By now you’ve likely heard of organizational expert Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
Her approach has two main steps: first, review everything you own and ask whether it sparks joy — if it doesn’t, let it go. Second, keep the items that remain in visible, easy-to-access places.
That method is straightforward at home, but applying it to a work environment can be trickier. Do planners, staplers, or file folders “spark joy”? Maybe not. Still, whether you adopt the KonMari Method or another system, the following expert-backed tips will help you turn a cluttered office into a functional workspace that supports focus and productivity.
View Decluttering as a Valuable Investment of Time
“You may think that you don’t have time to organize your office, but if you really knew how much time that disorganization cost you, you’d reconsider,” says Marty Basher, a home organization expert at Modular Closets. Shuffling piles or hiding clutter in drawers doesn’t count as organizing; instead, a consistently tidy workspace reduces wasted time and boosts productivity.
Decluttering doesn’t require long, once-in-a-while marathons. Treat it as an ongoing project: small, regular efforts add up and keep your workspace under control.
Visualize Your Ideal Work Life
Kristyn Ivey, a Chicago-based professional organizer who specializes in KonMari techniques, recommends starting with a clear vision. Visualize your career goals and the kind of projects or roles you want to pursue. Keep that vision in mind as you sort and organize — it will help you prioritize and make choices that support your objectives.
Create a Clean, Open Workspace
“A messy desk or office results in lost ideas and documents, interrupted workflow and reduced productivity,” says Dorothy Spira, community expert at Evernote. If you need to do deep, focused work, eliminate visual distractions: clear piles of paper, close unnecessary browser tabs, and create a workspace that supports sustained concentration.
Despite a common belief that having many items in view helps, research and experience show that visual clutter usually harms focus and efficiency.
Take Back Control of Your Environment
“People experience anxiety when they feel out of control,” says Ben Soreff of House to Home Organizing. Reclaiming control of your workspace reduces stress and supports more efficient work. One essential organizational element is a clear, open surface that allows you to focus on the task at hand.
Instead of keeping stacks of papers on your desk as reminders, use a single Post-It note, a to-do list app, or another concise reminder system devoted to action. After clearing surfaces, deep clean: wipe down horizontal and vertical surfaces, keyboards, monitors, and shelves. Cleanliness improves health and shows respect for the tools that support your work.
Reevaluate What You Own — and Be Ruthless
If you’re unsure which items to keep, ask practical questions: Does this item serve a clear purpose? Do you use it regularly? Are you holding onto it because you might need it someday — and if so, when? Did you even remember it was there?
Clutter often persists because our brains overvalue items. Use these questions to make clear decisions. The answers will indicate whether an item should stay, be stored elsewhere, or be discarded.
Organize by Category
Organize items by category — for example: books, paper, office supplies, electronics, and sentimental items. Marie Kondo’s method suggests holding each object and asking whether it sparks joy; if not, thank it and let it go. For utility items, consider the satisfaction they provide when used rather than their appearance.
If that approach feels too emotional, apply a pragmatic rule: remove anything you haven’t used in the past week from your immediate workspace. If it hasn’t been needed recently, it likely doesn’t belong on your desk.
Centralize and Digitize
Clutter in both physical and digital workspaces often stems from a lack of centralization. When files and information are scattered, retrieving them wastes time. Centralize documents and notes in one place — ideally a cloud-based system — so you can access and organize information in real time.
Learn to integrate cloud tools into your workflow so ideas and documents are captured on the go. Scan and digitize important paper documents, and shred those that don’t meet your retention standards. Apply the same decluttering habits to your inbox: delete unneeded emails, and batch-process messages at set times instead of responding continuously throughout the day.
How to Organize Files
Reducing paper is easier now that most tasks can be handled electronically. Paper accumulates because a single sheet takes up little physical space, making it easy to collect far more than you realize.
Commit to keeping only paper with a clear purpose. Sort documents into broad, high-level categories rather than extremely detailed folders. Useful categories include:
– Needs attention (pending tasks)
– Saved for a limited period (temporary contracts, recent tax documents)
– Saved indefinitely (long-term references, certifications)
Give Everything a “Home”
Make clutter maintenance a habit so your office functions like your home: every item has a place. Functionality is the most important feature of good office design, yet many workspaces become dysfunctional when filled with machines, supplies, and loose paper.
Store items in designated locations — use drawers, trays, and organizers rather than flat surfaces. Ask yourself: do you have to move things before you can sit down? Are papers spilling onto the floor? If your workspace is attractive but disorganized, you won’t be able to work efficiently unless you adopt clear organizational habits.
By committing to regular decluttering, visualizing your goals, centralizing information, and giving every item a home, you can transform a chaotic desk into a productive, calm workspace that supports your best work.