Working from home can be a game changer—but only if your space is working for you. Whether you’re self-employed or splitting your time between home and office, a cluttered, chaotic workspace can make even the simplest task harder to complete. Here are a few home office organisation tips to help you take control of your space and make it easier to focus.
Home Office Organisation Tips to Maximise Your Space and Productivity
Working from home can be a game changer—but only if your space is working for you. Whether you’re self-employed or splitting your time between home and office, a cluttered, chaotic workspace can make even the simplest task harder to complete. Here are a few home office organisation tips to help you take control of your space and make it easier to focus.
Three Simple Steps to Organising a Home Office
Step 1: Declutter Your Desk and Drawers
Decluttering your home office doesn’t need to be a massive job. Start small: tackle your desk drawers and any surfaces that tend to collect bits and pieces. That drawer full of dried-out pens and old receipts? Empty it out. Only keep what you actually use. The same goes for cables, broken gadgets, or notebooks you’ve long since stopped using. A tidy workspace leads to a tidier mind.
If you’re wondering how to declutter and organise your home office without making a mess elsewhere, try the one-zone-at-a-time method. Clear one area completely before moving on to the next. That way, you won’t get overwhelmed halfway through.
Step 2: Sort, Shred, Store
Paper clutter builds up fast. Go through your files and separate them into three piles: what you need to keep, what can be shredded, and what needs to be archived. Shredding unnecessary paperwork not only clears space but also protects your data. For older documents you don’t want to throw out but rarely need, long-term storage is a great solution. It keeps things safe, out of the way, and easy to retrieve when needed.
Want to reduce future build-up? Start digitising your documents. Scan important papers and save them in well-labelled folders on your computer or cloud storage. It’s one of the most effective ways to stay on top of home office organisation.
Step 3: Keep Only What You Use
When you’re arranging your home office, think about what you actually need every day. Do you really need five backup chargers or three desk organisers? Probably not. Keep one spare of essential items and donate or recycle the rest. It helps reduce visual clutter and makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.
10 Habits to Keep Your Home Office Desk Organised
Once you’ve cleared the clutter, it’s all about maintenance. These habits will help you keep things under control without constant tidying:
- Clear your desk daily. Only keep what you need for the day—everything else can be stored or put away.
- Keep a bin nearby. A small rubbish bin and a paper recycling box encourage you to deal with mess as you go.
- Use desk organisers and folders. A pen holder, inbox tray and a couple of labelled folders can make a big difference without taking over your desk.
- Do a five-minute reset at the end of each day. Tidy your workspace before logging off to start fresh tomorrow.
- Limit personal items. Display one or two meaningful pieces, like a photo or plant, but keep them off your desk—use shelves or wall space instead.
- Inventory your supplies. Check what you already have before buying more and do a quick weekly scan to avoid unnecessary duplicates.
- Tidy cables weekly. Use cable clips or ties to keep cords tucked away and reduce visual mess.
- Go wireless where possible. A wireless mouse, keyboard and printer can really cut back on cable clutter.
- Move equipment off your desk. Place printers or computer towers on stands or underneath your desk to free up space.
- Scan and shred once a week. Stay on top of paper clutter and recycle what you don’t need.
Decluttering Your Home Office? Here’s When to Consider Extra Storage
A well-organised home office is more than just a tidy desk—it’s about creating a space that supports your focus, workflow and peace of mind. But sometimes, even after decluttering, you simply don’t have space for everything. If you’re storing archived documents, seasonal gear, or bulky tech you don’t use daily, moving it off-site can free up valuable room. At Attic Self Storage, we offer a range of flexible personal storage solutions, including long-term storage and furniture storage, to help you organise your home office. When your workspace reflects how you like to work, staying attentive to tasks becomes much easier.
Posted on 15th March 2020 by Sophie Bagnall | Last updated on 7th July 2025
