I don’t know what your office setup looks like, but over the years I’ve learned it’s fun—and practical—to think beyond a traditional study when choosing a home office location.
On one occasion I converted our previous dining room into an office (details are available here).
Earlier last year I borrowed my son’s bedroom and turned it into a combined craft room and office. It was a flexible space for creative projects and work tasks alike.
Right now my workstation is smack in the middle of the living room. The setup is simple: a table repurposed as a desk, positioned in the windows at the front of the house beside the entryway.
Because it’s just a table with no built-in storage, I’ve had to get creative about where to store everyday office supplies. Drawers are ideal for keeping small items organized and out of sight, so I borrowed a couple from the nearby buffet.
The buffet’s top two drawers became my go-to spots for pens, tape, paper clips, labels and other small items. They had grown a little unruly over time:
I started the organizing process with my favorite simple tool: a timer. I set it for 30 minutes and focused on the task. Using a short block of time like this makes a project feel manageable and prevents overthinking.
First I emptied both drawers and grouped similar items together—pens with pens, markers with markers, sticky notes together—so I could clearly see what I had. Sorting is the simplest step, and it immediately reduces clutter.
Next, I tested pens and markers and discarded anything that didn’t work. Loose receipts, stray scraps of paper and miscellaneous bits of junk also made it into the discard pile. Clearing out the broken and unnecessary items made space for what I actually use on a regular basis.
To complete the drawer organization, I reused boxes and divider trays that I already had. The drawer compartments are a mix of actual drawer organizers from Ikea and Winners alongside repurposed small boxes—iPhone boxes, watch boxes and specialty coffee boxes. When you look around the house, you’ll often find perfect-sized containers that work better than anything new you could buy.
Everything went back in the drawers grouped by function: writing tools in one section, tapes and glue in another, paper clips and fasteners together. The result felt immediately calmer and far more usable. I even realized I don’t need to buy more scotch tape for a while!
One of the best takeaways from this quick project is how little time it actually took. I had been putting it off for weeks, but once I started with a timer I finished in 20 minutes. Small, focused organizing sessions like that are an efficient way to maintain a tidy home office, whether it’s in a dining room, a bedroom or the living room.
Finding a dedicated storage spot for small office supplies and using drawer dividers—whether store-bought or repurposed—keeps your workspace streamlined and ready for work. If your office is tucked into an unconventional place, a few thoughtful organizational choices can make it feel intentional and efficient.
