If you’re looking for effective office organisation ideas that don’t break the bank, you’re in the best place. Your home office should be somewhere that makes you feel comfortable and productive, and that all starts with office storage.
As a leading supplier of home office desks and office essentials, we know a thing or two about creating a professional and inspiring environment. From maximising space and adding shelving units to getting crafty with some DIY tricks, you’ll finish this blog with plenty of new and unique storage ideas to make your space feel less cluttered.
Let’s get started!
Office storage ideas for every space
Studies reveal that a messy desk and environment impacts the productivity of over 40% of workers (source), this suggests an inspiring and neat space can enhance focus and efficiency. That’s why it’s essential to create a workspace that sets you up for a successful working day.
Whether your home working spot is a small corner of the dining room or a dedicated room in the house, there are hundreds of ways you can store and organise all of your essentials. Let’s have a look at some of our office storage ideas in a bit more detail…
Utilise the drawers in your office desk
Productive working starts with the office desk. It’s the heart of everything you do, whether that’s skimming through papers all day or working digitally, the right desk makes all the difference.
If you prefer a smaller workstation, a small executive desk with 2-3 drawers is a great starting point. While most basic models include drawers of around 4-10 inches deep, you’d be surprised how much you can squeeze in!
Use your desk drawers wisely by putting your most-used items in the top drawer, and separating smaller bits of stationary into drawer insets. There are cheap drawer trays available in most office and homeware stores, often featuring up to 10 compartments for a nicely organised workspace.
If you do have more space to play with, consider a corner executive desk for additional storage. With a larger storage desk, you can contain all of your paperwork and files in one place - everything you need is always in reach. When paired with an office chair, you can easily manoeuvre yourself to the bits and bobs you require throughout the day!
Top tip: If you have room beneath your desk, consider adding a small set of drawers or pedestals. Beyond extra storage, these also create a sense of boundary in open or shared spaces to define your work area.
Install floating shelves
Floating shelves are a great office organisation idea since they don’t take up any floor space. Opt for deep wall shelves for storing workbooks and manuals, this keeps them safely stored away without taking up cupboard space.
Whilst you're looking to maximise desk storage, avoid cluttering table-top space with decorative elements that aren’t essential to your job. Rather than ditching them entirely and turning your space into a dull and uninteresting area, relocate them to floating shelves.
Place personal touches on the shelves to enhance your workspace's aesthetics without overcrowding the desk area. We recommend stacking your shelves above your desk to keep everything streamlined and within reach.
Top tip: Find some cheap pots and containers to place on your wall shelves for holding pens, paperclips and any small tech essentials.
Add discreet office storage
Not everyone likes the idea of multiple storage cabinets and drawers, but there are plenty of creative ways to add storage discreetly. Multi-functional furniture is becoming increasingly popular, allowing you to double up on key functions with a single piece of furniture. Furniture like this makes your workspace look sleek and professional without distraction.
Storage bench: Under-window storage benches are great for those with large bay windows and lots of free space. When adorned with your favourite cushions and a throw, you get ample storage space hidden from view and a large seating area ideal for decompressing, reading or holding meetings.
Ottomans: Ottomans are versatile and can be used as a spare chair for guests, or even as a footrest for resting your feet on long working days. Available in an array of materials and colours, they add an elegant touch while offering the ultimate convenience. Use ottomans for storing paperwork and bulky items such as headphones and chargers.
Top tip: Do a big clear out of the stationary you no longer use, it’s good to let go of clutter to make storage easier!
Stack boxes and small drawers
Many people working from home accumulate small items that end up mismatched and piled into a single drawer. Become more organised by purchasing a label printer and a pack of stackable clear drawers. You can create a drawer system that fits either on your bookcase or on your desktop. This ensures all your bits and bobs have a dedicated, labelled spot, so you’ll never have to search endlessly for a spare rubber band or paper clip again
Get colour-coded files and folders
The initial setup of reorganising paperwork into the right folders might seem time-consuming and tedious. However, if you clearly label and define each folder by its category, you’ll spend less time searching for what you need in the long run.
Whether it’s personal documents or various projects that you need to access with ease, you can create a visually pleasing display by opting for multi-coloured folders. For example, choose blue folders for your contracts, green folders for family documents, and pink folders for meeting notes. This system keeps everything organised in the right place while also adding a lovely splash of colour to your office, making it a breeze to navigate.
Top tip: Mount some bookend shelves on your wall for all your files and folders if you’d prefer to save money and space instead of investing in a filing cabinet.
Don’t forget the smaller office accessories
Even the smaller hacks can make a big difference to the look of your office. Here are just a few office accessories that could help create a nice and neat environment:
Coat pegs: Install a row of coat pegs or wooden hooks to keep bags and coats off the floor. If you’re guilty of piling up spare handbags or leaving your uniform out on the floor, this is a cheap and easy way to clear up space.
Cable clips: Loose wires are hazardous, unattractive and create unnecessary clutter. Tuck your computer cables away into a plastic cable clip to keep them out of sight.
Paper holders: Screw a small paper holder to the side of your office desk to store important documents you need but prefer to keep out of plain sight. This stops loose papers and envelopes from taking up precious space in your desk drawers.
Digital apps: The less paper you have, the less storage you need, and the tidier your workspace becomes. Consider transferring your physical lists and calendars to digital formats. There are thousands of workplace apps and software that make it easy to organise your day online and plan your tasks. Evernote and ClickUp are two of the most popular applications for remote workers!
Office Storage Made Simple at Order Office Furniture
Organising your office doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Order Office Furniture is your one-stop shop for workplace productivity, offering everything you need to create an office you love to spend time in.
If you want some help with choosing the right office furniture with storage space in mind, give us a visit at our showroom in Huddersfield. Or, give us a call on 01484 420088.
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