37
Update it
Study break
Create a home office
With home being the new workplace for many of us, we’re spending more hours in the home office – so it helps if it’s a space where we can feel productive and organised
W
hether your home office is a room, a nook under the stairs or a converted closet, now’s the time to whip it into shape. Follow these expert tips for creating an area that’s visually appealing, uncluttered, and where you can be your most efficient self.
Create a tranquil study space with a soothing colour – the wall of this work zone is painted with Porter’s Paints Eggshell Finish in Popcorn
1
Sort, purge and donate Take on the decluttering process section by section, says organisation expert Steph Pase (justanothermummyblog.com). “Having piles for donation and rubbish is super important to make sure you clear away the clutter,” she says. “Just remember when decluttering, it’s going to look worse before it gets better, but keep going through until the end!”
2
Define your workspace
Words Caroline Botting. Photography (top) Porter’s Paints. Some photographs feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings. Paint colours may vary on application. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
A dedicated zone is the first step to an organised home office. Find an area to house a desk, one that has good lighting and some wall space, says Jessica Haslem at Flexi Storage. “Not all of us have the benefit of a room dedicated to an office. However there may be areas that can be turned into an office, such as a nook under the staircase, or even a wardrobe that you can place a desk inside,” she suggests.
3
5
Process paperwork You’re now down to the essentials, but still the paper mountain remains! Create a paper tray ‘processing station’ with documents divided into actions – for example ‘to pay’, ‘to do’, ‘to file’ and so on.
Label it
Invest in decent labelling for your new boxes, files and cubby systems. Having everything properly identified in your home office will help make things easier to find, and ultimately save you time.
4
File, file and file again Processed documents can be placed in a colour-coded set-up, alphabetical folders or suspension files in a drawer. “This really depends on the individual, but colour coding can definitely help,” says professional organiser Natalie Jane (beorganised.co.nz). “I prefer to use suspension files in a drawer as you can see your papers at a glance.”
The Ezy Storage ‘Brickor’ range of neutral-hued baskets suits any decor scheme and offers a variety of stackable sizes
Flexi Storage hexagonal shelf in Oak, $25, I/N: 0127436
bunnings |
bunningsnz | bunnings.co.nz
