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12 Things Every Organized Home Office Needs

By: Melissa George

Let’s face it: You can’t do your best work in a cluttered, disheveled office. Organization blogger Melissa George of Polished Habitat shares 12 home office must-haves that will help you conquer paper clutter, keep your supplies in order and stay on top of important tasks.

Short-Term File Storage

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Short-Term File Storage

Files for active projects should be easy to access. Add a small desktop file storage area to prevent papers from piling up for each project. Get more desk organizing tips.

Medium-Term File Storage

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Medium-Term File Storage

For files you access monthly, use a file cabinet or wall-mounted file system. This will free up space on your desk but keep your documents easily accessible. Get more home office organizing tips.

Printer Supply Cabinet

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Printer Station

Consider picking a printer stand that incorporates closed storage. This lets you create an organized printing station. You’ll want space for extra paper, new ink cartridges and old cartridges ready to be recycled. Get more home office organizing tips. Get more tips for creating a home office printer station.

Mailing Station

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Mailing Station

Much like the printing station, designating a mailing station will save time and unneeded frustration. Gather various envelopes, stamps, return address labels and note cards in one place. Sending a thank you card will be easier than ever!

Big Ideas Notebook

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Big Ideas Notebook

Have you ever ended up with scraps of paper containing the various thoughts and ideas that come up while you are working? Designate one notebook to write them all down. It will keep the ideas safe and your office organized.

Memo Board

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Memo Board

A dry erase board is a great way to keep your weekly goals at the forefront of your mind. It’s also great for task lists and brainstorming. Make this custom message board.

Inbox

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Inbox

Paper is the biggest organizing challenge in most offices. Make sure you have one designated location for all incoming papers that need your attention. A second tray is helpful for items that no longer need action but need to be filed. Just make sure to set aside time to file each week.

Divided Pencil Cup

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Divided Pencil Cup

Not all pencil cups are created equal. Try a divided version to hold pens, pencils, highlighters and sticky notes all in one spot.

Organized Home Office

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Open + Closed Storage

Look for bookcases that provide a combination of open and closed storage. The open area helps the room feel larger and provides easy access to books, while doors and drawers hide items that could make the space look cluttered. See this home office before and after.

Fire-Safe File Box

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Fire-Safe File Box

Papers you are keeping for long term storage are generally the most important, but you don’t need them at your fingertips. If you don’t have a safety deposit box, keep your most important documents in a fire-resistant box.

Drawer Divider

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Drawer Dividers

Drawers can quickly become a disorganized mess. Separate small items like paper clips and pushpins with a drawer divider. When each item has its own place, keeping things organized is easy!

Magazine Files

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Magazine Files

Much like papers need an inbox, magazines and catalogs need an assigned location to prevent them from cluttering up the office. Use a pretty magazine file to gather incoming unread magazines. When you need a break, you’ll know where to find the latest issue. Get more desk organizing tips.

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