a lot (tape, scissors, pens). Clean, easy storage for the things you will need eventually, but can be tucked away so they don’t make the room seem cluttered (stamps, checks). Full disclosure, we asked a professional organizer to come out and help us with this one. I am one of the most organized people I know. Really, I love organizing. I even considered it for my own business. However, this was one spot that just wasn’t jiving for me. I had tried it every which way and somehow nothing fit and visually I was not reaching my goal. I needed a second set of eyes to make the situation more concise. I am so relieved I did because I am very happy with the way the space turned out. As we embark on building an actual office room on our main floor, this temporary, organized space keeps our days flowing without unrest.
The office can be a tricky space. There are days when it feels as if you need everything to be at your fingertips. Then there are days you are on your computer or booked with back-to-back calls and don’t need access to much more than a keyboard and possibly a notebook and pen/pencil. Some careers require specialized equipment. An architect, for instance, would need a movable desk top for a slope and longer drawers to store blueprints. Some like standing desks, others like to sit in a big comfy chair and swivel while they crunch those numbers.
Break down your work design. Break down your belongings. Choose what your favorite items are and work around those (for color palette, organization purposes, room set-up). Once you have your space dissected, it’s time to start organizing! One of the things we loved most about the professional organizer was that she came in with a purpose, executed and yet left us feeling accomplished. Why stamps and pens were so difficult for us to get organized we’ll never know, but we succumbed to needing some help. Also, because we didn’t have our eyes set on building an office room at this stage in the game, our “office” items were being stored in a space shared with our dining platters, entertaining goods and flower vases. Let’s face it, this wasn’t ideal and I always hated that these categories had to mingle. The professional organizer helped me realize that it did not make a difference at all! There was still a chance to feel as if everything was in its own place for its own purpose.
A few tips:
- Categorize your items to understand what you need to organize and store.
- Is there room to add a piece of furniture for more storage? Maybe a built-in cabinet, bookshelf and/or closet?
- Shop for items like removable drawer stands and boxes with labels once you’ve determined what you will be storing. These storage compartments can house your office items inside a cabinet/closet/drawer so things remain tidy even when the space is neglected. Amazon, Ikea and The Container Store are all our friends. Don’t get hung up on spending the extra money, either. Our items were being stored behind a closed cabinet, but what I didn’t realize was that I needed more storage help behind the cabinet doors as well.
- A label maker is your friend. You think you will remember what is in each compartment, but when you are in the middle of a task, it sometimes stunts our progression when we have to stop and think “which drawer are the stamps in again?”. Keep the labeling general and simple. Examples, “Banking & Finances”, “Office Supplies”, “Mailing Tools”.
We will definitely be sharing about our new office addition as things progress, so hang on as we share the organization process in this new space! When the professional organizer helped us with our temporary office storage space, she really helped me to visualize what an office room would look like, thus jump-starting our plans for our new-to-come study! (What are the items we want hidden like wires, printer. What are the items we want to show off, like a cool-looking stapler or books)? Our goal is to overcome the farmhouse stigma of “no storage in site”!
