How to organise an office cupboard

An office cupboard can easily become a dumping ground for storage and keeping things out of sight. A well-organised office cupboard optimises storage and stores objects which otherwise clutter the room. It improves your efficiency by allowing you to locate and access the items you need without any stress. An organised office cupboard is also important to understand which office supplies need to be replenished. Read further for tips on how to organise an office cupboard.

Cleaning and sorting

A thorough organisation needs to start with emptying the cupboard, dusting and cleaning it. Once emptied, sort through the contents and group them into the classic categories of stuff that you want to keep, throw or assign for other locations. With developments in electronic storage of data, various items in office cupboards may be redundant. You can also use this opportunity to transfer data to updated storage media which are space-saving.

Planning the storage

Depending on the nature of work, the office storage should be organised in to different categories. Plan the storage such that a dedicated space is assigned to different items. Assign different shelves for computer and printer supplies, desk supplies, stationery or files. While assigning location, ensure that the items are stored such that frequently used ones have easy access. Items which move off the shelf more slowly may be placed in the highest or lowest shelves or towards the rear. You may also stick inventory lists or other information on the storage plan on the inside of the cupboard door.

Using containers and storage aids

Containerising similar items is a great way to ensure that they stay together, making it easier to find them when required. Stackable, transparent plastic boxes with lids are the best option. It is easy to understand the contents of these boxes and the fact that they stack up can save space. Moreover, use labels on filing cabinets and other filing storage boxes for information on contents. Drawer dividers can compartmentalise a large drawer and keep items in place. This can save you the time spent on rummaging through an overflowing drawer.

Maintenance

Any storage system can fail in the long run if it is not maintained routinely. Keep this in mind to make sure that your storage organisation plan is not too complicated and is easy to maintain. Establish a practice of updating inventory lists and spend some time every week to ensure that things are in place and check which supplies need to be bought. An organised office cupboard will improve the operational office of a workplace, whether it is a home-office or a corporate set-up.