Ask The Organizer

I’m going to be doing a series of Ask the Organizer questions. Want to see your questions answered? Please email them to me at [email protected] and if you’d like, include some photos.

I recently received this question from a work at home author:

I have just moved and am in great need of organising tips for my new loft
office. I have included pics if that will be helpful. I am a writer who
also draws upon occastion so i need a way to store all my supplies and
notebooks

The first thing I would suggest is purging out any paperwork or items you no longer use. If you have no idea what a tote or box contains, chances are the contents are no longer serving their purpose.

I would then look to add storage. While these photos don’t show every side of the room, I would work to fit in a “cubby unit” such as Ikea’s Expedit. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. The compartments can be used to house books, office supplies, and even decorative items. I like to add baskets, bins or boxes to come of the cubbies to hide items that you don’t want to see all of the time.

When space is small and you want to keep things where you can see them, small magnetic strips like this one can help you stay organized and keep your work surfaces clear.

Creating an organized and functional work environment is about finding the balance between what you need to have in the space and creating a beautiful and comfortable place where you can be creative and productive. Make sure you have no visual clutter. Put your files away at the end of the day. Have a space for items and projects that are in progress. Leave room and space for beautiful and sentimental items. Look for products that are beautiful and functional.

For example, these filing cabinets are adorable and hold lots of office supplies. Great to keep everything you need on a daily basis such as pens, paper clips, tape and stamps on hand and close by.