By Paul Bianchina
From building a model ship or writing a novel, to planning dinner or paying the bills, just about anything you work on at home is easier and more enjoyable if you have an organized space. You can work more efficiently, your home stays neater and you certainly spend a lot less time searching for that lost piece of paper.
Fortunately, a lot of manufacturers are thinking along the exact same lines, and there are multitudes of innovative and reasonably priced products out there to help you get organized.
Work Areas
- Computer Tables and Desks: For computer work, there are a wide variety of desks designed exclusively for this use. Different styles include straight desks as well as L- and U-shaped units with deep corner tables to accommodate printers, fax machines and other large electronic components. If space is at a premium, look for a unit with stacking or pullout storage for the printer, and a floor-mounted holder for the CPU to keep the desktop clear. To adapt a standard desk for computer use, there are lots of accessories worth considering. Keyboard slides allow you to mount the keyboard under the desktop, both to get it out of the way and also to move it to a more convenient working height - look for a slide that adjusts for both height and angle, and that locks firmly in place when you get it where you want it. Another space saver is the keyboard drawer that sits on top of the desk - the keyboard sits in the drawer and slides in and out, and your monitor can sit on top of the drawer's enclosure. Another option for the monitor is to mount it on a swing arm. Swing arms allow you to position the monitor exactly where you want it and lock it there temporarily, then unlock it and move it easily out of the way when it's not needed, freeing up valuable desk space.
- Printers: Printers can take up a lot of space, so a good solution is the combination printer stand and paper tray. These compact units have a sturdy top that printer sits on, as well as trays, drawers and recesses for several different papers, envelopes, labels and printer accessories.
- Drafting, Layout and Artwork: Dedicated drafting tables used to be quite expensive, but there are several on the market now in the $100 to $150 range that look nice and work fine for non-professional use. When shopping for a drafting table, look for one that is adjustable in height and top angle, and that's sturdy when locked in place - there's nothing worse than working on a wobbly table. Also, look for a tabletop made from plywood, Melamine or laminate over high-density particleboard - materials that are solid, stable and resistant to warping.
Supplies
For supply storage, you have a number of options as well. There are trays that attach to the side of the tabletop to hold pens, pencils, drafting supplies, art supplies and all the rest. Another handy organizer is a small cart with multiple bins or drawers - the type often seen in bathrooms and laundry rooms. The cart has wheels to roll it from desk to drafting table, has a flat top for additional storage and is short enough to slip under the table when not in use.
- File Storage: Two-drawer file cabinets can be set up just about anywhere. Most will slip underneath a tabletop or drafting table, and offer a tremendous amount of well-organized paperwork storage. You'll find file cabinets in prices ranging from under $50 to more than $300 - look for one with easy operating, full-extension slides and, if you need desk-top access to lots of files at once, one with removable drawers.
- File Frames: A simple, low-tech file storage solution is the file frame. These range from simple plastic or metal open frames to plastic crates, and all will hold a number of hanging-style file folders. They are colorful, inexpensive and can sit just about anywhere for easy access and portability. And speaking of portability, you might also want to consider a file bin on wheels that easily goes anywhere you go, and then tucks away in a corner. Some types have a solid top that swings up when needed, providing you with some additional workspace as well.
Organizers such as these can be found at office supply stores, discount stores, warehouse-type stores and a variety of other outlets. And if you can't find exactly what you want in stock, most office supply stores have extensive catalogs available as well.
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