organizing hacks for the home office

If you are looking for simple ways to streamline paperwork, then this article of organizing hacks for the home office will get you off to a good start.

Home office Organization can be helpful not only in streamlining the running of your home but keeping paper from becoming a clutter source. Use these hacks to jump-start your organizing in this busy area.

Not every home has a dedicated room they use for a home office. But every family has an office area. A space they use to organize the papers in their home. Every home has loads of paper coming in every day. It’s like a daily influx of random clutter. That is why finding ways to keep those papers organized is important.

Today, we have ideas you can use to organize your office area so you can have a specific space to keep all the papers needed to run your home.

What is the most efficient way to organize your home office?

If you have papers all over your home, organizing them may seem impossible to you right now; no worries; we are going to break things down into small steps that are easier to tackle.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

#1. Keep Surfaces Clear

If you have a desk, keep it free of clutter will help keep your office more efficient. Start out by working on the open areas clearing away anything that doesn’t belong.

Go through any items you have on your desk or table.
Put away anything that belongs in the office.
Toss any trash.
If you find items that belong in another room, put them in a box or basket.
As you find things you no longer need put them in a donation bag.

#2. Group like items together

Whenever you are organizing an area, try to group items into categories. This will help you to keep things where you use them so you can complete tasks more efficiently. A few ideas are:

Things you write with such as pens, pencils, and markers.
Paper supplies, both loose and pads.
Tape, glue, and scissors.
Sticky notes.
Rubber bands, paper clips, and binder clips.

#3. Use Containers

Once you have things grouped together into categories, you can determine the best container to hold them. Think simple so it is easy to keep things put away. Here are a few ideas:

A cup for pens and pencils.
A basket for papers.
Drawer bins to hold office supplies.
A box or accordion file to hold receipts.

How to Set Up a DIY Receipt System

#4. Store it Where You use It

The secret to an organized area is always putting things away when you are done using them. To make this even easier, keep the things you use where you use them.

#5. Use Labels

Whenever you are organizing, labels are the secret to staying up with your new system. Know what belongs where so you can more easily put things all the way away.

Label Makers We Love:

SKRFORM Label Maker Machine with Tape, D11 pro Bluetooth Label Printer,Mini Label Makers with Multiple Templates,Small Sticker Maker Machine for Organizing Storage Office Home,Black DYMO Label Maker with 3 Bonus Labeling Tapes | LetraTag 100H Handheld Label Maker & LT Label Tapes, Easy-to-Use, Great for Home & Office Organization Phomemo D30 Label Maker Machine, Portable Bluetooth Mini Label Printer, Smart Phone Handheld Thermal Sticker Small Labeler Multiple Templates Font Icon Easy to Use Inkless Rechargeable for Home Office Brother P-Touch, PTM95, Handy Label Maker, 9 Type Styles, 8 Deco Mode Patterns, Navy Blue, Blue Gray

Decluttering Resources for the Office:

Organizing hacks for the office

No matter how chaotic your home office is now, a few of these organizing hacks will get you on your way to a streamlined and organized room.

DM Pro Tip: So you do not get overwhelmed, work down this list and choose one or two to start with. These tips are meant to organize papers, bills, and other office supplies as well as help you set up a bill-paying and filing system for a streamlined space.

Hack #1. Set up a shallow basket to hold incoming mail so you always know where it is. I like to have one in the kitchen for quick tossing and one on our desk as well.

Hack #2. Use a Small Accordion File Organizer to hold receipts for the year.

accordion organizer with monthly sections for receipts

Hack #3. Mason jars on a lazy susan are a great way to organize pens, pencils, and highlighters.

Hack #4. Use cord holders to keep wires from getting tangled. You can also use a sticky note label sized. Write what the cord is for on the outside and wrap the sticky note around the cord near to the plug.

Hack #5. Install a wall pegboard to hold office supplies keeping it near to your desk so you can easily reach the tools you use most often.

Hack #6. Invest in a charging station for all of your electronics so they are all in one place, eliminating lost cords or cubes.

Hack #7. Save money and DIY a simple charging station using supplies you already have at home.

Hack #8. Use a bulletin board to post schedules, to-do lists, or weekly menus for family dinners. Use color coding for each family member to make this hack even more efficient.

U Brands Farmhouse Linen Bulletin Board, 30 x 20 Inches, White Wood Frame (2074U00-01)Black Cork Board Bulletin Board, 17.7 Felt Pin Board Bar Strips Bulletin Board for Bedrooms Offices Home Wall Decoration, Notice Board Self Adhesive Cork Board with 35 Push Pins for Paste Notes, Photos, Schedules Comix Cork Board Magnetic Dry Erase Board Combo, 36 x 24 Inches Lage Whiteboard and Bulletin Board Combination, Aluminum Frame Vision Board with 4 Dry Erase Markers, 4 Magnets, Eraser and Push Pins

Hack #9. It’s not an organizing tip, but it’s still worth the mention. Invest in a good office chair. This is especially important if you work from home. Take care of your back now so you aren’t plagued with pain later. This Herman Miller chair is the one I have, and it has helped me with my own back pain. Totally worth the price tag for sure.

Hack #10. A portable plastic file bin is perfect if you do not have room for a cabinet. You can have one for daily files and one to hold yearly taxes.

a plastic file tote labeled taxes on the front copy

Hack #11. Over-the-door paper organizers are a great way to organize high-action papers and projects.

Hack #12. Use small containers in a drawer to keep office supplies organized. You can also use lids from other boxes for an inexpensive hack.

a drawer in a desk with office supplies in small containers

Hack #13. Monitor stands can create more space in your desk area. If you need more supply storage, this monitor stand is just what you need!

Hack #14. Have a routine. Daily, weekly, and even monthly tasks will help to ensure you are on track with projects, schedules, and bills.

A few Ideas:

Fridays – are a great day to review home finances and pay bills.
Sundays – are a great day to review schedules for each family member for the week ahead. This will allow you to set up rides to and from if needed.
Mondays are a great day to make a meal plan for the week, update your grocery list, and list any errands to run.
The last day of the month is perfect for filing any papers and organizing the month’s receipts.

Hack #15. Set up a bill-paying drawer. If you have a desk, you can designate a drawer for bills. This is great to have so you can toss in new bills, statements, and other documents as they come into the home. When you have a designated area for important papers, you never need to worry about a misplaced item again.

Hack #16. Set up a basket for items that you need to file. Be sure to empty this basket out at the end of each month. By having a basket for filing you can save time making your setup more efficient.

a teal basket labeled _to file_ on the front

Hack #17. Use binders to hold important papers that you need to access often. Binders are easier to use than hanging files. Page through a binder is easier than looking through a stack of papers lying loose n a file.

Ideas for Binders:

Recipes – Those torn from magazines or printed online.
Home management – Takeout menus, meal plans, owners manuals, addresses, chore lists, etc.
School – Syllabus, sports schedules, misc items.
Decluttering Planner – Checklists for removing clutter from other rooms in your home.
Holidays – Past notes and upcoming planning pages.

Cardinal 3 Ring Binders, 1.5 Inch, Round Rings, Holds 350 Sheets, ClearVue Presentation View, Non-Stick, Assorted Bright Colors, 4 Pack (79553)Amazon Basics 3 Ring Binder with 1 Inch D-Ring and Clear Overlay, White, Pack of 4 SUNEE 3 Ring Binder 1 Inch 4 Pack, Clear View Binder Three Ring PVC-Free (Fit 8.5×11 Inches) for School Binder or Office Binder Supplies, Neutral Aesthetic Binder Samsill Earth’s Choice, 1-Inch Durable D-Ring View Binder 4 Pack, USDA Certified Biobased, Eco-Friendly, Boho Assortment

Hack #18. Turn a standing file organizer into a binder holder. A great way to keep your binders out where you can get to them quickly and easily.

Hack #19. Set up an errand basket. This is a large basket where you can toss returns, appointment cards, and coupons. Before you head out to run errands, you can either check this basket or take it with you. You can also use a hanging basket like this one if you are short on space.

Hack #20. I love clipboards! They are a great way to showcase important papers, schedules, or calendars. You can find clipboards for less than a dollar at most discount stores. Or buy them in bulk here.

two clipboards on a wall with planner pages on them

Bonus Office Organizing Tips:

1. Invest in good storage solutions: Take the time to find the right storage options for office space that will both look and keep you organized. This be anything from attractive bookcases to plastic baskets or bins.

2. Establish a filing system: Create an easy-to-access filing system for all your documents, including important papers and other items. Consider color-coding your files for easier identification.

More Paper Organizing Resources:

Paperwork Organizing Ideas
A Simple Paperwork System that Works!
Organize Bills and Mail

3. Utilize wall space: Hang shelves on walls to make use of the vertical space in your office. Shelves are great storage solutions for books or decorative objects.

4. Invest in multifunctional furniture: Choose a desk that has drawers and cabinets to store items, or even a desk with a pull-out keyboard tray. This can help you organize your office while still looking chic.

Finding easier ways to streamline busy spaces in a home can help to keep the clutter at bay. I hope you found these organizing hacks for the office to help you get another room in your home streamlined and organized.