Our home offices are getting more action than usual these days and it may stay that way for months to come. It’s important to create a space that inspires creativity and productivity. In Part 1 of our Work From Home series, we touched on reasons you might want to revamp your office space and things to consider when doing so. Continuing our Work From Home series we are sharing some thoughts around space planning.
Setting Up Zones
The layout can be the most challenging aspect of setting up your home office. Consider the vertical space in your office as well as closets or other nooks and crannies as you map out your plan. Regardless of the size of your space, start by carving out a workspace (desk and chair) then, if possible, add a sitting area (a comfy chair and small side table) for reading or thinking, and then define specific zones for other typical activities.
Make the most of your space and create a more efficient workflow with smart space planning. Chances are, you’ll use your home office for a variety of reasons, so let’s make sure we maximize your space and productivity. Aim to set up these zones:
- Purge Area → The spot for a shredder, recycling bin, and trash can. Stay on top of your office organization by constantly eliminating clutter from your space with a dedicated disposal area where you access your shredder, recycling bin and trash can.
- Storage and Filing → The spot for file cabinets, labeled bins, or color-coded folders. It’s time to go through your files (both physical and digital) to ensure that documents are in the correct folder and are properly labeled. You’ll be able to find a document ASAP!
- Resources/Reference → The spot for bookshelves, whiteboards, and bulletin boards. Periodically go through your books to make sure that you still need, want, or use all of them. Organize them by title, author, or genre — whatever works best for you. Or you can organize them by color (our favorite!).
- Supply Storage → The spot for extra paper clips, tape, pens, and scissors. Start by sorting what you have and corralling supplies from every area of your office. Dispose of dry markers and broken rubber bands. Store the remaining items in desk organizers from stores such as Amazon, Target, The Container Store, or Bed Bath & Beyond.
- Technology → The spot for your printer, scanner, label maker, backup drive, and tablet. Find dedicated spots for larger devices where they can be easily accessed. Store smaller devices in bins or drawers. Consider setting up a charging area near your desk.
- Landing Strip → The spot for items that come and go in your office. Items like tote bags and briefcases, mail, and other items that may be needed while on-the-go, outside your office.
The best approach is to remove everything in the space, organize and downsize the contents in the process, and then add back as per your plan. Think of it as “moving out” of the room, discarding unwanted items as you go; cleaning the empty space, and then “move-in”, finding the right spot for each item within its zone. Trying to rearrange with everything in the space will likely prove challenging and you will be working around things that you may not actually need or want anymore.
You may feel overwhelmed just thinking of this project, and you naturally keep putting it off. Instead, let’s get you some coaching and guidance with Smartly Organized. We offer in-person meetings or virtual sessions. Don’t let your physical location deter you from getting the help you need.