Few would disagree that we are well and truly in the era of the home office.
In fact, for many, there’s no going back. Working from home has been tried and tested – and some companies are taking the plunge indefinitely.
It means that many of us have invested in home office space. Once upon a time it may have involved being perched on the end of the kitchen worktop, but now longer-term solutions are required.
As the title of today’s article may have given away, we are today going to look at some of the best ways you can organise your home office efficiently.
Get a (smart) desk
A good desk is the foundation on which everything else sits, and it’s important that you choose a desk that you feel comfortable working at.
The size of the desk is also important. No one wants a desk that’s too large for their room, or one that doesn’t fit well, so make sure you get a desk that’s the right size for the space you have.
Once upon a time you may have almost got away with a plank of wood. Of course, things have changed, and we’re now in a period where choosing a desk can become a real headscratcher. Do you want to stand up at your desk? It’s possible at a cost. Do you want built-in storage? Again, it comes at a cost, but can help endlessly with that crucial homeworking efficiency factor.
Get a filing cabinet
Of course, in today’s digital age, filing cabinets have been relegated to the back of many home offices – but they are still a vital part of the home office set-up, especially if you are running a business from home.
A filing cabinet is a great way to keep all of your documents in one place and to keep them safe. Without them, we’re going to bet that it will become one of ‘those spaces’ that accumulates piles of paperwork – and this is the definition of clutter and inefficiency.
Clear out your clutter
On the subject of the C-word, it’s a well-known fact that clutter can be devastating to any efficiency.
It slows you down, wastes your time and makes you feel stressed.
Clutter can be a major problem in the home office, and it’s important that you make a real effort to get rid of it.
Start by thinking about how you are going to use the room, and then make sure that you design your home office around the activity.
If you are going to be working on a laptop, for example, then make sure that your home office doesn’t become a dumping ground for the rest of the house.
Let’s not forget that you don’t need to take permanent, radical decisions either. Modern-day solutions provide flexibility, for example, Safestore’s Manchester locations will give you the time to decide whether you need certain items, before discarding them forever. This is great for those of you who really struggle to let go of items.
Think about lighting
The room should be well lit and should also be set up to make it easy for you to avoid the glare of the sun when it’s shining through the window.
In an ideal world, a home office should also be a room that you can shut away from the rest of the house – but not at the cost of natural light.