How to ... set up a home office

Plan location, systems to boost productivity

LAUREN KRAMER

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Sometimes what seems to be the most practical room for a home office does not work perfectly.

"A lot of people choose a downstairs bedroom and that's not always the best place," says Julie Clarke, owner of Organized At Last.

"Think long and hard about where the home office will go," she suggests "Most of us tend to land in the kitchen area, for example, so often, the home office gets located there by default. In a busy family that's where everyone congregates and where the phone is. Sometimes it makes most sense to have your office in or nearby to the kitchen."

'With children, it's nice to have my study centrally located'

"I was keeping way too much paperwork," confesses Kris Sandholm, 34, a Bellingham resident for 10 years. After recruiting the help of personal organizer Julie Clarke, Sandholm created a family binder containing schedules, important phone numbers, kids' activities, school information and takeout menus. "Now I don't have messy drawers anymore," she says.

Sandholm's study is in a handy nook close to the kitchen. "With children it's nice to have my study centrally located," she says. "My husband's study is further away in the house, which is much less convenient."

A key aspect to an organized home office is having a good place for storing and accessing paperwork "I didn't know when to throw things out and Julie taught me how long to keep paperwork like credit card statements and bills," says Sandholm. "I learned that with so much online access, you don't have to keep all this stuff anymore. She also created a great filing system that simplified our office spaces considerably."

-LAUREN KRAMER

Retrieval systems: Nothing piles up like paperwork, but a good filing system can take care of it quickly. Be wary of what you choose to file, though, Clarke warns. "Eighty percent of what we file away we never look at again," she says. "Most people save far more than they ever need which is why it's so hard to retrieve what you need when you need it."

Clarke suggests creating two filing boxes: one for older papers and texts and the other for active files. Clarke also suggests wall pocket files as a mailing system, with categories for items requiring attention such as bills.

Don't go postal: "The key is dealing with the mail on a daily basis so it doesn't pile up," she explains. "So much of what we get in the mail needs to be recycled, but the roadblock people encounter is making decisions and dealing with their mail."

Conquering clutter: "Being disorganized is very costly to people and sucks the life out of you," says Clarke. "I believe that being organized enhances life by giving you time to do the things you love to do."

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POSTED: Sunday, Jul. 13, 2008

How to ... set up a home office

Plan location, systems to boost productivity

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