I don’t think I can have a month that’s all about getting organised and not talk about getting the office organised. On the weekend I shared some gorgeous inspiration for making it look good, but today I thought we would create another kit. This one is for getting your office started (or replenished) and would also make some great gift ideas for someone you know who is starting to work from home or their first office/studio of their very own!
What you’ll need:
- Pens – Great quality pens can make the world of difference when you’re hurriedly writing down that next great idea or some important details from a phone call. Find some good ones that suit your writing style and buy lots of refills in case they discontinue them (it’s really hard to find refills for my favourite pen since Officeworks stopped stocking them. Now I buy in bulk whenever I find some)
- Pencils, Erasers, Sharpeners – I like to be able to change my mind when I’m planning and pencils are great for that, but I couldn’t be without my Mini Softy brand eraser as it’s the only one I’ve found that doesn’t leave smudges behind. You’ll never know when these could come in handy.
- Notebooks and To-Do Lists – These are great for keeping track of ideas and notes and are much less overwhelming than lots of tiny post-its or notes on napkins. They are also great to look back on once their full to see how far you’ve come or to get inspiration that you might have missed.
- Stapler and extra Staples – Paperwork seems to multiply around here and I would be lost without a quality stapler that works the first time, every time. You have no idea how worthwhile a good one is until you have one that doesn’t work properly and only every third staple actually works – worth getting a good one!
- Paper Clips and Thumb Tacks – These are great for keeping things neat and tidy. You can get some really cute paper clips these days which make paperwork days just that little more fun! (I’m always getting compliments on these from Kikki-K from a previous season) Thumb tacks are a must if you have a cork board and are really easy to get your hands on.
- Glue Stick, Sticky Tape and Scissors – Another must for any office, these are items I use almost daily. The Bostik BluStik is my favourite of the glue sticks as it’s the only one I’ve found that stays stuck. The lefty Fiskars are on the expensive side but are fantastic and I’m on my second pair in 5 years (the first are still good, I just got some duct tape stuck in them and my laziness got me and they’re a bit stuck together now – haha). Getting acool tape dispenser can make your office feel a bit more fun too!
- A Calculator – I use my calculator every other work day. I know that the computer can do it now, but it’s just so much faster on my calculator, so I prefer it. This one I bought for a stats class in University so it’s on the very expensive side, but there are lots of affordable versions available depending on what you need it for.
- Post-its – I love my post-its for not only quick notes but for forward planning too. These mini ones fit perfectly into the squares of my calendar and allow me to colour code my posting days. (see 13)
- Highlighters – These are not just for school work, but are also great for editing and highlighting after a brainstorming session. Also great for those times where you pick and choose from your to-do list and there are a couple sitting in the middle that might get lost in amongst all the finished ones.
- Coloured Markers/Sharpies/Textas – Because everything is better in colour! Great for brainstorming sessions and writing on boxes and labels.
- Folders – Great for storing all that paperwork that you need to keep and the plastic pockets you can get for them are great too. I prefer the 3D ring binders as the paper sits nicely in them.
- White Printer Paper – Essential in any office with a printer. I try to keep a full packet on hand at any time just in case I have to do a big printing session. It’s so frustrating to run out of paper mid-way through a job.
- Desk Calendar – I love to look at the big picture in full colour and on paper. They are great for long term planning and for keeping track of the big deadlines. This was one of my best investments for my business and from memory cost around $7. I hope they bring it back for 2015.
- Printer Labels – Great if you have to ship anything and can be used for labelling all sorts of things around your office as well. Great to have.
These are all great to have in your kit when you’re getting your office started and they also make a great shopping list to check from before you head to the office supplies store to stock up. It can be really easy to get caught up in having all the super cool gadgets for your office – especially when you’re starting out, but often it can be better to start with the basics and then allow yourself the chance to see what you’re really missing.
Having all of these that apply plus a computer and a printer will be more than enough for most people and any specialised equipment could be added on top of that. Having some storage for all of these is great too, though it’s also something that you can get once you work out how you use your space. If you’re looking for some inspiration on furniture for an organised office, take a look at this post from last year to give you some ideas.
Almost all of these make great “congratulations on taking the leap to work for yourself” office starter kit gifts too. You could even make a sweet little hamper full of a few of them to really show your support. It would be really fun to make too!
What would you add to this? Is there something in your office you couldn’t live without?
If you do try this, I’d love to see a photo or hear about how it went! Tweet me your pics at: @danniellecresp or instagram me at: @dannielle with the hashtag: #styleforahappyhome