Make your home office efficient, beautiful

I’m already a pretty organized person. But when the opportunity came to attend the annual conference of the National Organization of Professional Organizers (NAPO) I decided to go and see what I could learn that might help my clients, as well as help me. As an interior re-designer, I work with my clients’ existing furnishings. Many times, in rearranging their things, we come up new ways to organize them in order to make their homes work better. Since my own remodeling project includes a new home office, I was particularly interested in design suggestions that would make my home office an efficient, organized and beautiful place to work.

As is true for many of you, my home office will also serve as a guest room. I’ve designed a built-in desk in maple, with my chair facing the windows to the patio in my side yard. The desk will have two large file drawers for client files and design resources. Other drawers will hold mailing supplies, business stationery, and phone lists. I will have a large work surface for my computer, and my fax machine and phone will be at arms reach. I will store my design books on open bookshelves. Shelves in the closet will house extra paper, catalogs, ink cartridges and more files. Recessed lights above the desk will provide task lighting. The warm color scheme of yellow, melon and green will make the room a cheerful place to work.

Since the room is not very large, furniture needs to do double-duty. I designed the room around a daybed with a trundle that can be used as seating during the day and a bed for two when necessary. Wall lamps will flank the bed. Two storage cube ottomans will serve several purposes: a coffee table, extra storage for blankets and extra seating.
A custom-made dresser with a hutch will house more books, a small television and also provide clothes storage for guests.

From the NAPO conference and other sources, here are some organizing tips to keep your home office running smoothly.

• Keep a supply of stationery, envelopes and ink cartridges next to the computer printer. Extras can be stored in a closet or other location.
• Keep phone directories in a convenient spot right by the phone.
• Ideally, dedicate one drawer or shelf to one category of items. For example, store banking supplies in one drawer, mailing supplies in another.
• Attractive portable file boxes can replace file drawers. The boxes look good on open shelves, and can also be handy for taking your work with you to other rooms in the house.
• Store trade magazines in sturdy and good-looking magazine holders. When the holders are full, recycle the old magazines to make room for the new ones.
• Don’t make your office a repository for all the hand-me-down, mismatched furniture in the house. At least treat yourself to a new comfortable chair.
• Make your office attractive with good lighting, paint, favorite artwork, family photos and plants. A beautiful office will make going to work more enjoyable.
  

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on Nov. 13, 2004.

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All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna Jacoby.