Small Office Organization – How to Organize a Small Office

Hello my friends!

After 3 months since revealing my $72 Office Space, I'm happy to report that I'm still loving and using this space that is dedicated to all things blogging, paying bills, planning and more!

It's very small but very functional. And functional is good!

Since this office/work space is so teeny tiny (it's literally against one of the smallest walls in our home), I had to get creative as far as OFFICE STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION goes.

And today I get to share how I got this small office/work space to hold all my office necessities in the most organized way, along with some tips and tricks!

This small space is what I have to work with. The one good thing about having a small office/work space is that it forces you to avoid clutter!  I don't do well around clutter, so this is a good thing!

Gotta look at the bright side, people. 

How to Organize a Small Office or Work Space (Tips & Tricks)

1. Only keep the minimum amount of papers, supplies and decor needed to avoid clutter and messes. 

This first tip has helped me out the most! I am constantly going through our mail, important papers, coupons and such and purging what we don't need to keep.

I have this policy: do not collect office supplies (no matter how cute they are), only have what you need.

The less things you have to organize, the better.

2. Build shelves above your desk/around work space for instant storage space!

I'm all for avoiding taking up floor space. Our home is only 1325 sq. ft so floor space is GOLD to me!

Instead of having a huge desk or a file cabinet I opted for these shelves my hubby built for me to go over my desk area.

They're great for holding books, storage boxes, expandable file folders and of course all the fun things you want to display.

3. Use storage boxes to store any extras that don't fit in your desk drawer.

My desk drawer is very small (it used to be a vanity) so storage boxes are a must if I want to keep my office essentials within reach.

I have 3 storage boxes (2 of which are DIY) to store all my "extras".

But seriously guys, even my "extras" aren't all that much...

One stores my camera and flash drives:

Another my small amount of extra office supplies:

And the last one stores all of my chargers:

So when I'm busy working on something and I need my laptop charger or staples, I simply reach up to get the storage box I need. No big deal.

4. Expandable file folders will be your new office best friend when it comes to organizing all your important papers.

I have two of these babies, a big one on my shelf and a smaller one in my drawer.

I use these to organize all those fun papers like insurance policies, taxes, check stubs, coupons, important letters and such.

They both have so many pockets (they're called expandable for a reason) that I still have space available for even more fun papers!

5. Don't let that precious wall space go to waste!

I use cork board squares on my wall to keep scriptures, reminders, and my calendar all in front of me. 

And the "wall system" helps prevent my desk from becoming a clutter magnet to sticky notes, lists and reminders.

I even have my small mail sorter hanging on one of the cork board squares to maximize desk space!

6. Use a dry-erase board (check out how to DIY one here) to keep the most important reminders in front of you.

This helps me avoid too many sticky notes on my wall, because I personally get overwhelmed with seeing too many of those colorful little suckers. 

I prefer having one space I know where to look at for important things that I have coming up as opposed to searching through all my sticky notes.

I only use sticky notes when I have a quick thought or idea and that eventually gets transferred to my dry erase board.

7. Only keep the things you use the most everyday on your desk and store the things you use less frequently in your drawer.

This is another way to optimize desk space and avoid having to constantly re-organize everything.

I only keep my Bible, daily planner, a notebook, laptop and pens on my desk....oh and a picture of my little cutie pie of course!!

9. Use your drawer space wisely.

Avoid having too much in your drawer. Again only focus on your absolutely essentials. Everything else can be kept in storage boxes.

Having too much in a drawer easily creates clutter and not to mention the "jammed drawer" effect that isn't so fun to get out of, let me tell ya.

All you will find in my drawer is my journal, stapler, expandable folder (where I keep coupons, receipts, pay stubs, etc..), thank you cards and an organizer with my everyday office essentials.

Small Office Organization Tips and Steps to Have in Mind

Here are a few suggestions and storage tips to have in mind when organizing your office:

Start by Decluttering 

The first step in organizing any space is to get rid of the things you don't need or use. Take some time to go through your office and get rid of any old papers, files, or office supplies that are no longer necessary.

Tips:

• Sort your items into three categories: keep, donate/sell, and throw away.
• Dispose of any old, broken, or unused items that are taking up space.
• Consider digitizing documents to reduce paper clutter and free up space.

Use Storage Containers 

Invest in some storage containers to help you organize your office supplies. Label each container according to its contents so that you can easily find what you need.

Tips:

• Choose clear containers that will allow you to easily see the contents.
• Stackable containers are ideal for small spaces.
• Use drawer dividers to keep smaller items organized within larger containers.

Create a Filing System 

Keep important documents and papers in a filing system that is easy to access. Label your folders and files in a way that makes sense to you, such as by project, client, or date.

Tips:

• Determine the categories that make sense for your business and create folders accordingly.
• Use color coding to quickly identify different types of files.
• Keep a filing cabinet or box close to your workspace for easy access.

Utilize Wall Space

Use wall space to your advantage by installing shelves, bulletin boards, or pegboards. This will help you keep your desk and workspace free of clutter.

Tips:

• Install floating shelves above your desk for additional storage.
• Use a bulletin board to keep track of important notes or reminders.
• A pegboard is a great way to organize tools and supplies.

Keep your Desk Clear

Your desk is where you spend most of your time, so it's important to keep it organized. Only keep the essentials on your desk, such as your computer, phone, and a few important files or documents.

Tips:

• Only keep items that you use regularly on your desk.
• Use a desk organizer to keep small items, such as pens and paperclips, in their place.
• Use cable ties or a cable box to manage cords and cables.

Make Use of Digital Tools

Nowadays, there are plenty of digital tools available to help you stay organized. Consider using a task management app, a calendar app, or a digital filing system to keep track of important information.

Tips:

• Use a task management app, such as Trello or Asana, to keep track of your to-do list.
• A digital calendar, such as Google Calendar, can help you stay on top of appointments and deadlines.
• Use a cloud-based storage service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, to keep your documents and files accessible from anywhere.

Clean and Maintain your Office Regularly

Once you've established an organizational system, it's important to keep up with it. Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance sessions to ensure that your office stays organized and clutter-free.

Tips:

• Set aside time each week to clean and organize your workspace.
• Take care of any maintenance issues, such as a broken drawer or a squeaky chair, as soon as possible.
• Get into the habit of putting things away after you use them to prevent clutter from building up.

A small office space doesn't have to mean clutter and not enough storage.

It just takes a little more creativity and discipline to keep things organized and clutter free.

Do you have any tips or ideas on keeping a small office space organized or optimizing it's storage? I'd love to hear more!