Having an organized home office. You can’t understate the importance of having a high-quality family workspace. This space can support the whole family, from working from home to homework and beyond. Today, we will share organization tips for a space that offers structure and productivity.
Tip #1: Purge Paper Regularly
In a family home office, it is easy to let papers pile up fast, and finding what you need is stressful and difficult. Regularly go through these piles and decide what is essential and what is not. We suggest creating two piles and committing to toss/shred or take action (if needed) to prevent this paper clutter. On the take action piles, do just that. Write down that important date, RSVP for that wedding, and file the important papers, like the kid’s medical records, so that you can find them again when you need them.
Tip #2: Design a Purposeful Filing System
Finding a functional file system that works for your family is key. You can create flies with each family member’s name or make them color-coded, with each family member having a certain color. You can break them down into more specific categories, such as personal and medical. The more specific you get, the easier it is to find what you need. You can also designate a mail station where you place all the incoming mail and papers you need to sort.
Tip #3: Simplify the Essential Stations
Most family members need bookshelves, printing capabilities, and a workspace. Having these together in a family workspace keeps all the needed supplies in one area. Here are some recommendations:
- Each family member can have their own shelf or cabinet to store their books and materials that only they use.
- For supplies such as printing paper, file folders, and writing utensils, we suggest keeping them all grouped and organized together so the whole family knows what you have and where the supplies are located.
- As an added bonus, it is also easier to determine when you are low on an item when it is all grouped together.
Tip #4: Utilize Labeled Containers
We love utilizing bins and baskets to contain supplies for the famliy office. Find bins that work for the size of your shelves and are functional for what you need to store. There are endless options, but with a bit of research, you can find ones that work great. We also recommend labeling your bins so the whole family knows where to find things and where to return them to when they are done. Tidyiness in a shared space is extra important. These labels are little insurance policies that help with the maintenance of the space.
Tip #5: Arrange the Wall Space for Organization
Vertical wall space can be underutilized and forgotten about, but it can be extremely beneficial to maximize storage and create function. Hanging file systems, calendars, shelving, and peg boards can be great for creating custom workstations and accessibility to your most needed office supplies. Think vertical when you are trying to organize your family office.
Tip #6: Designate Maintenence Times
No space stays organized on its own, especially a shared space like an office. Once it is organized, we recommend the whole family help with maintenance. First and foremost, each member should get in the habit of placing things in their labeled bins. This is half the battle. Create an organizing routine to help you stay organized and save time.
Then, maybe once a week, each family member can have a day to reset the space and tidy up. Little tasks can make a big difference in keeping the office organized and functional.
Call the experts if you are overwhelmed by where to start with organization and have no idea what bins would be best. Here at Pretty Neat, we would love to help!
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Audra
