How to Make Your Home Office Work for You

Professional organizer and Mission: Organization guest Kristin Long offers web-exclusive tips.

Basics

Plan: The home office should be a place for inspiration and motivation. It should not create stress every time the door is opened. Begin organizing by breaking the room down into categories such as crafts, filing and electronics.

Focus: Stay focused when working on the home office. Use labeled containers for items that need to leave the room. When finished, take each container to its appropriate location.

Details

Look: Furniture in the office needs to have a purpose. Repurposing old furniture is a great way to saving money, but if the furniture isn't being used it's just a waste of space.

Closet: The amount of computer and electronics found in the average home office is astounding. Take control of the cords and equipment by creating a computer closet. Remember to provide adequate ventilation and cooling, since that kind of equipment tends to generate a good amount of heat. Sound reduction is another added benefit of a computer closet.

Desk: Use a desk with adequate drawer space. Drawers keep items organized instead of cluttering the top of the desk.

Finishing Touches

Containers: Labeling is essential when reorganizing a room. Without labels the occupant may not be able to keep the room organized. Also, label the container, not the shelf where items are stored. That way if the container moves, the items are still put in the correct container.

Inspiration Station: Peg boards and memo boards provide a contained space for notes, photos and other items of interest. This way items that motivate are always close at hand.