Home Office Organization: 7 Tips From Experts

The home office is one of the hardest spaces to keep clean, thanks to the inevitable pile-up of work and personal clutter. But no fear -- professional organizers are here to help.

There's this one spot in my house that I just can't seem to get a handle on. It's my desk. No, wait, it's the top of my dresser. Well, there's also my closet. And I suppose if we're being completely honest, the kitchen pantry could use some work, too.

But it's the desk that stresses me out the most.

I work from home and not to long ago, my workspace was the kitchen table. I kept my culinary workstation pretty tidy, especially since the space was in plain view of guests and often had to accommodate actual meals. So, when my husband and I started to make plans to move into a bigger place, and hopefully, one with a dedicated office space, I started dreaming big. I imagined bins, boxes, filing cabinets, desk valets and magazine racks organized by color.

Did it happen? Not so much.

We moved into our rental house last fall and for about a week, my office stayed pretty pristine. The newness of it coupled with the tidiness of it all made me feel in control and ready to roll up my sleeves and get productive. After all, I hung a corkboard on the wall. There's also the matter of the hot pink paper shredder tucked smartly under the desk. I was fairly confident that clutter was no match for this worker bee.

Then I got settled into my new digs. And the holidays came calling. That hold I'd had on clutter and desk messes vanished. Once I'd finished working for the day, I'd happily close my office door and move on. The random little notes I took, office supplies and even books found themselves scattered all over my desk. Sometimes if I was feeling especially virtuous, I attempted to make neat little piles. Or, I'd gather up all those odds and ends and shove them into one of my hot pink storage boxes. Purchased, of course, to coordinate with my paper shredder.

Staying organized sounds like a fairly simple idea: designate spots for your goodies and stick with the plan. But in practice, it doesn't always work. It certainly didn't for me. A few weeks ago, I attempted to get my tax paperwork in order. I knew I had a few receipts filed - and I'm using this term extremely loosely - somewhere in my office but I couldn't recall the exact place. At first, I'd been convinced they were tucked away in my plywood desk valet. When that search failed, I considered those nifty storage boxes. No dice. After a good hour or so, complete with several choice words and vowing to change my clutter-bug ways, I located my missing receipts in an old shoe box in the closet.

After similar bouts, I'd briefly clean up my act. Coincidentally, the office usually received a rather thorough makeover before get-togethers with friends and family. However, once a few days had passed, the office, especially my desk, returned to its former sloppy self.

Despite the madness, I'm positive there's hope. To help facilitate my recovery, I enlisted some experts for advice. I spoke with Heather Perrilliat and Brooke Butin of Heather Brookes Interior Organization, based in Los Angeles.

The two met while studying Interior Design at UCLA. Before starting their own firm, they interned with Kelly Wearstler. They're members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and take an environmentally conscious approach. These wonderfully chic and organized ladies feel that a tidy space is never out of reach. Here are some things they suggest to keep in mind while working toward your organizational goals:

Enlist Help
"The first step to getting organized is asking for help," say Butin and Perrilliat. "Whether it's a relative, close friend, or a professional organizer, it's always best to get an outsider's opinion. Since it's easy for most people to rationalize the importance of every object or article of clothing they own, it's imperative to get the objective opinions of others. When help is sought, more times than not, the items in question are donated rather than kept."

Realize You're Not Alone
It's wonderfully reassuring to know that I'm not the only one having struggles with my space. The ladies of Heather Brookes said it's only natural for our environments to become a little messy, but not to let that be an excuse. "It only takes 5-10 minutes out of your busy day to maintain any system of organization once it has been established," they say. "From filing paperwork to hanging up clothing – the only thing that stands between you and long-term organization, is time and a little motivation."

Recognize the Problem Areas
It's rather telling that my biggest adversary in combating clutter is my office, namely my desk. Because according to the experts, the most common place for clutter is a flat surface. "Kitchen counters, desks, dining room tables and dressers are just a few of the places that people like to set their stuff," say Perrilliat and Butin. "Once these seemingly neat stacks turn into overwhelming piles, they usually end up being stuffed into drawers or shoved into closets." Keeping those flat surfaces in check will help the rest of your spaces stay neat and tidy.

Think Big
Small spaces like desks, drawers and unruly cabinets get out of control quickly. And it's easy to think that a little tweak here will solve the problem. But Butin and Perrilliat say that "when organizing a small space, the key is to remove every piece of clutter from the problem area in order to start from scratch." An empty space will help determine the most efficient ways to organize.

Stay on the Same Page
It's one thing to get yourself organized, but well-meaning roommates, partners and even kids can throw a wrench into newly organized spaces. The organizers explain, "Keeping everyone in your home or office on the same organizational page can be a difficult task. It's natural to forget where things go over time. So when in doubt, label!" Baby steps like labeling can seem arduous, but in the long run, they're worth it. And don't worry, they don't have to stick around. The ladies advise that once you and those around you "have the system down, the labels can be removed."

Manage Your Time Wisely
No one wants to have a cluttered space, yet many of us do. A problem is that while we say we'd like our spaces neat, things don't really go according to plan. Often, time gets the better of us. "Mismanagement of time is the most common cause for disorganization," say the professional organizers. "We are either too tired from work, pile too much on our plates, or simply find other things like personal engagements, to be more worth our time. In these cases, organization usually falls on the bottom of post peoples to-do lists. However when we choose to make organization a priority in our lives and willingly spare the few minutes each day to maintain it, anyone can achieve organizational bliss." That organizational bliss sounds divine, doesn't it?

Realize Your Potential
A messy space isn't one that evokes feelings of calm relaxation. Though it is easy to shove a cluttered drawer shut or close the door on a untidy workspace. But that's never a good idea in the long term, especially if you're hoping for change. "Your home and workspace should evoke feelings of creativity and clarity, not cramp your style," offer Butin and Perrilliat. "We often say that a cluttered space means a cluttered mind. If your space is cluttered, often it's indicative that you've got too much on your plate. Take a moment and check in. Are you being realistic with your time? Is your to-do list prioritized in order of importance? Keeping your physical space neat and tidy is not only pleasing to the eye, but it helps create an environment that is conducive to creativity and productivity."

We all fall victim to clutter every now and then. But a little effort and a whole lot of determination can help zap even the wildest of messes. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. Now, onto that monster desk of mine...

Ah, much better. Don't you think? Hope these tips help you get your home office under control. And please share your own ideas on our Facebook page!

Here's some more info from ShelterPop on storage and organization.

For more home office organization ideas, check out this great video: