Tips for a Spring Office Spruce-Up

With spring just around the corner, the anticipation of renewal, potential, and growth fills the air. After enduring the winter season, there's nothing quite as optimistic as the arrival of spring – and no one quite as optimistic as those who embark on the journey of spring cleaning.

For many of us, especially those who work from home, spring is the perfect season to tackle the clutter, optimize storage, and declutter by donating, recycling, or disposing of unnecessary items. Let's be honest, though. Cleaning your home can be a challenging task on its own. Home offices have a natural tendency to accumulate clutter. Additionally, knowing how to clean a home office effectively can be a bit tricky.

Below, Lockaway Storage has compiled our favorite office cleaning tips for a spring spruce-up, applicable to home offices and any workstations. If you are working from home, whether full-time or in a hybrid arrangement, you'll also find our home office organization ideas valuable in creating the most comfortable and productive workspace possible.

Whether you’ve got a big office, a small office, or a simple workstation in your home, at your employer’s, or both, it’s important to keep any space you work in clutter-free, clean, and disinfected.

Study after study shows the benefits of cleaning and organizing, including the positive effects they have on stress levels and physical health. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your home, office, and/or home office, can also help you think more clearly about the task at hand, feel more in control, and improve your mood. What could be better?

Steps to a Clean Office

1. Clear Your Desk: Start by removing all loose papers, records, and files from your desk. Consider digitizing important documents by scanning, taking pictures, or transcribing them into digital files. If you need to keep physical items, invest in filing cabinets or use folders and basic wall or desk filing systems to keep items organized.
2. Tidy Desk Drawers and Supplies: Empty, clean, and organize your desk drawers and office supplies. Go through your collection of pens, Post-its, and other supplies, and discard items you no longer need or can't use. Consider using drawer organizers to keep everything neat in the future.
3. Clean and Disinfect Equipment: Clean and disinfect your computer equipment and desk. Use paper towels or a soft cloth and appropriate spray cleaner to wipe down your desk and chair. Test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area first, especially if you're cleaning fabric, antique furniture, or delicate surfaces. Use a microfiber cloth to clean your monitor, mouse, and mousepad, and use compressed air to remove crumbs and debris from your keyboard. Consider using disinfecting wipes designed for electronics.
4. Reevaluate Wall Space: Take a look at the visual clutter on your walls. Streamline the post-its, snapshots, and stickers for a cleaner and less distracting appearance. If you frequently jot down notes or ideas, think about getting a small wall-hanging whiteboard for spontaneous inspiration.
5. Organize Digital Files: Don't forget to clean up your digital files as well. Sort and respond to important emails, ensure your documents are properly categorized and stored, and update your passwords. Maintaining digital organization is just as essential as physical organization for a productive workspace.

Organize Your Home Office

While reports suggest that employers are increasingly asking employees to return to the office, it's clear that working from home, at least part of the time, will remain the norm for millions of American office workers. If you find yourself in this situation, working from the same space where you unwind and relax can pose challenges in maintaining a clean and organized home – especially a home office.

This is where the importance of home office organization comes into play. Without a well-defined, functional, and consistent organizational system, paperwork, pens, supplies, laptops, and cords can quickly overwhelm any corner of your home. After all, when you work from home, work is always just a few steps away, and so is the potential for clutter.

While many of the office cleaning tips mentioned earlier apply to a home office, you have more flexibility at home to tailor your workspace precisely to your needs for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Whether it's for the better or the worse, there are likely no cubicles in your apartment or house.

Continue reading for our top home office organization ideas. Hopefully, they'll either perfectly suit your needs or inspire you to create your own tailored solutions!

Don't feel confined to a traditional office setup. While many office workers are accustomed to the standard flatpack desk and upholstered chair combination, your home office allows you to rewrite the rules. Consider unconventional options like a desk crafted from natural materials, floating shelves, a balance ball chair, or even a "walking desk" suspended above a treadmill. 

The key to effective home office organization and functionality is to discover what works best for your unique needs and personal style.

Select an organizational system that harmonizes with your home decor. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're limited to plastic or wire organizers. Instead, opt for softer, more visually appealing materials. Perhaps a jute basket for keeping loose papers in check, an antique tin to house pencils and pens, or a bamboo caddy for your laptop. Invest in items that resonate with you on a personal level, as your home office is still your personal space, devoid of corporate design constraints.

Incorporate elements of nature into your workspace. Houseplants not only add aesthetic appeal but also improve your mental and physical well-being by purifying the air. Positioning your workspace near a window can infuse your environment with natural light and a sense of revitalization that fluorescent-lit offices often lack. 

If you have pets, consider adding a new cat or dog bed to the space to encourage your furry friends to spend time with you during the workday. To explore more ideas on integrating flora, fauna, and other natural elements into your work-from-home sanctuary, check out our recent blog post on creating an eco-friendly workspace.

Remember, a well-organized workspace can have a profound impact on reducing stress, improving focus, and enhancing your overall mood. So, whether your office is large or small, traditional or unconventional, taking steps to maintain a clean and organized workspace is a valuable investment in your professional and personal well-being. Embrace the change of seasons with a fresh and organized start, and let your workspace be a reflection of the optimism that spring brings.

After decluttering your space, if you need a storage unit find a local Lockaway Storage near you to rent a unit!