How to Organize Stationery: Tips for a Tidy Workspace

Are you tired of rummaging through your desk drawers, trying to find a pen or a piece of paper?

Do you have a pile of small stationery items on your desk that makes it hard to focus on your work?

Organizing your stationery can help you be more productive and efficient. When you have your supplies in order, you can easily find what you need and focus on the task at hand.

Whether you’ve having a fancy home office or a small desk in your room, these tips can help you keep your stationery organized and within reach.

Why We Should Organize Stationery

Organizing your stationery may seem like a trivial task, but it can have a significant impact on your productivity and overall organization. Here are a few reasons why organizing your stationery is important:

Increases Productivity

When your stationery is organized, you can easily find what you need when you need it. This means that you spend less time searching for a specific pen or paper clip and more time focusing on your work.

Reduces Clutter

A cluttered workspace can be really distracting and overwhelming, especially when you have important tasks to complete. By organizing your stationery, you can reduce clutter and create a more peaceful and conducive working environment. This can help you feel more focused and in control of your environment.

Saves Money

When your stationery is disorganized, you may end up buying duplicates of items you already have or buying items you don’t need. Seriously, how many fountain pens you have lying around that you don’t use?

By organizing your stationery, you can keep track of what you have and what you need, which can save you money in the long run.

Improves Overall Organization

Organizing your stationery is just one small step in improving your overall organization. When you take the time to organize your stationery, you may find that it inspires you to organize other areas of your workspace or home. This can lead to a more organized and efficient lifestyle.

For example, you may start organizing your desk drawers, then move on to your closet, your whole bedroom, the kitchen, and before you know it, your entire living space is organized.

Identifying Your Stationery Items

Before you start organizing your stationery, it’s important to take an inventory of all the items you have. This will help you determine what storage solutions you need and how much space you’ll require.

Sort Your Items by Category

The first step is to sort your items by category. This will help you see how much of each type of item you have.

For example, you can group all your collection of pens and pencils together, all your paper items together, and all your office supplies together.

Choose Items You Use Frequently

Next, identify the items you use frequently. These are the items you’ll want to keep within easy reach. If you use pens and pencils regularly, you’ll want to keep them in a pen holder on your desk.

Those you don’t use that often, like paper clips or binder clips, can be stored in the top drawer for easy access.

Determine Which Items You Can Discard

As you sort through your items, you’ll likely come across items you no longer need. Determine which items you can discard or donate. This will help you free up space and make it easier to organize the items you do need.

However, if you’re a stationery hoarder (like many of us are), it may be difficult to part with some items. In that case, consider setting aside a “maybe” pile and revisit it after you’ve finished organizing.

Consider Storage Solutions

Once you’ve identified all your items, it’s time to consider storage solutions. Since it’s always the best to keep your desk clean and free of clutter, choose storage solutions that fit within your desk or on top of it.

For example, you can use a drawer organizer to keep your pens and pencils in order, or file folders to keep your papers organized. Consider using labels or color coding to help you easily identify different categories of items.

Don’t forget the use of vertical space as well. You can use wall-mounted shelves or a desk organizer to store items you don’t use frequently but still want within reach.

Now, you have an overview of all your items and how to store them, it’s time to start organizing!

Categorizing Your Stationery

One of the most important steps in organizing your stationery is to categorize it. This will help you to easily find what you need and avoid unnecessary searching.

If you’re not familiar with Marie Kondo’s KonMari method, it suggests organizing items by category instead of by room.

This way, you can see everything you have in one place and determine what sparks joy (or in this case, productivity). Here are some categories to consider when organizing your stationery:

Group Similar Items Together

Start by grouping similar items together. For example, you can group all your writing utensils together, such as pens, pencils, markers, and highlighters.

You can also group all your paper supplies together, such as notebooks, notepads, and sticky notes.

By grouping similar items together, you can easily find what you need when you need it. And when you finish using an item, you know exactly where to return it.

Use Labels

Using labels is a great way to keep your stationery organized. You can use labels to identify different categories of stationery, such as “pens,” “pencils,” “notebooks,” and “sticky notes.”

You can also use labels to identify specific items, such as the color of a pen or the size of a notebook — whatever it makes sense and works for you will do just fine.

Get Rid of Paper Clutter

If you have old documents, papers, or even business cards that you no longer need, it’s important to get rid of them. This will help to free up space and make it easier to organize your stationery. You can shred old documents or recycle them, depending on what is appropriate.

But, if you’re really unsure, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and keep a digital version of important documents before disposing of them. This way, you still can clear up physical space without losing (possibly) important information.

Separate Craft Supplies

If you have craft supplies, it’s a good idea to separate them from your other stationery. You can use a separate container or drawer to store your craft supplies and keep them organized.

This will make it easier to find and access them when you need them for a project, without having to dig through your other stationery items.

Miscellaneous Items

If you have miscellaneous items that don’t fit into any specific category, it’s important to find a place for them. You can use a separate container or a little drawer unit to store these items.

In the best case, try to find a container or drawer that is designated for miscellaneous items only. This type of organization will make it easier for you to find these items when needed and keep them from cluttering up other areas.

Choosing the Right Storage Solutions

When it comes to organizing your stationery, choosing the right storage solutions is key to maintaining a neat and tidy workspace. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting storage solutions:

Consider Your Space

Before you start shopping for storage solutions, take a look at your workspace and assess the available space.

Do you have a lot of desk space but limited storage options? Or do you have plenty of storage space but not enough desk space?

If you have your own home office, you can be creative and personalize your storage solutions to fit your style and needs. However, if all you have is a corner in your kitchen to work from, you may have to get a little more creative.

Think About Your Stationery Collection

Another important factor to consider when choosing storage solutions is the size and type of your stationery collection.

Do you have a lot of pens and pencils? Consider a desk organizer or pencil case. Do you have larger items like notebooks or binders? Look for shelves or cabinets that can accommodate them.

Depending on the size and type of your collection, you may need to mix and match storage solutions to find what works best for you.

Choose the Right Type of Storage

There are many different types of storage solutions available, so it’s important to choose the right type for your needs. Here are some popular options to consider:

Boxes and containers: Great for storing small items like paper clips or push pins. Look for clear containers so you can easily see what’s inside.
Closet or cabinet: Ideal for storing larger items like binders or notebooks. Consider using filing cabinets for important paperwork or documents.
Jars or Mason jars: Perfect for storing pens, pencils, or markers. You can also use them to store smaller items like rubber bands or erasers.
Desk drawer: A great option for keeping your desk clutter-free. Use drawer organizers to keep items separated and easy to find.
Rolling cart: Ideal for storing larger items that you need to move around frequently. Look for one with multiple shelves or drawers for maximum storage.
Baskets: Great for storing items that you use frequently, like notebooks or folders. Choose a basket with a handle for easy transport.
Bigger plastic containers: Ideal for storing larger items that you don’t use as often, such as extra notebooks or folders. You then can have them stored away in a closet or under your desk until you need them.

Organizing Stationery in Your Home Office

Again, if you’re lucky enough to have your own home office, even if it’s just a small space in your house, you have a bit more freedom and flexibility in organizing your stationery. Here are some tips for keeping your home office organized and efficient:

Create a Designated Stationery Area

If you have the space, it’s helpful to create a designated area for your stationery. This could be a separate desk or cabinet solely for storing and organizing your stationery collection.

Having a designated area will make it easier to find what you need without having to search through other items on your main workspace.

Use Wall Space

Don’t forget about utilizing wall space for storage! You can hang shelves or use wall-mounted organizers to store and display your stationery items. This is a great option if you’re short on desk or floor space.

Personalize Your Space

Don’t forget to personalize your home office with some fun decor or motivational quotes. A personalized space can help boost creativity and productivity while also making you feel more comfortable in your workspace.

Keep Your Workspace Clean

Lastly, keeping your workspace clean is essential to your productivity. Make sure to clean up your stationery after you use it and put everything back in its place.

If your home office is in a separate room, it’s a good idea to have a cleaning routine to keep it tidy. This will not only improve your productivity but also make you feel more organized and in control of your space.

Organizing Stationery in Other Areas

Organizing your stationery doesn’t have to be limited to just your office or workspace. You can also organize your stationery in other areas of your home, such as the kitchen, the kids’ rooms, and even your car. Here are some tips for organizing stationery in other areas:

Kitchen

If you have a designated area in your kitchen for recipes and meal planning, it’s a great opportunity to also store your stationery. Junk drawer organizers or utensil holders can be repurposed to store pens, pencils, and other small stationery items.

The key to an organized space is to keep your kitchen table or countertop clutter-free, making it easier to meal plan and prepare meals without distractions.

Use a utensil holder or jar to store pens and pencils.
Keep a notepad and sticky notes nearby for grocery lists and recipe ideas.
Use a magnetic board or cork board to hang important notes and reminders.
Store larger items such as envelopes and paper in a nearby kitchen drawer or cabinet.

Kids’ Rooms

School supplies can easily become a mess in kids’ rooms, so it’s important to have an organized system for their stationery

Encouraging your kids to keep their rooms tidy can be a challenge, but incorporating fun and creative storage solutions for their stationery is a great idea that may motivate them. Consider using colorful bins or baskets for storing crayons, markers, and other craft supplies.

Use a desktop organizer or caddy to hold frequently used items like pencils, erasers, and scissors.
Label drawers or bins with different categories such as markers, colored pencils, and glue.
Use a hanging shoe organizer to store larger items like notebooks and binders.

Scrapbook

If you love to scrapbook, you know how important it is to have your stationery organized and easily accessible. To keep up with your tidy desk, try these organization tips:

Use a storage container with compartments to separate pens, markers, and other writing tools.
Keep a variety of paper and cardstock organized by color and pattern in a filing system or accordion file.
Use a label maker or washi tape to easily identify different types of embellishments and stickers.
A magazine holder is also a great solution for storing scrapbook paper and other materials.
Keep a pair of scissors and ruler nearby for easy cutting and measuring.

Car

Lastly, if you’re always on the go, it’s important to have your stationery organized in your car, whether it’s a pencil and notepad for jotting down ideas or a planner to keep track of appointments. Here are some ways to organize stationery in your car:

Keep a small pouch or pencil case with essentials like pens, memo pads, and sticky notes.
Use a small binder or folder to keep important documents organized and easily accessible.
Keep a mini trash can or bag in your car for any loose papers or scraps.

Maintaining Your Stationery Collection

Decluttering and organizing your stationery collection is one thing, but maintaining it is another.

If you don’t keep up with maintenance, your stationery will eventually become cluttered again, and all your hard work with this organizing project will go to waste. So, here are some tips for maintaining your organized office and stationery collection:

Set aside time every few months to declutter and reorganize.
Don’t hold onto items that you no longer use or need.
Regularly clean and wipe down your storage containers and organizers.
Make sure everything has a designated place, and put it back after each use.
Don’t be afraid to change up your organization system if it’s not working for you.

But of course, life happens, and even if you do your best to maintain your organized stationery, it’s normal for it to become a little messy at times.

The important thing is to have an organizing system in place that makes it easy for you to get back on track and keep your workspace clutter-free!

By creating designated areas, utilizing wall space, and personalizing your space, you can have an organized and efficient stationery collection in any area of your home.