5 Tips to Clean Up Your Office

Grab this list of 5 easy tips to clean up your office and streamline this important space in your home for good. Offices can get messy fast, especially with papers coming in every day, but having a system to keep everything in its place can make all the difference.

Clutter and chaos are also incredibly distracting—exactly what you don’t need when trying to focus.

With a bit of Home Office Organization you can create a workspace that helps you stay productive, focused, and efficient.

Clutter is Distracting

Let’s be real—trying to focus in a messy space is nearly impossible. I remember when my craft room was a total disaster. Every time I walked in, I felt overwhelmed, and creating anything felt like a chore.

But once I started clearing out the clutter, something amazing happened—my mind felt clearer too. Before I knew it, I was back to sewing, crafting, and actually enjoying the space again.

The same goes for your office.

Stacks of papers and a chaotic workspace can completely derail your focus and kill your productivity.

The solution? Clear the mess, and transform your office into a space where you can actually get things done.

5 Tips to Clean Up Your Office

Before you begin, let’s get rid of the easy things first. This includes any trash, recyclables, and things that belong in another area. We call these the 3 core steps and they are a great way to jump-start your office cleaning.

A well-organized desk can boost your focus and creativity. Check out these new Desk Organization Hacks to keep your work area clutter-free.

Tip #1: Start with the 3 Basics

Before diving into decluttering, always kick things off with these three simple steps:

1. Toss the Trash – Grab a trash bag and do a quick sweep of the room. Pick up anything that needs to be thrown away—empty food wrappers, tissues, napkins, random scraps of paper, etc. Once you’re done, take the bag straight to the trash can.
2. Recycle the Recyclables – Next, grab another bag and collect bottles, soda cans, papers, or anything that can be recycled. When you’re finished, drop it all in your recycling bin.
3. Put Things Away – Use a laundry basket to gather up items that belong in other rooms—dishes, toys, tools, shoes, mail, you name it. Once the basket is full, take a quick walk through your home and put everything back where it belongs.

Don’t overthink these steps—they’re designed to be quick and easy. Use them to clear the clutter without stressing out, and enjoy that little boost of motivation as you see your space start to transform.

Tip #2. Declutter what you can

One of the best ways to make your office more inviting is to remove the extra stuff. This is not just a once-and-done task but a clutter-free habit you will want to incorporate into your daily routine.

Let’s face it, a messy room and a cluttered desk can be not only distracting but stressful as well. That’s why it is so important to get rid of anything that doesn’t belong in this space.

Put away anything that has a home.

• Pens and pencils in the holder.
• Paper clips in the supply drawer.
• Receipts in the basket.
• Books on the shelf.
• Current papers in the tray.

Donate the Excess

To keep your space organized, aim to keep just enough without going overboard. For example, if you find you have 40 black pens, consider donating 30 and keeping only 10.

By storing less, you’ll free up valuable space for working on daily tasks or projects.

Share the Love

Got kids or grandkids? Why not turn your extra supplies into fun art baskets for them? Things like highlighters, half-used pads of paper, sticky notes, or colored pencils can make great additions.

It’s a simple way to clear out the excess while giving those supplies a new purpose. Plus, creating craft boxes for family and friends is a thoughtful way to pass along items to people who’ll actually enjoy and use them.

Sort, Clean, and Organize Each Drawer

Tackling drawers doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—just take it one at a time. Here’s how to keep it simple:

1. Pull out one item at a time and sort as you go.
2. Toss anything that’s trash.
3. Donate what you don’t need or have too much of.
4. Put away items that belong in a different drawer.
5. Set aside the things that will go back into this drawer.

Once the drawer is empty, give it a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth and dry it off. Then, pop in some organizers and neatly replace the items you’re keeping.

Work on the rest.

Once your desk is done, you can work on the other areas in your office, such as any shelves, bookcases, or storage areas. Be sure to focus on one at a time and only move one after you have decluttered, cleaned, and organized it all the way to done.

1. Return any items that are staying.
2. Pull out one item at a time and sort as you go.
3. Toss anything that’s trash.
4. Donate what you don’t need or have too much of.
5. Put away items that belong in a different area.
6. Set aside the things that will go back into this space.
7. Clean the area and dry.
8. Use organizers to keep things neat and put away.

Do a Room Edit

Take a step back and give your office a once-over. Are there any spots that still need your attention?

Maybe you’ve got too much furniture crammed in. Or the layout isn’t making sense. If so, remove any items you are not using and rearrange the overall setup.

D/M Pro Tip: Don’t break your back moving heavy furniture solo. Instead, slap a sticky note on each piece with a note about where you’d like it to go. Then, when you’ve got an extra set of hands around, you’ll be ready to tackle the heavy lifting without the guesswork.

Tip #3. Organize your office space as a whole

One of the best ways to make your office more work friendly is to use organizers to keep things put away.

Having a specific place to keep the tools that you use is not only a good way to keep a room put away but also a good way to make it easy to find things quickly when you need them.

The Reason for Clutter

The reason why a room becomes cluttered is mainly because the things found lying about have not been put away. To make this easier to do you can to use containers or organizers to hold like items so you can toss things in as you are done using them.

My favorite office organizers:

• A shallow basket – Works great to hold paper for the printer.
• A basket – These are great for holding receipts, office supplies, incoming mail, and more!

• A filing cabinet – I love failing cabinets. Not only are they great for holding important papers but you can use the top for a printer or other office equipment.
• Binders – Binders are great for holding papers, family medicine, or manuals.
• A carousel organizer – An easy space-saving way to hold pens, pencils, and markers.

Remember, containers are meant to “contain” things so they do not get lost or misplaced. When you look at organizing in this way it will make it easier for you to streamline each space.

Tip #4: Make It Comfortable

Now that the clutter is gone and everything’s organized, it’s time for the fun part—adding those final touches to make your space cozy and inviting.

Who says an office needs to be dull and boring? Make it fit your personality so it’s easy to keep neat and keep the mess and clutter gone.

Think about it—when a space is messy, we naturally avoid it. If your kitchen’s a disaster, you’re more likely to order takeout than whip up a homemade meal. The same goes for your office.

Creating a neat, welcoming space can be a total game-changer. It not only makes you want to spend time there but also keeps you motivated to keep things neat and put things all the way away.

Use these tips to cozy up your space.

Stacks of paper, cluttered drawers, and lost supplies? Organize Your Office Today to stay on track and work more efficiently.

Make sure your office is properly lit.

Ideally, you should have a mix of natural and artificial light. This will help you stay alert and focused throughout the day.

Here are a few lighting options:

• Desk Lamp – Great for table work.
• Floor Lamp – Great for office lighting.
• Ring Light – Great for filming.
• Clip Light – Also great for filming.

ACNCTOP Desk Lamp for Office Home – Eye-Caring Architect Task Lamp 25 Lighting Modes Adjustable LED Desk Lamp Flexible Gooseneck Clamp Light for Workbench Drafting Reading StudyLED Floor Lamp, 15W/1800LM Bright Reading Floor Lamp for Office with Double Head, Adjustable Gooseneck Dimmable Modern Standing Light for Lash Extension Craft, Eye Caring Floor Lamps for Living RoomSIBRILLE 36W LED Tree Floor Lamp, Modern Dimmable Standing Lamp with Remote & Touch Control, 4 Color Temperatures, 3 Rotatable LED Light Floor Lamps for Living Room, Bedroom, Office

 

Keep a Good Temperature

Some people prefer a cooler temperature, while others prefer it a bit warmer. Find what works best for you.

You can use a remote control fan for the hot days and a remote control heater for the cold. Adjust the temps at the push of a button!

Clean the Air

Freshen Up the Air

Plants are an awesome way to keep the air in your space feeling fresh and clean. Not a plant person? No worries—an air purifier can do the trick just as well.

Multiple Monitors

Adding a second monitor was a total game-changer for my productivity—I can’t imagine working without it now. If you’re still using just one screen, it might be time to consider upgrading to two.

Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

• Match the size. Having monitors that are the same size makes it so much easier to work seamlessly between them.
• Elevate them. If your monitors are on the smaller side, consider using a computer stand to lift them up to a more comfortable viewing height.
• Laptop solution. If you use a laptop as your working computer, don’t think you are out of luck. They make screen extenders for laptops that work great.

QGE Laptop Screen Extender, 14ABIWAZY USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor for HP Dell Lenovo Thinkpad Surface, 8 in 1 Computer Multiple Monitor Hub Adapter to Dual 4K HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, 100W PD, 3 USB 2.0 for Windows LaptopsKado Dual Monitor Setup – 2-Pack 24

 

Trust me, once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed with just one.

Tip #5. Add personal touches

Who says a room meant for work needs to be all business? Add a few personal touches to create a space you truly enjoy spending time in.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Hang pictures or posters that you enjoy looking at. You can use a shelf like this one so you can swap decor out more easily without damaging your wall.

3. Display your favorite quotes or sayings. Quotes are one of my favorite ways to stay motivated and inspired in my own office.

4. Use fun and colorful office supplies. If your favorite color is green, you can use containers in that color. Storage can be efficient and pretty at the same time.

5. Keep a comfortable blanket or throw nearby for chilly days. I love my fuzzy sweater, especially on cold winter mornings!

6. Play music. Do you find you work better with music playing? If so, invest in a player so you can keep your focus and motivation flowing and get more done.

Having a list of home cleaning tips for your home office area will help you keep a neater room for where you work, update your home budget, and pay your bills in.

With just a few simple tweaks, you can turn your office into a space you love. Clear out the clutter, get things organized, and create a setup that is easy to stay focused and be productive in.

5 Tips to Clean Up Your Office will help you to take your workspace from messy and chaotic to less cluttered, more organized, and easy to keep that way.

More Office Organizing Ideas:

• How to Organize a Messy Office
• Brilliant Ways to Organize a Home Office
• Tips for a Neater Home Office