Your desk is the heart of your workspace, much like an operating table for a surgeon. If your tools are scattered and hard to find, staying efficient and focused is tough. So, is your home office set up to support your success? When you’re tackling projects, does your desk help you stay organised and ready to perform your best?
If not, it might be time to rethink how you use your workspace. As work environments evolve, one thing remains constant – an organised, clutter-free desk can create a productive and pleasant atmosphere. Let’s dive into the best tips for decluttering and transforming your home office.
Why should you declutter your office?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s talk about why decluttering matters.
Studies show that clutter does more than just make things harder to find—it can seriously impact your well-being and productivity. A messy office can lead to:
- Increased stress levels: The more cluttered your space, the more stressed and overwhelmed you feel, making it harder to stay focused.
- Mental distractions: Visual clutter forces your brain to work overtime, filtering out unnecessary items while you try to concentrate.
- Lower productivity: It’s difficult to stay on task when your workspace is full of distractions.
- Energy drain: For many, clutter can trigger anxiety, leading to exhaustion and mental fatigue.
Alright, enough with the why—let’s get into the “how.”
12 Tips to Declutter Your Home Office
Tip #1 – Envision Your Ideal Workspace
Start by imagining what your perfect workspace looks and feels like. Think about the kind of environment that will help you stay focused and productive. Whether you prefer a clean, minimalistic setup with only the essentials or a more personalised space with pictures, plants, and keepsakes, your space should reflect your needs and preferences. Consider what tools are truly necessary and what might be unnecessary distractions.
It’s also worth reflecting on sentimental items, like an old coffee mug from a special memory or a notebook from a previous project. While these objects may hold personal value, ask yourself if they still support your current workflow and goals. If not, it might be time to let them go, creating space for items that inspire and energize you.
Tip #2 – Take a “Before” Photo
We’re all drawn to before-and-after transformations, whether it’s a weight loss journey or a home makeover. The same goes for decluttering your office space!
Taking a picture may sound unnecessary, but having a visual of where you started can be a great motivator as you see your progress. Plus, it’ll be incredibly satisfying to compare your “before” and “after” photos when you’re finished!
Tip #3 – Toss Any Obvious Rubbish
This tip is a bit of a no-brainer but you’d be suprised how often we forget or downright refuse to throw things out.
Take a good look at your workspace and identify any obvious rubbish or items that no longer serve a purpose. This include things like:
- Old mail
- Snack wrappers
- Broken electronics
- Pens that no longer work
- Empty boxes or bags
- Old post-it notes
Recycle what you can, and toss the rest. Clearing out this clutter will make seeing the rest of your space easier.
Tip #4 – Don’t rush the process
It’s tempting to try to declutter your entire office all at once. But like most things that require effort, it’s easy to get burnt out and give up if you try to do too much too quickly.
Instead, start small.
Pick a single area to focus on, whether its your desk, a filing cabinet, or a corner of the room. Evaluate the items in that space and decide what makes sense to keep, toss, or move. Once you’ve tackled one area, move on to the next. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed by the task ahead.
Another tip for sorting things in your office is to let go of the guilt and be ruthless. Instead of feeling bad about the items you’re parting with, celebrate the fact that you’re finally clearing space. However, if you truly can’t bring yourself to part with something, consider placing it in storage instead.
Remember that these small tasks eventually add up to a clutter-free office space. So don’t rush the process and take breaks as needed.
Tip #5 – Group similar items together
Offices typically have a lot of supplies and equipment, which can quickly become disorganised if not correctly sorted. To avoid confusion and make it easier to find what you need, try grouping similar items.
For example, keep all your office supplies in one designated area or drawer. This could include pens, pencils, staplers, tape, paper clips and other commonly used items. You could also have a separate area for electronics such as chargers, headphones or external hard drives.
By creating specific categories for your items, you’ll save time searching for things and prevent clutter from building up again.
If you have too much of something, like 20 packets of Post-It notes, consider donating or recycling the extras to reduce clutter.
Tip #6 – Keep Things That Make You Feel Energised
Whether it’s at the office or at home, a workspace is more than your office equipment. Ideally, it should be a place that not only cultivates a conducive working atmosphere but also brings you joy, happiness, comfort and motivates you to work.
You’ve probably heard about it, and yes it’s true, a cluttered workspace undermines people’s working morale and negatively affects productivity. As US and UK best selling author Marie Kondo, a tidying and decluttering guru, puts it on the KonMari method: Only keep things on the desk that “spark joy.” Note that “joy” is being used not to refer to actual joy, but rather office items that have a purpose in your perspective or those that motivate you and make you feel energised.
Tip #7 – Get Rid of Unnecessary items
As you organise, you’ll come across plenty of items that won’t be classified as clutter. These aren’t necessary obvious throw-out items like broken pens or outdated electronics, but rather things that just take up space without serving a useful purpose.
Clutter can also be things like:
- Business-related books you’ve already read
- Endless pens and writing utensils
- Free gifts and swag from events
- Random knick-knacks or decorative items that serve no purpose
- Furniture that’s not needed in your office
Donate or recycle anything that could be useful to someone else. Everything else? It’s time to let go.
Tip #8 – Trust Your Instincts & Consider Rearranging
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for organizing an office. What feels perfectly arranged for one person may seem like a maze to someone else.
Trust your instincts when rearranging your space, but also ensure that similar items are grouped together for better efficiency. If you usually keep your stapler on the right side of your desk but it’s ended up on the left, move it back to where it feels most natural to you—but keep it near other office supplies to maintain order. This way, your workspace stays functional while still feeling intuitive.
You may also consider rearranging your office layout if necessary. Sometimes a simple change in furniture placement or adding more storage solutions can make all the difference in creating an organised and clutter-free workspace.
Tip #9 – Don’t Bring Clutter Into the Office
It’s heartwarming when your children make you a bracelet every weekend, and while having one on your desk can bring a smile to your face and boost your energy, it’s important not to overdo it.
You don’t need to bring everything your child gives you into the office. If you’re adding items that serve no real purpose, it’s time to be more selective. Choose only what’s meaningful and contributes to a productive workspace. Be mindful of what you bring into your home or office desk to keep your environment focused and clutter-free.
Tip #10 – Label! Label! Label!
Now that everything is sorted, it’s time to organise what remains. Labelling files, containers, and supplies will help you keep track of everything. Labels make it easy to find what you need quickly and keep things organised in the long run.
While this seem like an added chore than a decluttering tip, labelling can actually save you time and frustration in the future. Plus, it’s a great visual reminder to yourself and others of where everything belongs.
tip #11 – Take an “After” Photo, and Celebrate!
Once your home office is decluttered and organised, take a moment to appreciate your work.
If you’ve snapped a before photo (or even if you haven’t) take an after photo to compare and see the difference you’ve made. Celebrate your accomplishment and enjoy your newfound clarity and productivity in your fresh, clean workspace.
Your office transformation may not mean much to others, but it’s important to acknowledge and reward yourself for a job well done. Plus, having visual evidence of your progress can be motivating and encouraging if you ever feel the need to declutter again in the future.
tip #12 – Create a Maintenance Plan
Decluttering your office is only half the battle. To keep your workspace organised and clutter-free, create a maintenance plan. This could include setting aside a few minutes each day for tidying up, scheduling regular cleaning sessions, or implementing an organisational routine that works for you.
By consistently putting items back in their designated places and regularly purging unnecessary items, you can maintain a clutter-free environment in your office. In turn, this will help increase productivity and decrease stress levels while working.
Keep Your Office Clutter-Free with Henfield Storage
Decluttering your office is just the first step. If you’re running out of space for important items but don’t want to part with them, Henfield Storage offers the perfect solution. Our secure storage units provide flexible access, convenient locations, and peace of mind, helping you maintain a clutter-free, productive workspace. Contact us today at 020 3613 7774 or visit our website to learn more and book your unit!
