In order to help you feel better in your space, and thus increase your productivity, try personalizing your office.  Here are some tips to help you create a space you will enjoy:

• Add items that remind you of good times or people that make you happy.  Bring in framed photographs or significant items.  You can even create a personalized calendar with fun photos.
• Try keeping these items contained or together, rather than strewn about everywhere.  If they take up too much space, they will begin to feel like clutter.
• Consider lining photographs in a row, which looks and feels more organized.  Here’s an adorable chalkboard frame that can store your memos and remind you of messages.  
• Add some color!  Purchase some flowers or add a pretty painting.
• Remember to reassess your personal mementos quarterly to make sure they haven’t exceeded their boundary within your workspace.

Got some tips of your own for improving a drab cubicle?  Share them with us!  

1. Shelves that are the easiest to reach should have the most-used items.  Items that are only used occasionally can be stored higher or lower.
2. You don’t have to put all of an item in the same place; overflow can be kept separately.  For example, if you buy supplies in bulk, only a few boxes of pens, pencils, notebooks, staples, etc. need to be in the prime real estate.  Anything more than that can be put in an area that’s farther away and then you can restock your supplies weekly from your surplus.
3. Put heavy items closer to the floor and lighter items closer to the ceiling.
4. Categorize supplies that are used together.  For example, if you have a marketing packet that gets mailed out, group all the components of the marketing packet together in the supply room so you can spend less time assembling the packet.
5. Label everything clearly so that everyone can find supplies easily.  It also makes it easier to restock items where they belong.
6. Use appropriately sized containers to maximize the space available.  One of our favorite products for office supplies are the Deflect-O series; they’re perfect for all types of supplies.

If you’re going to be sitting somewhere from 9 to 5 each week, you might as well make it an organized, functional space.  Don’t feel limited by your small space; you can still create an organized work area!  

1. Maximize your use of walls by hanging anything and everything possible, like a coat hook balanced on the rim of the cubicle.  We love these Safco PanelMate Organizers.
   
2. If you have “office toys,” try grouping them together rather than spreading them out all over your cube.  Your collection will look cohesive and contained, instead of sloppy.
3. Use a monitor stand that also has dual functionality as a paper tray or supply organizer.
4. Keep all of your most-used items within an arm’s reach semi-circle from your chair – these are your action items.  The next layer of the circle is for reference items, and then the outside layer is for archive items (if it must stay in your cubicle).
5. Label everything (including outside drawers, if applicable) so that others can find what they are looking for easily without going through all your stuff (for example, if someone is looking for a pencil, you don’t want them looking in your snack drawer).

You’ll love them for:
•  Their versatility and helpful components
•  Customizing and personalizing your cubicle
•  Using your wall space as storage space, allowing you to keep your desktop free
•  Creating a home for everything in your office

Cost: Varies

Available at: details online

• Cubicles
• Office supply rooms
• Break rooms (that frequently serve other purposes as well)
• Home offices or shared office spaces (guest room/office)
• Closets
• Mobile offices (like a car)
• Various living spaces

All June, we are going to tackle how to organize some of the typical small spaces that we help clients with.

To get you started, here are some general tips to keep in mind:

• Use vertical space whenever possible.
• Use the backs of doors or other odd shapes to maximize space available.
• Think in terms of “prime real estate.”  Make sure you use the space that is easiest to access on the items that you use the most.
• Set up clear zones for categories of items, especially Active, Reference, and Archive.
• Label shelves and drawers in your utility room so you have a place for items (and the family can locate items easily without asking).

Follow us this month for daily tips on our Facebook and Twitter, as well as weekly blog posts!  Plus, check out our Pinterest boards for inspiration on how to maximize your space!

Get organized now with our Small Business Office Organizing Checklist!