Last Updated on June 7, 2026 by DIYbunker
There is nothing quite like walking into a beautiful, tidy workspace that instantly boosts my mood and motivates me. I don’t know about you, but when my surroundings are a cluttered mess, my brain feels completely scattered, and my daily productivity absolutely plummets.
As you can see, I have somehow turned my desk area into a sort of mini library. While books double as great decor, it’s getting a little out of hand. So, these books have got to go somewhere more practical, like a bookcase.
Since I am mastering the remote work life these days, creating an efficient, beautiful home office is more important than ever. To help you reclaim your space and focus, I am sharing my exact step-by-step process for organizing your office from top to bottom. I will walk through everything from the initial decluttering phase to choosing smart furniture pieces that look gorgeous while keeping you active and healthy throughout the workday.
Phase 1: The Initial Purge & Prep
Declutter like crazy
No matter which room I am working on, the absolute best thing I can do to get my space organized is to declutter as much as possible. Anything you no longer love or use often can be donated or sold to someone who will get much more use out of it. A rule of thumb I personally use is if I haven’t used it in the past year, it’s gotta go.
Take inventory first
Once you’ve decided what you want to keep, take note of how much stuff you have to get an idea of how much space it will take to organize it all.
Keep like items together in zones
Organizing items by category is a great starting point. Having items that functionally go together in the same spot makes it easier to find things when you need them. In some cases, I do like to separate items and keep them closer to my workspace if I use them frequently.
It’s okay to throw away some things
If you find items that are broken or of no use to anyone if donated, it’s okay to throw them away or recycle them. Tossing things out is liberating in a way, but also painful. I don’t like to waste items! This step is very important because it reminds me to be careful about what I purchase.
Phase 2: Mastering Your Desk Setup
Keep the desktop area clear
I feel at peace when my desk is clean and clear, so I keep desk decor to a minimum. It also makes it easier to wipe everything down regularly. If you love to decorate, consider storing your decorations around your desk, like on a floating shelf (we’ll get to this later).
Invest in a standing desk
Creating a work environment that allows for comfort is key to staying productive. My husband and I both use UPLIFT standing desks. Being able to seamlessly transition between sitting and standing throughout the day keeps our energy high and helps us power through the afternoon slump.
You can learn more about our standing desks here.
Supplement your steps with a walking pad
Working from home can make it surprisingly tough to move your body. To combat this, I use an inclining walking pad right under my desk. It perfectly fills the gap to reach 10k steps per day, in addition to the daily walks outside with our dog, making it an absolute game-changer for remote work life. If you’re new to walking pads, I recommend using one for up to 20 minutes at a time, a couple of times per day.
Opt for small footprint lighting
Lighting can make or break your office vibe, but traditional lamps often take up way too much desk real estate. I’ve been using this LED desk lamp that folds down to work on my hobbies and read, and it’s been great.
Phase 3: Smart Storage & Furniture Solutions
Use a narrow file cabinet
To keep our paperwork and essential files organized right by the desk, I use a narrow square file cabinet. Its slim profile tucks in beautifully next to the workstation, offering tons of vertical storage without eating up valuable floor space.
Rethink the traditional wardrobe
When you live in a smaller house, you have to get creative with your furniture choices. We actually use a wardrobe in the office to organize a mix of traditional office stuff and our everyday essentials. It keeps everything completely hidden behind beautiful doors.
Create a launchpad for bags
Inside that wardrobe, we carved out some spots to store our bags when we go out. Having a specific home for purses and backpacks keeps them off the floor and prevents them from piling up in the entryway or cluttering the office corners.
Maximize vertical wall space
When space is limited, look up. Install floating shelves or a chic pegboard to move items off your surfaces and onto the walls. It adds a lovely decorative element while keeping your workspace clear.
