Tips from two home office designers

Article by: Kim Yeager , Star Tribune
Updated: January 30, 2006 - 1:30 PM

Feeling that perennial January urge to organize? We sought out two home-office mavens for their advice on how to declutter, reorganize and energize your home office area. Feeling that perennial January urge to organize? We sought out two home-office mavens for their advice on how to declutter, reorganize and energize your home office area.

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THE DESIGNER

Chris Plantan, former architect; founder and president of russell + hazel, Minneapolis, and brand manager for M.O. office products.

PLANTAN'S POINTERS

• Try to create as much flat surface space as you can for desktop filing, layout and writing.

• Only keep those things that you use at least three times a week on your desk top. Otherwise, store the items in files or drawers.

• Clear acrylic desk and product organizers are a cheap way to lighten up your desk.

• Try nontraditional desk accessories, which can be more interesting to look at: cake stands to elevate items from the desktop, painter's trays for In boxes, mason jars to hold supplies.

• Don't create temporary piles; they become permanent clutter. Give everything a file, but don't label it "miscellaneous." Be specific.

• Use a wheeled office chair for ease of movement from desk to table.

• Open your mail over your garbage can (and shredder) each day.

THE DESIGNER

Karen Law of Contained Design, Minneapolis

LAW'S LAWS

• Keep the tools of your trade -- files, computer, paper, telephone -- no more than 2 feet away from your desk.

• Before arranging, consider how you use your home office. For paying bills? Or running a business? It will define how you organize.

• We only use about 20 percent of our files, so dump or recycle as many as possible.

• File vertically. Alphabetize, and choose simple categories.

• Personalize your space. It belongs to you; it should look like it.

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