Home Office for Working Remotely
November 1, 2012
More and more, Americans are finding ways to make working from home a feasible solution. There are various reasons why working remotely can be beneficial to both the employee as well as the employer, including a need for less office space, less time wasted during the day with a commute, money saved on gas because there is no commute, and much more.
One big obstacle in getting your home ready to be worked from is setting it up to mimic your in-office conditions. Working at a desk that is separated from the everyday distractions of the home is very important and increases productivity as it feels similar to being in the office. Some are lucky enough to have a separate room that can double as an office, while others will just have to find a secluded corner of the living room.
If your job includes a lot of paperwork, then it is vital to have the right shelves and files to keep your desk area organized. These office organization furniture pieces are taken for granted by those that work in the office – those that are setting up an at-home office will quickly realize just how much furniture is provided on-site.
One must-have item for the home office is a filing cabinet. Personally I prefer filing cabinets that are set on wheels or casters because they make it easy to move them around the room. Without a proper filing cart, you may find your desk begin to pile up with paperwork. This gives the office a cluttered appearance, which is only compounded by the fact that it is in your home – making your own living room look cluttered.
A range of bookcases in any shape and size!
Another helpful item for the home office is a sturdy and spacious book case. This is more important for those that require reference books and other larger items for their job. A bookcase can be a great way to add a touch of décor to the room while providing convenient storage.
As working from home becomes more and more common-place, many people who never dreamed their field offered that opportunity are discovering otherwise. By using quality office furniture in the home you can create an organized and functional home office.
Tie Rack Hangers Save Space
October 31, 2012
If you, like me, are lacking in space for all of your clothes in the closet, but you still have those ties to deal with (either yours or your significant other’s), a tie rack hanger is a great way to go. These handy helpers have hooks on them and an additional hook at the top just like a regular clothes hanger. So you can just hang it from your closet rod right along with your other garments. Most don’t take up too much space, either, this Tie Hanger, for example, is just 5 inches wide, about the same amount of space that two shirts or dresses would take up in the closet.
It’s a nice alternative to wall mounted racks, especially if you are not allowed to drill into the walls in the home where you live. And, as a bonus, this one is made of cedar, which has a wonderful aroma and also protects clothes from moth damage. You can find these tie hangers in a variety of styles to match your tie storage needs. I know that with the holidays coming up, I will definitely be pulling out more and more ties for different occasions and am always looking for the best way to store them.
How to Organize Your Spices
October 24, 2012
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I want to continue along the kitchen theme. Does the following situation sound familiar? You are in the middle of a recipe and go to your spices to find the one you need. You spot it behind several others and try to carefully lift it out, but instead you create a domino effect and end up with spice bottles falling all over your counter. If you can relate, then read on for some ideas of how to best organize your spices.
Gather – Gather all of your spices. Sort through them and get rid of any old, expired bottles. Make a shopping list of any that you need to replace. Now that you know how many you have, you can plan which space would be the best fit.
Identify the Space – You want to store all of your spices together in one area. The first step is to determine which cupboard, shelf, etc. will be home to your spices. When choosing a space, consider frequency. If you cook with spices several times a week, then pick a space that is easy to get to.
Clean – Before loading everything, take a few minutes to clean your cupboard or shelf.
Put It All Back Together– There are many inexpensive products out there to help you organize your spices. Here are some of my favorites:
Expand-a-Drawer Spice Organizer – If you have enough drawer space to dedicate a drawer to spices, I love this product. It opens up cupboard space, makes it extremely easy to see what spices you have, and provides easy access to all of your spices.
Tiered Shelf – If extra drawer space is only a dream, then this is an effective, inexpensive option. The Expand-a-Shelf is similar to the previous solution, but it is meant for a shelf. This product makes it easier to see what you have and access it when you need it (without the domino effect!).
Lazy Susan – This rotating turntable is another option for a cupboard or pantry. If you use a lot of spices in your cooking and prefer to have them close at hand, there are several lazy susan options for your countertop as well.
Wall-Mount – This is a great option if you are short on space in your kitchen. There are several different styles, including a new magnetic spice rack.
Whether you’ve experienced the “domino effect” or you’ve purchased spices unnecessarily because you were unaware of what you had, then follow these suggestions to organize your spices…just in time for the holidays!
Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.