How to Keep Small Office Spaces Clean & Uncluttered

Creating order in a busy world

It’s easy to lose track of all the things you need to use during an average workday. Pens, papers, clips, staples, books, mobile devices—little by little, the clutter starts to add up. Keeping a clean office space doesn’t just make it easier to find what you need; an organized work area can make you less stressed and more productive. 

Luckily, you don’t need to toss everything out to discover workplace zen. All it takes is a clever use of organizational tools and a considered approach to transform a cramped, messy working environment into one that gives you plenty of breathing room—even if you don’t have a lot of space. The following tips will help put you on the road toward organizational bliss.

Smaller desks give you more room to breathe

If you’re looking for a place to start your organization journey, begin with your desk. It’s the focal point of the office, and workers can spend up to six hours of their day sitting down at one. You need a desk that offers ample space to work, store supplies and keep business-critical papers nearby without getting in your way. 

It’s tempting to try to go big. More desk space means more space to work, right? 

Not necessarily. A larger desk is bulkier and more challenging to fit into smaller office spaces. If a desk occupies most of your office or cubicle, you won’t have room for other furniture or supplies. More desk space also means more opportunities for clutter.

For space-saving ideas, consider a corner desk, which can offer plenty of space to store your must-have supplies and accessories while staying out of the way. Another route to consider is the floating desk, which offers a smaller footprint than standard office desks while still offering plenty of space for getting work done. Some models even fold up and into the wall to create space when you’re not using it.

Everything in its place

Next, it’s time to put all the unsorted papers, pens, file folders and other office supplies into their proper place. This is where you can really lean into a storage solution that fits into your unique workstation. Consider the following options for each use case:

• Paperwork: A combination of file folders and file cabinets will help to prevent stacks of loose paper from slowly consuming the entire office.

• Books, notebooks and binders: A bookshelf is a perfect way to keep these kinds of objects easy to find but out of the way. If space is at a premium, consider a rotating bookshelf—they can easily be stored in a corner while providing the same storage space of a shelf several times its size.

• Pens, pencils and other small supplies: Desk organizers keep these must-have supplies within arm’s reach while minimizing clutter. A simple cup works great if you just need to keep a few pens nearby, while a small assortment of stacked shelves can also store sticky notes, paperclips and whatever else you need.

Stay organized with labels & color-coding

Now that everything is where it needs to be, it’s time to make sure you know where everything is at a glance. You can apply labels to just about anything, like shelves, drawers, trays—even the spines of notebooks. A computerized label maker will help you make short work of this process (and they’re fun to use, too). 

For paperwork, it may be easier to rely on color-coded folders rather than labels so you can instantly tell what’s stored within at a glance. You could organize files by priority—for example, anything stored in a red folder is considered high priority, while green folders are low priority. Another way to organize is by category; blue could be used for financial documents, while orange is internal documentation. You could also sort files by year, each color representing a particular decade. Whatever you choose should make sense based on your workflow and be consistent.

Create a separate station for printers & scanners

In addition to your computer, you might have other devices—like a printer or scanner—that you’ll need to use throughout the day. If you’re working in a large office, these needs are probably already covered. If you’re operating a small business out of your home, you’ll need space for these devices, placing them in a way that they remain accessible without getting in the way.

Consider using a small end table and placing it in an unused part of the room to keep these devices out of the way until you need them. You can condense even further with an all-in-one device with WiFi connectivity, which combines functions like printing, scanning and photocopying into a single device.

Don’t forget the walls!

Desk space might be at a premium, but your walls are just begging to be used. Not only are they a great way to spruce up your environment with picture frames and posters, but they can also move some organizational tools off the floor and desk and into your sightline.

Tools like cork boards and wall calendars help you keep dates and other important information top of mind and easily accessible. Wall shelves are handy for storing books or supplies and can also be used to hang up some greenery or framed photos to bring the room to life.

Declutter your space regularly

Even the most optimized and organized workspace will eventually succumb to clutter creep. To avoid losing all of your hard work, get in the habit of reassessing what’s in your workspace every week or so. If you’re using something regularly, it can stick around where you need it.  If you’re not using it at the moment but still need it every now and then, file it away where it belongs. If it’s something you don’t need for a few months, consider archiving it in long-term storage (like a closet or tucked-away file cabinet) or simply throw it out if it’s finished serving its purpose.

Clutter-free means peace of mind

You may need a lot of equipment nearby to do your job, but that doesn’t mean it has to overwhelm your workspace. By using these tips, you’ll create a welcome, stress-free space that will help you do your best possible work.

If you’re looking to pick up space savers for your small business or home office, look no further than Walmart Business. A free account will give you access to low prices on an assortment of organizational supplies and furniture with free, fast shipping right to your door on orders over $35.¹

Already have an account? Upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership to save over $500/year and enjoy exclusive rewards for your organization.²

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).