For way too long, we’ve worked in an overcrowded, always-cluttered office. And now, as of this weekend, I can say that in the past tense: We had worked in an overcrowded, always-cluttered office, but we don’t anymore! Our office isn’t beautifully appointed with the most stylish furniture and decor, but it’s clean, functional, and gives me space to do my work and just think. It is so hard to think when you work in a space that isn’t tidy!

So we decided to change that — and if your work space isn’t giving you the space you need to work, I want you to know that you can complete this kind of transformation, too, and you can do it without pulling out your wallet. Here’s what we did:

1.) Strip your office down to the bones.
For us, this mean pulling out everything that wasn’t going to stay and leaving only the big items we knew we were keeping (desks, computers, bookshelf, filing cabinet, etc.) We worked out how we wanted the remaining furniture to be arranged in our office to make the best use of the space, and we gave everything a deep cleaning.

2.) Sort through the stuff.
Once we had all the excess papers and other random things — coin sorter, anyone? — out of our office, we started arranging everything into categories: “Trash,” “Stuff to give away,” “Stuff to put back in the office,” and “Stuff to keep but store somewhere else.” It was unbelievable how many items fell into the trash and give away piles . . . and how long we had let those things clutter up our lives!

3.) Organize everything — preferably out of sight.
As we started bringing things back into the office, we worked to make sure these items were stored out of sight whenever possible. I hate to admit that for a really long time, we “stored” things on the office floor. Now every last bit of our office equipment and supplies are stashed in drawers and on shelves. If you need more organizational space, get creative, and yes, you might need to go shopping. We installed some serious closet shelves a couple years ago, but we weren’t making the most of them, and we repurposed a books case for additional storage. Whatever you decide to do for storage, remember that keeping your office clutter free will be hugely dependent on how you store your supplies; the more items that are visible from your seat, the more tempting it will be to just shove more things in with them next time you’re looking for somewhere to put your mail or magazines or old files.

4.) Create a clean work station.
An uncluttered desk is a must for Danny and me, because it’s hard for either of us to feel relaxed or creative when we’re surrounded by items that don’t contribute to our work. Arrange your desk to have frequently needed items close at hand. We have pens, scissors, tape, a stapler, stamps, note pads, and tissues all available. But we still have a clear desktop now, so we don’t have to carve out a place to do our work.

5.) Avoid anything that invites clutter.
I used to love little organizing shelf trays and boxes with little drawers. Now, with a few exceptions, I hate them — because they just invite me to make a mess. Instead of stuffing loose paper clips onto a shelf in our old “organizer,” now I know they go into a designated cup, and that cup goes in our filing cabinet. Give everything a place. If something doesn’t have a place and you’re holding onto it just in case, don’t. Just get rid of it and save yourself another round of decluttering later.

6.) Come up with a system.
Danny and I have agreed that we have to spend the last part of every work day tidying up our office so it’s clean and ready for the next day. We’ll sort through mail, file papers, and put all our camera gear back where it belongs. Skipping clutter is easy only when you stick to a pattern of not letting it pile up.
If you have any tips for keeping your office efficient and un-messy, this office-keeping novice would love to hear them!

~ Laura