Organize Your Home Office - 6 Simple Steps

Has the corner of your family or living room become your home office? Follow these tips to get your home office organized, no matter where it’s located.

Invest in Adequate Furniture

Above all, offices need a clear work area. You need adequate space for computer hardware and peripheral equipment, reference materials, your files, and supplies and paper. Your office furniture should provide plenty of space both for work and storage.

Establish Activity Centers

If an office is to be efficient, it should be zoned into different activity areas. Designate a “work center,” which should include a clear workspace, the computer and frequently used office products. You should also have a “reference center,” where you can store binders, manuals, a dictionary and professional books and materials. Last, you need a “supply center,” which contains all your office and paper supplies.

Properly Place Your Hardware and Peripherals

Your computer equipment should be positioned according to frequency of use. If you use your printer on a daily basis, make sure it’s within easy reach. Most people only access the CPU for troubleshooting. If this is the case, then store it under or next to the desk. Equipment, such as scanners, that is rarely used can be stored outside the work area. Be mindful of any access you might need to drives, trays and cords when setting up your hardware. Finally, be sure not to block any drawers or take up leg room with tangled cords.

Establish a Paper-Processing Area

For papers that need immediate action, designate an specific area in your work center. Find a place that is both accessible and in sight to store any paperwork associated with clients or ongoing projects. Set up a permanent file system for any paperwork you may infrequently reference.

Contain Unruly Wires

A great tip is to fold mailing labels back on themselves around each cord and then label the wires. This can be done for any cords to the electric supply, as well as for cords that connect different components to each other. Cut down on cord clutter by bundling like wires together. As an example, computer speaker wires and stereo speaker wires can be put together.

Take Care of Your Media and Computer Equipment

For any electronic equipment that’s delicate, it’s important to use a surge protector. It’s important to be sure that your surge protector is a transient-voltage surge protector and is UL listed. Here it’s better to go high-end. These are built with replaceable fuses and will last a lot longer than less-costly models.

For the perfect lint- and static-free rag to clean your CDs and DVDs, find a used fabric softener sheet.

Handle your CDs only by the rim. This will help cut down on fingerprints. When cleaning, get the backside of the CD, because this is where all your information is stored. To correctly clean a CD, start at the center and stroke out to the edge. Don’t clean it in a circular motion.

It’s often necessary to stack your equipment in order to make the most efficient use of your office space. Take care not to stack any amps or other equipment with venting on the top, as they might get too warm. Rather, simply use small plastic cups, or chair-leg protectors, as spacers when stacking.

Regularly clean your computer screen using an old T-shirt or other lint-free cloth. Be sure not to spray the screen directly. Rather, spray the cloth with water and wipe clean. Avoid any abrasive substances. Window cleaners should also be avoided. A lint-free cloth and water is the way to go for a clean screen. You can always consult with your monitor’s manual for the proper way to clean the screen.