By Christina Morton DesAuguste
Christina is the founder of The Organizing Company and has been organizing professionally since 2013. She is currently grateful for her community pool, grilling out, and Piña Coco Sparkling Water.
No A.I. copy & paste here! All our blogs are still written by professional organizers or other humans.
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Do any of these pain points hit home for you?
You're embarrassed to share your real background on Zoom calls
You hope clients don't “pop in" at your office because you'll look like a crazy person
You can't focus because there is so much going on in your office
You're overwhelmed by piles and can't find what you need
Your desk drives you crazy and you don't have enough desk space to work
You don’t have enough storage for all the purposes (and people) your office needs to serve
I get it. We ask a lot of our offices and sometimes things just get out of hand. Luckily, a lot of the time there are quick fixes to address the same underlying problem: visual overstimulation. There is just too much to look at. Too much for your brain to process. Too much to distract you. When a small space has too much stuff visible it makes the space feel more full and busy and chaotic, even if it’s all relatively organized. I’ll share more examples of how this plays out as I go through this list of things I see as big culprits in this area. As you read, think about ways you can simplify what is visible in your space.
Realistically, these issues can manifest in any size office, but they become especially bothersome in smaller spaces. Whether you work from home or at an actual office (remember those?), these are quick things you can address to instantly make your office feel more calm. The bonus? Your office will also be more presentable for Zoom calls or in-person meetings (remember those???).
#1: Cords
For some of you this is the #1 issue, but for others you might be tempted to skip over this one. Please don't. Nothing about visible or tangled cords says "professional workplace" or "productivity haven". Cord clutter may seem minimal if you just have 3-5 visible cords. But even just a few loose, visible cords can make a small office feel sloppy and messy. Corral the cords and the space will instantly feel more put together and contained. It will feel more orderly and tidy. Because it is. Cords are one of those things that creep up on ya and make your space feel less organized and more chaotic. But they're also super easy to deal with.
Now, some of you have wayyy more than 3-5 cords tangled on top of and around and behind your desk. And cabinets. I work in lots of homes where it is seriously becoming a fire hazard. Overloaded power strips and extension cords. And extension cords plugged into extension cords (a big fire safety no-no). Dust caked onto everything. Trash and food bits that have fallen behind the desk into the rats nest of cords. It's not great, folks. Take care of the fire/safety/pest control issues before you move onto anything else. Plus, a dust free space instantly feels less chaotic to work in.
Aside from those issues, lots of cords cause chaos in general. Often cord disorganization or excess means less usable desk space because cords are running across desks. And when you need to replace or relocate a device, you have lots of untangling to do just to get it unplugged and removed. Often I find cords plugged into outlets/power strips but not plugged into a device! And I'm not talking about a phone charger that's just not in use. AC adapters and specialty cords just taking up space and causing mayhem.
So untangle your cords, use cord clips or tracks or baskets to contain them based on your situation, and label where necessary. And don't forget to dust it all off for a fresh start.
#2: Excess Tech
Along with all those cords come lots of devices. It's time to evaluate what actually needs to stay set up and plugged in, what can be stored, and what you can pass along to a new home (or to electronics recycling).
This will look different depending on what your job is, but most people I work with as a Professional Organizer don't need as much tech set up as they currently have. Often I'll ask a client what they use on a daily/weekly/monthly basis and find out it's just their laptop, but they have 10 other devices on their desk and filing cabinet. So evaluate your usage of each item and relocate it accordingly.
Devices should stay set up/plugged in all the time if they get frequent use (daily or weekly). This is probably your computer/laptop and accessories and maybe a printer.
If something is low-usage (monthly or less) consider if it can go in a cabinet to pull out as needed. Make sure it's easy enough to get out and that there's a place for it to set up while you're using it. Examples for this category are often things like ring lights, podcast mics (unless you're active weekly), cameras, jump drives and hard drives, spare cords (but how many lightening cords does one human need "just in case"?). For me, this even includes my printer and shredder.
If you never use a device, why are you keeping it? Sell it, donate it, recycle it, or give it back to the IT department to deal with. Are you really going to start burning DVDs again, friend? In many cases, you can borrow the tech you need for those once-every-4-years tasks that come up. The fuller a space is, the more chaotic it feels. So getting rid of things you don't use is an easy, quick win to instantly make your office feel more calm.
#3: Papers & Mail
This is a biggie and I could write multiple books on the subject (someday, maybe). But for today, let's keep it simple. Create 3-6 categories for papers before they get filed, passed along, or disposed of. A filing system will have way more categories, but that's a topic for another day. Let's just deal with the system for incoming papers and determine a long term storage location (like a filing cabinet/box).
An example of categories for active/incoming papers could be as simple as:
To do/action
To file
To shred
Inbox/Outbox
Some of you may need subcategories for the to do/action items. It could be:
Personal action items
Business/work action items
-You may need subcategories based on your role like accounts receivable/payable; sales/marketing; Prospects/clients/staff; by client name; by project/event. Think of what your major roles are and create categories based on that.
Once you have your 3-6 main categories for incoming papers, determine how to store them (and how to label because you should definitely label them!). Stacked trays are an oldie but a goodie, as are wall pockets. You might need binders for certain tasks or projects. Or you might put action items in your daily planner so they are visible when you open and review it each day (better for minimal paper situations). Consider if you are an "out of sight, out of mind" personality and account for that rather than trying to force yourself to be an "innie". It may require building in a new routine so you don't forget something or adding reminders in your calendar even if things are more visible.
Focus first on what will be functional for you and then figure out how to make it look good, remembering that an "ugly" paper tray is less ugly than the piles cluttering your desk right now. Just sayin'. Move in the right direction and push yourself harder in the other areas on this list if you need more categories visible than the average Jane.
For many of you, papers are temporary, just passing through. There's less and less that actually needs to be kept on paper and filed. So really push yourself to get real about what you need to keep and implement systems to go digital. But do establish a location for long term files to hang in file folders (please don't stack papers in bins if you ever plan to access them again).
Bonus tip: have a day each week that you routinely deal with the file and shred bins, or, better yet, do it at the end of each work day so it never piles up and becomes overwhelming.
#4: Personal Care Items
You may need a few things at your desk, but you don't need all the things. Gather all of the personal care items in your office and evaluate what is high access and whether the other stuff needs to stay in there in the first place. If you have a home office, you're never really that far from whatever you might need, so stick to the essentials. If you go to an actual office, I can understand needing a few more just-in-case items, but still be realistic. Also consider if those items are already things you keep in your purse/workbag/car. I keep lip balm in my purse so I didn't need to keep it in my desk when I had an off-site office, for example. Save yourself space and clutter by minimizing the toiletries in your office.
Common Items:
Lip balm
Facial tissue
Pony tail
Eye drops
Feminine products
Eyeglass wipes
Hand lotion
Hand wipes
Things you may want to reconsider keeping in your office:
Nail clippers (gross, folks)
Q-tips/ear cleaners (also gross)
Excess makeup (no hate if you really do your eyeliner at the office, but how often is that a thing?)
Jewelry
Razors
Anything else that is not regularly used at your desk/in your office that would not cause major embarrassment or discomfort if you didn't have it
Whatever you decide to keep in your office, I recommend keeping these items out of sight in your office (with the exceptions of facial tissue and maybe hand lotion), whether it's a home office or off-site. Having this stuff out on your desk/surfaces makes your space feel cluttered, and may be off-putting to visitors. You can keep a "personal care" toiletry bag in the cabinet or put items in drawer dividers within your desk drawers.
#5: Excess Office Supplies
Sometimes I see a stash of paper pads and pens that would take a lifetime to use up. If your office feels very full and you don't have enough space to hide items away and keep everything organized, consider if office supplies are the space hog. Duplicates like two staplers or three three hole punches are obvious ways to clear more space and clutter. But also be realistic about how many sticky notes/pens/paper pads/tape you use in a year. If you have accumulated an excess of any office supplies, consider donating some to a coworker/friend/school/thrift store to get back to a manageable level. It's costing you more in time and sanity to keep them than it will be to buy them again, for most of you. Going forward, don't buy in bulk unless you're consuming it in bulk and have space to store all the bulk. Costco isn't always the best deal when you factor in what it costs you in time, stress, square footage, and storage solutions to deal with that quantity of stuff (this applies to more than just office supplies, by the way).
What you keep should be kept in closed storage (like cabinets or desk drawers) with most used items easiest to access. Only keep items you use multiple times a day on your desk. Remember, we're trying to reduce the chaos and clutter.
#6: Picture Frames & Knick Knacks
When there is a lot of visual clutter (even if it's not actual disorganization clutter), spaces feel chaotic and overwhelming. It's hard to focus and be productive. Reduce the amount of stuff to look at and your space will instantly feel more put together, tidy, and calm. You can still keep it creative and inspiring with selective items.
You may think all the photos and kids' artwork and figurines are fun and inspiring and make you more relatable/likable, but there's a limit. Especially when you are in a professional (not casual) workplace or take Zoom calls that need to look professional. Truth? I don't think my attorney looks impersonal because she doesn't have family photos or knick knacks in her background. I think she looks professional and focused. But I do think that a course leader I had looked messy and unprofessional because of all the knick knacks and pictures (and books, but we'll get to that...) on the shelves behind her on our Zoom meetings. I was so distracted by all the stuff that it was hard to focus on what she was saying. That was 3 years ago and it is still the first thing I think of when I think about chaotic offices. And I work in chaotic offices all the time as a Professional Organizer.
Keep it minimal. And you may want to dial it back even more if you're in a very professional role such as an attorney, doctor, banker, etc. People won't think you're impersonal because of your surroundings if your personality is personal! If you're a video game project manager, having a World of Warcraft figurine (is that the right term?) from Blizzard Entertainment commemorating your contribution to the launch of the game might be impressive and relevant to the people you Zoom with. Otherwise, it might just look like a toy and inappropriate if you're an accountant or realtor. Adjust for your setting, but we probably all could do some editing here. We don't need to display (or keep) everything we love.
#7: Books
You heard me. I said it. For some of you, your books are making your office feel and look chaotic and cluttered.
Remember the course leader I mentioned above? It wasn't just the knick knacks that were distracting. Her bookshelves were packed and were not arranged in an appealing manner. Think about it: most "real" book readers don't organize by color unless they are already organized by topic. Even then, it's rare. And rainbow may not be your aesthetic (mine either). And so alphabetical just doesn't look good. All the different heights and colors and thicknesses. It's busy to look at. If you're in a library, cool. But if that's what's surrounding your desk, it's a lot for you and your clients to look at. Let's reassess.
If the books are personal, relocate them.
If the books are work related but decorative or "trophies" to show off: cut it by at least half. Empty space is not wasted space. Anyone can put impressive books on their shelf and say they read them; be impressive with how you communicate, relate, and the excellence of the service or product you provide. But that's just my opinion.
If your books are genuinely reference books that you access often for work, consider how you can arrange them to be less chaotic but still functional. Also consider if some of them are past their usage and could be donated/sold. Are you really going to read it again or reference it? Are there any books that could be in a shallow, closed cabinet for rare usage (note that I said shallow. Don't cram them double layered in a deep cabinet, please)? Legal books that are very similar in size, color, and style don't cause as much visual clutter because of their similarities. The trouble makers are the ones of all different varieties. And don't forget the simple aspect of how much space bookshelves take up as well. Often they are bulky and make a space feel smaller even before you add the books to them. But if you must keep all your books, make sure you are eliminating other items like knick knacks and artwork and consider rearranging your office so you face the books and your client doesn't (or vice versa if you rarely have clients/Zoom calls. Keep your view calm).
#8 Hobbies/Crafts
This one is a killer in home offices which often double as some other space. I get it that home offices need to be multi-purpose sometimes, but you probably don't want the hobby hindering the money making.
You know the drill by now of assessing what you actually use and what can be tucked away behind closed doors or gotten rid of. But also remember to think in zones when you're multi-purposing. Prioritize your work space and work functions and set those up to be separate from hobbies, even if you need to share the desk. That could mean that the desk drawers are for work items and you keep your hobby items in a cabinet and just bring stuff to the desk as needed. Or it could be separate areas of the room. Maybe behind your desk is Zoom ready and simple, and in front of your desk is another workstation for your hobby/crafts (let's still keep it simple so it's not too much for you to look at, though. Utilize closed storage.). It's chaotic to have to move stuff around every day to go from work to play, so see how you can really create distinct stations, or at least put your craft items in a caddy to carry to and from the desk.
Of course, don't forget to get real about what you'll actually use. Are you still into that hobby? Would you rather have the space or the stuff?
#9: Open Storage
I'm taking a different angle for this one, but it might be the single biggest factor affecting how busy, crowded, and chaotic your space feels. If you are using open storage such as open shelving or cabinets, it's making your office feel less calm. Open storage aka visual storage could also be the cute pencil cups and tape dispenser and paper clip holders you have on your desktop. They make your supplies visible which adds more to look at.
Visual clutter may not be actual clutter, meaning that your office supplies could be totally organized and labeled on an open bookcase but they still cause over stimulation for your brain to take it all in. Actual clutter may also exist in things you don't know what to do with sitting randomly on shelves and surfaces without any order, but I'm not even talking about that. Just the amount of stuff your eyes have to look at is a lot if you're utilizing visual storage solutions. And that becomes visual "noise" and is silently exhausting your brain in the background. It's also causing distractions. Especially if you're a woman. We tend to carry a heavier mental load of all the things that need to get done and so our eye is trained to look for that and not just tune out the visual noise. So you notice the stuff on your bookshelf and desktop and filing cabinet, even if it's organized. It's distracting and can send you down a rabbit hole of remembering you wanted to reorder sticky notes and Sharpies and then you're on Amazon and put that stuff in your cart, but, of course, notice the "you might also like" or "buy again" sections they hit you with and you're off down another rabbit hole.
Eliminate distraction and visual overwhelm by minimizing the items visible in your office. Do that by utilizing closed storage also known as hidden storage. This could look like a cabinet with doors or drawers. It could be using your existing open shelving but getting nice, calm looking baskets/bins/boxes for items on the shelf so that you only have 6-8 things to look at (that all match and are soothing to the eye) rather than hundreds. If you use the large 11x11" or 13x13" cubes, please just make sure you find ways to keep the contents organized within each cube! And avoid the fabric ones because they just aren't durable enough.
Hidden storage can also simply look like utilizing your desk drawers better for the things you're currently storing on your desktop. Unless you're using paper clips many times each day, they can really live in a drawer neatly contained in a little bin just for them. It gives you more space to work and also reduces the visual stimulation directly in front of you.
Take some time this weekend (or Monday as you kick your week off) to address these areas and your office will instantly feel more calm and put together. Of course, if you know you need a total overhaul, make sure you're going through the full organizing method using my free guide. Or shoot me an email if you want personal coaching or want me to just come do it all for you!
Happy Organizing!
Christina
PS: If you're following along with my monthly plan to create an organized home, don't forget to do a deep dive on your papers as well. If you haven't yet, you can get the free monthly plan right here if you want to follow along!
May 28th, 2026
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