Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

Home Is Where the Office Is

It may be true that “home is where the heart is,” but these days, if you’re like many people, home is where the office is. Carving out a space for your home office may be complicated, especially if that home is in New York City (where my heart is).

Since it looks like more of us will be working from home for the long haul, and with the approach of a new school year, it may be time to formalize your divisions of space.

That said, an office doesn’t have to be a room, but it should be a hub—the location where the laptop and probably some office supplies live.

When I’m helping someone create an office space at home, my first question is usually, “Where do you work now?” My goal is to find the simplest solution that creates the least chaos. Often, the best place to locate an office is where you already do work. Finding out where papers tend to pile up can provide another clue to where paperwork can get done.

Office space also needs to be flexible these days. Sometimes you may have to give up your spot so your spouse can have the nice background for a Zoom meeting, or your child may need to spread out a school project on the table where you usually work. Or, you may need to be able to easily pack up your office at the end of the day so the family can sit down for a meal—and be able to unpack it easily again in the morning.

Ask yourself what you actually use at work. Maybe all you need is a laptop and headphones. Maybe you prefer a desktop computer, or you need a printer, and room to spread out papers and notes. Perhaps you need pencils, or highlighters, or file folders in easy reach.

Once you’ve found a spot that works, say the end of the dining table, or a corner in the living room, see if you can make it a little more user friendly. Is it a permanent space, or do you set up on the breakfast bar? Can you declutter to make room in a nearby drawer or on a shelf to stash your streamlined office at the end of the day? Can you make space for a small table if you need a dedicated desk?

I’ve helped clients create small desks out of a board and a file cabinet; I’ve helped them repurpose a media-storage cabinet for files and Post-Its (purging old VHS tapes freed up plenty of space). I showed one client how a wooden file cabinet was the perfect height for an end table for her couch, and was also in easy reach of the dining table where she worked.

Some people, and most kids, like to float during the day, whether distance-learning or working spreadsheets. My kids tend to move from the kitchen table to their beds for example. Put together a caddy or tote so you can move your “desk” with you.

Once you’ve chosen a spot—or created a portable “office” caddy—and spent a little time getting all the necessary items together, you’ll feel grounded, and probably less stressed. It’ll be nice to know there’s one space where you can stow your office at the end of the day, and even better in the morning, to know where it all is. And good mornings are always a blessing.