Short On Storage Space in the Office? Here’s How to Maximise Your Office Space

Every office, no matter how big or small, needs adequate storage space. A cluttered office is not a productive working space; piles of paperwork and general mess can be distracting for employees and affect focus levels around the office. 

If your office is small, you may find yourself struggling for storage space. While every office is different, one thing remains the same: sufficient storage is key. The office is where many of us spend most of our day, and therefore it’s important this is a space where we feel productive, focused and comfortable. 

If upgrading your office to a bigger space simply isn’t an option, there are plenty of ways you can maximise the space in your office and make room for storage. Investing in the right storage solutions and altering your layout can make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of your working environment while improving the efficiency of your business. 

Below, we take a look at how to maximise your office space.

Declutter your office space

Firstly, you need to get rid of all the clutter and junk lying around your office. The messier your office, the less space there is to work in. Take the time to go through every corner of your office and get rid of anything you don’t need. This could include old computer parts, outdated paperwork (just make sure you shred paperwork before getting rid of it), old presentation notes and broken office furniture. 

It’s also a good idea to promote a ‘tidy desk’ policy in your workplace. After each day, ask employees to tidy their desks and put away equipment and items. This way, the office will stay a tidy, clean and clutter-free space.

Go paperless

It’s surprising how much space paperwork takes up. Whether it’s important documents, presentation notes or invoices, endless piles of paper can quickly take over an office space. If you haven’t already, consider going paperless. Storing documents on your computer systems and online instead of in drawers and cabinets will save you lots of space - plus, you’ll always know where they are should you need them. A quick search on your work database will pull up the right document, which is extremely useful if you’ve ever found yourself rummaging through piles of paperwork to find something. 

Presentation and meeting notes can be quickly emailed over to employees, documents can be shared with your whole office at just the click of a button and invoices stored safely without taking up precious storage space in your office. 

Provide employees with personal storage for their work stations

Small drawer units don’t take up much room and give your employees somewhere to store their own personal work items. Most drawer units can be tucked under a desk, helping to save space while giving employees somewhere safe to store their belongings. Including personal storage in your office design helps ensure only necessary items are kept in the office. 

Plus, some pedestals and drawer units can quickly be transformed into secondary seating with the addition of a cushion top. This is ideal for quick discussions at desks or when different teams are collaborating on a project and need to catch up.

Invest in storage lockers

Alternatively, installing lockers in the workplace is an effective way to give employees somewhere to store their belongings while they work and move around your building. Many employees rely on different gadgets to complete their day to day tasks, from work phones and headsets to tablets and laptops. Providing work lockers allows employees to safely and securely store items without having to carry them around all day or clutter their desks and workspace. 

While employees may have access to their own personal drawer unit, they may not feel comfortable leaving expensive gadgets and equipment in a drawer. Storage lockers will help keep surfaces and areas clear in your office and keep items out of the way.

Make use of wall space

When looking to utilise space, many people forget you can make use of wall space too. In fact, wall storage is one of the most effective ways to maximise space and free up other areas of your office. Wall hooks, shelves and cupboards can be quickly and easily installed and are an effective way to store office items without sacrificing floor space. 

Cork or magnetic boards can also be put up to store important pieces of paperwork and keep certain notes and documents from floating round the office. Notice boards are also a great way to personalise your workspace.

Avoid overly large furniture

If you have a small office space, you’re going to need to buy furniture that fits your space. Avoid investing in overly large pieces of furniture; if all employees need is a computer, phone and keyboard to work, a huge desk is redundant. Instead, smaller desks are available that still provide employees with the space they need, but don’t take up as much office space. 

Similarly, furniture in meeting rooms can be downsized. While a big table and rows of chairs can be beneficial in a number of settings, if you don’t have the space, it’s not worth trying to cram employees in there. Instead, opt for smaller furniture and split big company meetings into smaller team meetings. 

Clear office cables

Tangled cables can quickly take over a small office, not only making the space look cramped and cluttered, but also presenting a health and safety hazard. To free up space in your office and create a safer work environment, use cable tidies or sandwich bag ties to keep cables neatly together. Alternatively, cable trays and under desk wire baskets can be used to keep cables off the floor and prevent employees from tripping over them. 

If you want to get rid of cables completely, consider connecting computers and devices using wifi instead. This removes the need for cables entirely, ensuring all of the office floor space is clear and free to utilise.

Use light to create a sense of space

A small, dark office can be draining to work in. In fact, it can be difficult for employees to motivate themselves in a dark and dreary space. Lighting has a big impact on the way people feel and behave at work, so it might be worth considering upgrading the current lighting. A clever use of lighting can make a space seem bigger and more spacious. 

Where possible, increase the amount of natural light in your office space. Natural light can boost productivity and improve focus levels, so fitting glass doors and installing skylights where possible is key. If you require extra lighting, switch to LEDs. Not only are they more environmentally friendly, but they provide a more natural lighting too.

Racking + Shelving Ltd: robust storage solutions for commercial and home use

At Racking + Shelving Ltd, we’re proud to be the one-stop shop for storage options. When it comes to making the most of the space you already have, we’re the specialists to go to. We offer a complete storage consulting, design, installation and maintenance service throughout Northern Ireland and the UK. From storage lockersto mezzanine floors, we’ve got you covered with our reliable storage solutions.