Home Office Organizing Tips and DIY Projects
I finally found that part time job I’d been searching for, and this past Friday I started my first day of work as an office assistant. It’s a great job, and while I still have a lot to learn, I’m excited to not only be working for a small family owned company, but to have friendly and awesome co-workers as well. As it turns out, however, I now have two offices. The office at work and my office at home. So of course I found myself in need of a few home office organizing tips.
While there’s not a lot I can do about the office that isn’t mine – at least there are no scary cubicles lurking about – I can find ways to make mine better organized. Because no matter what there never seems to be quite enough desk space to keep the clutter at bay without daily filing. And drawers tend to eat important necessities that I need for running my office smoothly. To solve this problem I’ve taken to seeking out the advice of others on the subject of office organization. Following are some of the brilliant tips and projects I’ve found.
Home Office Organizing Tips + DIY Projects
Here are some of my favorite home office organizing tips!
Desk space is always going to limit you, so the key to finding more space is looking up. Use the walls to hang clipboards with notes, schedules and other important papers and to do lists you need to keep up with. Utilize the hooks above the clip boards for small, less often used objects. A roll of tape, scissors, rubber bands…whatever your mind can conjure up.
You may also remember from my earlier blog post, Helpful Tips for Everyday Success, which included another idea for storing “up.” Bring an inexpensive, plastic pegboard into the home office to hang over your desk or on the wall beside your desk. Add hooks and containers to the pegboard and bring everything you need on a daily basis right in front of you, just above your computer. That post also has some great tips for cord organization.
Again, if your short on desk space then you don’t want bins stacking up for incoming and outgoing mail. Instead, create a diy mail sorter with this simple tutorial from bright and blithe blog. Made from unbleached cotton, this mail sorter can be hung on a neighboring door or wall. The tutorial includes printable labels for action required, to be paid, to be filed, and to be sorted.
Again, if you’re looking to create more desk space, look up, and organize with a wine rack. Attaching under the shelf wine or stemware racks to a wall bookshelf, gives you more room for those everyday supplies. Simply insert glass cylinders in the racks then fill with pens, pencils, markers, and even paint brushes.
I Heart Organizing offers more insight into ways to create more room for more concise organization. Attach baskets to walls for folders, reference guides or craft papers. Attach a towel bar or rail above your desk space with hooks for hanging scissors, tape, and Asker Cups from Ikea that can hold pens, pencils and more.
Hide your filing cabinet inside a chest when not in use by creating a Mini Office in a Chest. Not only does this allow you to hide important papers out of view in a room that you might not want to look like an office, it can also double as extra seating by throwing a few throw pillows on top. This chest is large enough to hold a mountain of files, plus it allows for extra storage on TOP of your files with a removable tray that stacks neatly over files for extra paper clips, staples, etc. The inside of the chest drawer doubles as a corkboard for pinning important notices.
Use the side of your desk for more storage room and places to tack notes. Install a magnetic knife wall mount to the side of your desk or a shelving unit and attach magnetic hooks. Use it to hang your keys, purse, or even binder clips with notes.
Need more ideas for organizing your home office? Visit my Home & Office Organization Pinterest board for my growing list of ideas on how to organize your home office and give it a follow.
39 Comments
fineheart
June 6, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Nice article! Thanks for all the tips. I am very visual and hanging things on the wall works for me. But I do love that “hide the files in a trunk thing”. Brilliant!
ElfRenee
June 6, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Wonderful tips! I love the pictures!
Retro Junction
June 6, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Great blog! I’ll enjoy following you.
Alexis
June 6, 2011 at 6:06 pm
This is great! Since I’ve been working on moving into this new apartment and trying to figure out how to utilize all my space, this helps me a ton. I cannot wait to make that diy mail sorter. Thank you for sharing!
ij
June 6, 2011 at 7:45 pm
great ideas. now if i can have someone come in and organize and set it up for me! great things to note though!
Janet
June 6, 2011 at 8:16 pm
I can use almost every single one of these ideas! I especially love the wine rack for holding pencils.
stitchinnetka
June 6, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Thanks so much for putting this together,I’m just trying to motivate myself to organize my studio/ computer room/ playroom/ library …there is A LOT of many things everywhere , most of that mess is not mine…well,kids rule the house for sure, but I need my little corner to be a little bit more organize before I will drawn under a pile of my fabric samples and millions of toy cars and legos.I’m following you on pintrest as well, I have to get some serious motivation going :).
Sher
June 6, 2011 at 11:55 pm
I love these awesome organizing ideas! Very cute. Any one of those would be a great place to do some work.
Yannie
June 7, 2011 at 6:40 am
I love Martha Stewart’s ideas…
I stumbled you, my post is For the Love of Scraps, and for my other blog Should I Wear Makeup?
Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets
June 7, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Great finds! I love the wine glass rack. I need to reorganize my craft room “office”! =)
(found you via tatertots and jello)
Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made
June 7, 2011 at 1:17 pm
SO many great ideas! The wine rack is a super one! Thanks for posting these!
Michelle
June 7, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Wow! Those are some fantastic ideas! I love the wine rack tip and the filing chest. Thanks so much!
Books at The Paperhouse
June 7, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Wonderful ideas! And they couldn’t have come at a better time … my goal today is to reorganize my home office, so your tips will come in very handy. I loved all of the great photos too. Great post.
Thank you for stumbling me at http://booksatthepaperhouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/book-it-to-paperhouse.html. I’ve stumbled ya back. (I love your blog, by the way. New follower here!)
~ Devon
Reading with Joey
shopannies
June 7, 2011 at 5:08 pm
love your organization ideas they look great and are very useful but unusual
Barbara Rosenzweig
June 7, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Wow! I love the office in the chest! Great idea. My talent is in capturing special photo moments. But this is terrifically practical!
Barb
Mama.Mommy.Mom.
June 8, 2011 at 1:28 am
Definitely some great ideas! I love the office in a chest and the hangars on the side of the desk. I need to get some magnetic ones that I can use at work.
Stopping by from STT. Stumbled you!
Jamie @ http://www.mamamommymom.com
aquariann
June 8, 2011 at 2:49 am
Congratulations on your new part time job! Great organizing tips.
Beth
June 8, 2011 at 3:02 am
This is an awesome post! Love these ideas! I am a new follower!
BluBabesCreate
June 8, 2011 at 3:46 am
So important to be organized!
Tina Peterson
June 8, 2011 at 4:58 am
I have seen something similar to the trunk organization before. Great tips and I’ll give you a stumble too. I’d love to have you visit my blog when you have a chance & stumble my post if you like it:
http://familyliteracyandyou.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-huge-night-summer-book-club.html
Tina “The Book Lady”
LaptopGuy
June 8, 2011 at 11:18 am
Thanks for that article, I’m planning a move to new apartments soon and this information will really be helpful.
I stumbled You post, kindly stumble my post as well, and have a good laugh:
Bums with laptops
Marlis
June 8, 2011 at 3:56 pm
I just made a new folder in my Favorites under my blog links. This one is called Organizing and Inspiration. You inspired me to do that. Thank you! My summer project is to turn my daughters second closet into her desk/study area and I needed thrifty ideas which would also lend themselves to small spaces. Thanks a ton!
Mimi
June 8, 2011 at 9:07 pm
There are some really great ideas here! Thanks so much for sharing these posts. I desperately need to get myself organized!
Sara
June 8, 2011 at 10:55 pm
You’re so organized! I love it!
I stumbled you. My post is http://booksyourkidswilllove.blogspot.com/2011/06/young-adult-books-too-dark.html
CMB Display Designs
June 9, 2011 at 1:11 am
Congrats on the new job! My question for you is how do you do it all?! You have a fantastic store, fun and interesting blogs, marketing skills. I would love to read a post on your time management skills…seriously!:)
crafty
June 9, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I dream of being so organized! But somehow the harder I try the bigger mess I make. I’m going to have to try the wine rack idea, i have the perfect place for it!
great ideas, thanks for sharing!
Radhika
June 9, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Lovely ideas! I really like the one with the wine rack holder. Here is what I did with my daughters craft area.
http://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/2011/05/pegboard-organization-for-trishas-room.html
I am now a follower!
BarbaraLee
June 9, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I will be visiting here off and on. One son moved out and the other moved into his room I have a bedroom upstairs for office and sewing. I love new ideas. First I have to paint. But soon I will be organized and on my way to doing business.
Still Blonde after all these YEARS
June 11, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Beautiful and well organized (teehee) post. Lots of great ideas, I wish you could help me with all the cords!
Mindie Hilton
June 11, 2011 at 5:41 pm
I would love for you to link it up to my party that is running now. Any linky goes.
http://bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/2011/06/any-link-goes-party-running-now-summer.html
Come strut your stuff.
Maple Leaf Mommy
June 12, 2011 at 2:35 am
What a fantastic compilation of ideas!
Stumbled you. My post is: http://www.mapleleafmommy.com/2011/06/review-tassimo-home-brewing-system.html
Sandy Jenney – Organize with Sandy
June 15, 2011 at 2:11 am
Love those ideas! Thanks for linking this up to my Organizing Mission link party.
Katie
June 15, 2011 at 11:46 am
Love these tips on organizing. I am kind of an organizing freak. Everything has its place! I just wanted to let you know that you have been featured on Sew Woodsy today as the Reader’s Choice (with 17 clicks on your link from last week’s blog party. Please feel free to grab a featured button and display it proudly on your blog, and link up any new crafts you’ve been working on. Thank you again for linking up!
Steph
June 27, 2011 at 1:51 am
Hi!
I just started an organize tab on my blog, and I was wondering if I could share this post link with one pic on that section! Let me know if you’re interested.
Thanks!
Steph
Steph@debtfreespending.com
http://www.debtfreespending.com
Life Currents
September 16, 2011 at 6:48 pm
These are great tips on organizing. I esp. love the clip boards. Here are some of the things I do in my house right now: http://lifecurrents.dw2.net/?p=5668
Anonymous
January 21, 2012 at 4:37 pm
I got my windows tinted on my car as a present but the guy who did it told me I could no longer use the cup holders that hook on the window anymore. I found another use for them. I put one on my toilet tank and put the top back down on it to hold it steady and put a can of air freshener in it.
Anonymous
July 19, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Thanks for all of these suggestions. I have been experimenting with using wall space and find it works well. Clear plastic over the door shoe or jewelry holders work well when attached to the wall to hold craft items off the table, but in a place handy to use.
sajavatghar
August 9, 2012 at 6:05 pm
love it!!
Shelly
September 27, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Here is a DIY space saver in the bathroom. Who actually hangs a towel on the shower rod that is in the shower? Not me cause it gets wet soooo, I take shower curtain rings and hang them off the towel rod and hang loofahs, shower radios, shower caps, anything with an area to hook. Saves lots of space and uses up those old shower curtain rings lying around.
Comments are closed.