Hi Everyone!
I'd love to know what your biggest office organizing challenges are? I want to get discussing them and how we can solve them going forward!

Bonnie, are you thinking of things like the fact I can wash, dry and fold my clothes but can't put them away, or things like I wish I had a better handle on my filing/attic/etc?

OK I'm going to put clothes away now lol

My biggest challenge: my office space has to be fully integrated with the living space, because there is no separate room, or even a closet, into which I could build it. So, the computer worktable is right out in the living room, and I need to have spaces for functional binders, supply storage, etc, that looks nice, too. AND, I have to USE that space, instead of piling (and I'm a very natural piler.) AND, it has to be child safe, because we have two very little girls to consider.

We're planning to solve part of this by building two specialized bookcases to flank the fire place; this will give a spot for the wireless printer to live, plus extend my bookcase space up another three feet! It will also give a space to keep my binders closer to hand, which will make it easier to put things away the first time.

To make it all functional and decorative, we're harmonizing the furniture finishes with what we already have going, and using mod-podge to cover some binders and magazine files in a more decorative way. DH is working on a way to minimize the appearance of the two computer towers. We have some artwork planned to hang above the computer desk (it's 8' long, the whole span of the wall between the kitchen and living room.)

Still and all, my biggest challenge is just consistency: making sure things have a home, and making sure I put them back. I'm not afraid to change where that home is, or how things are handled, I just have to do it every day, and not let it build up to chaos!

I'm in a similar situation to Liz. My office space has to "reside" in my living room. However, we don't have to deal with small children all the time. For DH and me, we frequently have our grandkids come to visit. (We love to see them come but we also love to see them go again )

We are currently making plans for a custom built unit for the living room that will store some toys for the grandkids, books (I have quite a few that are NOT readily available through the library system) and an office/computer space.

I am thinking of keeping the units relatively low (no more than 42" high) so that the wall space above it can be used to display a variety of family photos and/or special items. I also want to paint the storage unit and cover the bookshelves so that the things blend in rather than being noticable.

We currently have a hodge-podge of book shelves, toy bins and a small desk in that area of the room. We did that using things we already had to see how that kind of a set-up would work for us. It works but the open book shelves look "too busy" for my liking.

Right now my biggest challenge for my office/craft area is that I am downsizing the furniture and need to figure out how to store everything.

Before I had a huge desk, 2 drawer lateral file cabinet, a 7 drawer and (2) 3 drawer plastic storage units in here. So my challenge is how I am going to store all my scrapbook supplies as well as my office items.

I have 4 wire shelves and 3 wooden ones so there is a lot of craft supplies on them. I also have stuff in the garage that is not in any order.

I am Diane D's GON TWIN yet we have never met.

lol SF. Well I sorted them but had to leave before I put them all away. Not much choice though as I left them all on the futon and put the baskets away with dirty clothes - that'll teach me!

OK I guess I am going to say my biggest challenge is to get the house to where I don't cringe if someone rings the doorbell. Even if that means destroying the attic (more) for the next year or two. I'm getting there but not there yet.

I guess my biggest office challenge is the paper - paper, paper everywhere, but not a piece is filed (to paraphrase another old saying). I posted on another thread that after awhile I just scoop everything into a box for "later" but that doesn't solve the problem. I need to deal with the paper (mainly incoming mail and receipts from my various jobs) in a more timely manner, filing what needs to be filed and tossing what needs to be tossed.

Halebop, this will be a Little Black Raincloud moment, so grab your umbrella... but you know you're going to have to downsize the scrap supply, too. Might be a good time to "weed the stash", actually! I've been having good success with "kitting up" supplies into page protectors, and it's helping me see what items can be de-stashed. Some, I'm just not in love with anymore. Others don't suit my own personal style. I'm planning to have a swap at some point.

One thing I am using in our Living Room/School Room/Office to create some visual peace is the old-fashioned magazine file. Turned so the tall spine is facing outward, with a small brass label holder added, I can keep a LOT of visually disparate things neatly organized, very accessible, and visually quiet. (Darlene, matching woven baskets or canvas bins would fit the same purpose with grandkid toys, for instance, or even books! I'm "filing" the kids' school books and work in the magazine files.)

Cari, with the paper... one thing that helps me is to toss all the junk right off. That way, the build up is less overwhelming. If I do let things go, and there's a big build-up, my first step in sorting is to toss the junk and enclosures, etc... seems like that's 80% of the pile! Would a tickler file, or a binder with category taps and plastic page sleeves be something to help you organize the things you do need to keep?

Today Maria's newsletter is on Drowning in Paper. One thing that stuck in my head is the RAFT section.

R - Read: Letters, memos, newsletter and other paperwork that must be read.

A - Action: Invitations, subscriptions and other paperwork that requires and action.

F - Filing: Paid bills, insurance documents and other paperwork that needs to be kept for legal, financial or other important purposes.

T - Trash: Junk mail and anything wlse yoou really don't need.

As one of the items that I want to do is clean out the file cabinet I will be using this method all the way through my organizing of the office and craft area.

Elizabeth - yes I am planning on getting rid of some of the scrap booking supplies - the granddaughters have asked for it to make cards for the Hero's. So that will take care of some of it.