10 Home Paper Storage Organization Ideas
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We’ve all had those days where work is piling up and paper is spread everywhere around the house. Clutter can take up a ton of physical space and also mental space, adding stress to our daily lives. Here are some tips to declutter and finally organize those paper goods.
Where Does All This Paper Come From?
What paper are we talking about? Sometimes it can feel like paper piles up from various places out of nowhere and we’re left to deal with it. This usually comes from work, bills, receipts and other essential papers you can’t recycle.
If you work from home, you may find that these work and business-related papers have even crept into your personal spaces of your home, leaving you feeling overwhelmed. It’s time to tackle this paper monster right now!
Why It’s Important to Have an Organizational System
Organizational systems aren’t just for type A people that want everything to have a place. Everyone can benefit from an organizational system that works for them. So often we don’t realize how our space affects our mental health.
When our spaces are a cluttered mess, naturally our brains feel the same way. It takes us longer to sift through and find the things we need when everything is scattered everywhere. When we have a place for everything, we free up that extra minute or two we spend searching for a specific document. It doesn’t mean that your space has to stay totally clean all the time, but having a system in place allows you to organize every now and then.
Methods to Sort Out Paper to Prevent Clutter
There are many ways you can declutter your home and office more often and more efficiently.
Organize Immediately
First, start organizing as soon as you receive any paper products. This means sorting through mail when it is delivered for what is important and what is junk mail.
Recycle
Make sure to recycle paper goods that you don’t need. The Earth will thank you.
Find a Technique That Works for You
Also, find a specific organization technique for your desk and work papers that works for you. If you know there are different categories of papers you’ll have at your desk, create a separate place for each.
Key Point: Start organizing these papers right when you get them and have a place specifically set up for keeping the paper organized and put away.
10 Paper Organization Ideas
Here are a few methods to organize all those pesky papers:
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Desktop File Box
For most people, many important work documents are stored online, rather than in a physical copy. However, there still are those random papers from work that we need to keep organized. Getting a small desktop file box can be a great way to keep track of files, without losing the space a filing cabinet would take up.
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Under Desk Storage
If you do have more papers that you need kept in a larger space, consider storage underneath your desk. There are a large variety of small filing cabinets that fit just right. Or, try storage options that fit directly underneath your desk, acting as a hidden drawer for extra storage needs. This space under your desk is free real estate that we often forget about, so why not put that floor space to good use with a filing cabinet or other tool of organization.
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Wall Mounted Shelf
If you have no desk space and no under desk space, consider a wall mounted shelf option. There are many hanging file storage options that won’t take up any space on your desk, as well as taking advantage of free vertical wall space in your home office.
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Paper Portfolio
Another way to separate your papers into file sections without losing space is to buy a portfolio. Accordion portfolios shrink and expand to add paper, with the ability to be taken with you or stored anywhere. This is a great way to stay tidy while also not taking up more space than you have to.
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Desk Accessories
Along with papers, desk accessories can unnecessarily take up space on your desk. Make sure that everything has a purpose or, in the words of Marie Kondo, brings you joy. However, there are many desktop accessories that help organization office essentials, such as binder clips, staplers and sticky notes.
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Mail Box
Why not have a cute box inside where you place your mail? But don’t forget: This isn’t a place to store everything you receive in the mail. We still recommend you sort your mail and then put the remaining mail in this box. Place it conveniently right by your door so you can easily place mail here as soon as you come into your home. This will avoid mail being thrown on counters, floors or anywhere else that can hold an extra envelope or two. Also, since this is a box that’s out in the open, you’ll more often see and remember to sort through your mail, compared to if you were to throw it into a junk drawer.
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Desk Drawer Organizer
Often, paper can get stuffed into a desk drawer where we forget about it until it gets a bit too cramped. Make your desk drawer work for you by sectioning off parts of it for paper, tools and whatever other office supplies you need to store. The goal is to have a place for everything and sectioning can help with this.
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Paper Boxes
If filing shelves and other forms of organization are still a bit too much for you, try incorporating a box to put all of your paper goods in. You can further organize the papers by putting folders in this box, as well, to make it clean and tidy. Or, just throw the paper in!
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Folder Organization
Speaking of folders, when organizing these, use a labeling system to make sure you can find your paper documents quickly and easily. You want to make life easier with an organization solution, so purposefully organize the folders you use.
Key Point: Use an organizational system that works for you. This could be organizing your files alphabetically, by group or category, color or even by deadline.
Drop Zone
Just like the mailbox, have a separate tray to drop your papers in every day. You’ll probably not want to sit down and organize every paper you have right when you get home. To avoid throwing these papers down and messing up your desk, get a tray that’s designated for throwing your random papers on. This is also better than throwing everything into your clean space before you’ve organized. Keep the organizational spaces for organized papers and the drop zone for any random flyer you receive.
Additional Organization Tips
Here are a few additional tips to make organization a practice that you want to do, rather than have to:
Make it Fun
Pick cute storage boxes and filing options that are decorated with your favorite pattern or color. You’re more likely to use something and keep it clean if you’re naturally drawn to it. Have fun with organization and make it personal to you.
Clean it Out
Make sure to look through this organized space every 3 to 6 months. Now that you have this clean space, keep it that way. That means not letting it get cluttered by old documents that you no longer need.
Go Paperless
Consider going paperless. The beauty of digital storage is that you can find anything you’re looking for with a simple search. Still keep your digital space organized to avoid those stress-filled clutter spaces, but know that you’ll be able to find anything you put on the computer with a bit more ease. Also, there are apps you can use to easily scan physical papers onto your computer. This leaves no excuses for not converting your physical world into a digital archive.
Create a Timeline
How often will you need to look at these papers? Store less time sensitive papers in a more discreet location. Your bank statements and tax return can stay in the box under your bed because you won’t need them in the immediate future. This frees up space in your desk or office for more important, time-sensitive papers that need to be dealt with immediately.
Label
Don’t be afraid to label everything. This may seem like an extra tidy step, but it will help you in the future. Label everything and store your papers with a system.
Organization is all about having an efficient method that you can follow when you need. When you have a system for organizing your paper goods, they’re less likely to get out of hand and, if they do, you know exactly where to put them back.