Working from home comes with the opportunity to create a home office that works for you. With thoughtful organization, whether an IT professional, masseuse, artist, or writer, it is important to create a relaxing environment that promotes efficiency. And in order to stay organized, you will need to put some time into thinking about your layout and furniture needs.

A good place to start is reducing the overall amount of furniture in your home office by purchasing multipurpose organizational pieces. For many, having clients over or meeting with peers is not a common occurrence, so even though having extra chairs is nice on occasion, it doesn’t warrant the clutter. This is where a lateral file cabinet with a cushioned top can be the perfect solution. Kelly Niesen of Madison Liquidators says, “This type of cabinet acts as a storage unit, but also is a great piece if somebody needs to have a quick impromptu meeting at their desk.”

There are also pieces that work as a combination of different types of storage. Something as simple as a cabinet with a hutch helps to make use of vertical space and can be strong enough for loads of important reference books. Since hutch shelves are generally open, they’re also great for displaying photos or art pieces.

For a small home office, a tall wardrobe cabinet might be all that is needed outside of a chair and desk. Kelly says, “This style of cabinet, when people are limited on budget, gives you a two-drawer filing cabinet. The tall door is a wardrobe, so you can hang a coat or purse. And there are three shelves in here, so it gives you a whole bunch of different storage options all wrapped into one; whereas if you wanted to buy the shelf, the wardrobe, and filing cabinet separately, you are probably looking at $2,500 worth of storage.”

As with any piece of furniture, it is important to get the right quality for your needs. Nick Niesen of Madison Liquidators says that you really can’t go wrong with laminate, metal, or wood, but get something that’s hardy. On the shelving available at Madison Liquidators, “If you wanted to load it with books or records, you could do it and trust that the thing is not going to fall apart. … When people buy bookcases for their house, it is so often coming from a place where it is a cheap product and not really a piece of furniture. Everything we have here is furniture, and it is heavy duty. You could load almost as much as you want on a shelf without any bowing or worrying that the whole thing is going to collapse.”

It is also important to consider if your shelving needs will change over time. Adjustable shelving guarantees a piece will be useful over the course of its life. The same goes for portability. A filing cabinet with wheels could be a huge timesaver if you work out of multiple rooms.

There are also specialized types of storage, such as pieces that can store a safe and fireproof storage to keep fire out or in—for the woodworker, having a place to put oil-soaked rags is a must. For those who need it, specialty storage is key to staying organized when working from home.

One of the cleanest ways to incorporate organization into your home office is optimizing your desk by outfitting it with drawers, cabinets, and a hutch. For many working from home, the desk is where the majority of their time is spent, and having everything within arms’ reach is essential.

Working with a professional is the best way to ensure you are getting the most out of your home-office investment. You do not want to miscalculate and end up buying something that only gives you 12 inches of walking room between pieces; the standard is 30 inches—a common width of an interior doorway. Kelly says, “Any of our salespeople have great ideas on how to layout an office, even a home office or small space, to really get the most out of it. They know all the options available for how we can get all your stuff stored and out of the way so it is a comfortable space to work in. It makes a big difference to work with a professional.”

A home office is not one size fits all. Building one that truly fits your needs will make work that much easier. Whether you already know what you want in your layout or are just getting started, there is always a benefit to working with a professional who knows what is out there.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer living in Sun Prairie.

Photographs provided by Madison Liquidators.

Madison Liquidators

2224 Pleasant View Road, Suite 6
Middleton, WI 53562
608.831.1012
madisonliquidators.com