Get organised in your office

Whether at home or in corporate cubicle land, an efficient, clutter-free office space is essential to bringing a bit of sanity to your day.


Let storage components climb the walls, and rearrange your space so regularly used supplies are accessible and others are out of the way.

Storage Tip: Get rid of multiples. Do you really need three phone books? Ten No. 2 pencils? Enough said.

File rather than pile
The “handle it once” rule keeps papers from piling up. Immediately toss, file, or pass on paperwork rather than revisiting it later. Labelled hanging files (available at office-supply stores) are one way to organise papers up and out of the way. Use single-colour file folders for a streamlined look.

Tuck away mail
Organise mail so it’s processed daily, and consider responding via phone or e-mail when it’s quicker than traditional post. If you store a lot of letters, keep them in a wall-mount filing system that will help de-clutter your tabletop. A dedicated peg for receipts and a pen on a chain mean those items won’t easily go missing.

Keep small items in drawers
Keep work surfaces tidy by stashing office supplies out of sight. Choose small-scale tape dispensers, staplers, pencil sharpeners, and such because full-size ones hog more space and don’t often fit in drawers. Keep even smaller containers inside a basic drawer divider to prevent paper clips and other items from getting out of control.


Make a stylish work surface
We updated the top of this desk (ABOVE) with small sections of peel-and-stick vinyl floor tiles in various colours. The result? A work surface that offers both visual sophistication and a slightly resilient surface.

Hang office supplies
Stored by the batch and easy to snatch, clips, bands, and miscellaneous bits claim untapped territory. Spice jars secured with velco (hook-and-loop) tape under cabinets do the trick.

Soft at work
An efficient work space can still provide touches of romance and comfort. For diffused light, an upside-down pleated lampshade covers a formerly stark pendant light. A fabric-covered memo board decked with ribbon and decorative tacks keeps important cards and notes orderly and in view.


better homes and gardens magazine