Around 30% of workplaces are fully remote, meaning that home offices are becoming increasingly important. If you’re one of the many people who work from home, you should know how essential it is to have a space all to yourself to do your work in. You’re better off with a room specifically dedicated to your work so that you can minimize distractions and interruptions. 

The room you dedicate to your work might be smaller than you anticipated. You may have to share the space with hobbies or another desk. Whatever the case, you’re bound to need storage in your office, especially if you don’t want essential files or cords overtaking your desk.

5 Ways to Keep Your Office Neat

Adding storage means getting rid of the clutter that plagues your desk and makes it difficult to find things. Storage solutions can be as bulky or as slim as you like, whatever fits your office space. Unsightly file cabinets are a thing of the past with these innovative storage solutions!

1. Use the Walls

Maybe you have some photos or art to decorate your space. What else are you going to put on your office walls? Why not use the free space to help you organize your important documents and items? 

For example, you can adhere file folders or pockets to the wall to quickly and easily sort through your essential documents. That way, you won’t have to worry about searching through several drawers to find that important file.

Additionally, if you’re a fan of DIY projects, you can take a curtain rod and hang it up near your desk. With some adjustments, you’ll be able to hold up pictures, documents, notes to yourself and more. It’s an excellent solution for the worker who believes in “out of sight, out of mind.”

2. Build Some Shelves

Open shelving can be the perfect way to store some of your more aesthetically pleasing items. Shelves can be added pretty much anywhere as long as you have the room for them. Depending on their height, they also draw the eye upward, making your room feel larger and less cramped.

Box shelves, or cubbies, can help you add some of your decor with your storage. You can spice up the look of any shelf by adding something that draws the eye away from boxes or other storage options. If you choose to store your things in containers on shelves, make sure to label the boxes so you don’t have to dig through them when you’re in a hurry.

3. Cut Down on Furniture

In an office, you shouldn’t need an outrageous amount of furniture. You are in your office to work, so having too much furniture can actually clutter your office space and become an extra area for loose papers and materials to rest on. 

For example, instead of using numerous lamps with harsh light to illuminate your office, you could ensure your home office has plenty of daylight. Moving your desk to a sunroom will allow in plenty of natural light, which could help you focus better on your work. Consider purchasing an ottoman or footrest that doubles as storage where you can store blankets to wrap up in if it’s frigid one morning.

Alternatively, you could build a few shelves in your closet. All you need is a chair that can fold up and be stored, and you have a micro-desk that you can quickly shut away when you’re not using it or during the weekends. Closet desks don’t take up much space, so they’re a great solution if your office doubles as another room.

4. Opt for Built-In Options

Instead of having a standalone desk, consider getting one with bookshelves built into it. Alternatively, you could make bookshelves around your desk. Having these built-in storage options can help you keep your important files and books all in one place, easily accessible while you’re sitting at your desk. 

Nearby bookshelves can save you from having to get up from your desk too often, therefore helping you respect your office hours so that the rest of your household will. Take your time seriously, and others will start to follow your lead.

5. Use Collapsible Storage

If you don’t have room in your designated office space for even a desk, consider using collapsible options like a folding table or a rolling cart to hold the things you need during your shift. 

Once it’s over, return the items to where they need to go and fold up what can be stored. If your closet has enough space to store your office materials, you can even keep them out of sight when you have company over.

Adding Storage to Your Home Office Design

With too much clutter, you’re bound to run into issues finding something crucial to your work. It’s essential to find a storage method that works best for you, whether on the walls or on a shelf, so that you spend less time worrying about where you put things and more time doing work that matters. 

Even if you can’t dedicate a whole room to be your office, you can get creative and find a way to fit a desk in just about any room. Implement innovative solutions to any issue your office space could have, and you’ll work more efficiently.

Author

Evelyn Long is a Baltimore-based writer and the editor-in-chief of Renovated. She publishes home decor advice and product roundups for readers in spaces both big and small.