Bob | Cubicle Bliss

You are here: Home » Archives for Bob

File it Right with a 2 Drawer File Cabinet

Written by Bob on March 21, 2012

Your home office is a sacred place if you telecommute on a part-time or a full-time basis. If you care about how productive you are in your home office, the #1 enemy to you being highly productive is clutter. As a result, combating clutter should be your most important priority when it comes to your home office. That is also why a perfectly-sized 2 drawer file cabinet is one of the first office accessories that you should target when it comes to furnishing your office. This purchase is a perfect addition if you concern yourself with home office organization ideas.

I recently invested in a 2 drawer metal file cabinet for my home office. My old one was trashed and it basically didn’t open anymore as you can see from the pictures shown here. It was filled with historical documents that I really wanted to keep but accessing those documents was basically impossible. The drawers didn’t pull out, the hanging folders wouldn’t hang anymore, and everything was just in a jumbled mess. You can see the transition from the Before photo below to the After photos. If you click on each image you can easily see the difference when it comes to investing in a quality 2 drawer filing cabinet over one that is inferior.

Before - Click to Enlarge

After - Click to Enlarge

After - Click to Enlarge

The difference of incorporating a quality 2 drawer file cabinet into my home office workspace has made a considerable difference in my office organization. A two drawer file cabinet is the perfect size for my office and, if needed, I could simply add another one later on and place it in another spot in my office or just stack it on top of the one I have now. If you know that you will need additional space, you may want to invest in a 4 drawer file cabinet from the start.

The key features with this new 2 drawer vertical file cabinet were the following:

Height – 26 1/2″, 2 Drawer, Letter Size, Color: Putty
3 piece steel ball bearing slide suspension for full drawer extension
Removable lock for one key convenience between files
Full high-sided drawers accept hanging folders
Follower-wire keeps files snug

I chose the metal style but if you are looking to match existing wood decor in your home, a 2 drawer wood file cabinet may be the choice for you. I just think that, for my needs, a two drawer filing cabinet was the perfect accessory for the size of my office. Once again, if decor is a concern for you, a two drawer wooden filing cabinet may be the perfect option. My office is equipped with a modern computer desk which fits my needs perfectly when it comes to my computer system. I wasn’t concerned with matching existing decor but more in functionality of my furniture and accessories. Home office desks are all over the marketplace and I didn’t want a roll top desk or a solid wood desk in my office because all I cared about was my productivity. I also have a simple office paper shredder that is used mainly for reducing paperwork rather than combating identity theft.

If you care about being productive in your office, an investment in a 2 drawer file cabinet is a wise choice! Take my advice and add this versatile and perfect storage container to your custom work space and you’ll never regret it!

Home Office Organization Ideas

Written by Bob on March 2, 2012

For many people, home offices are an essential area of the house. Whether they are used as the base for a home business, as an area to complete work when at home, or as a place to pay bills and keep track of the household budget, many people use their home office on a regular basis. Getting organized at home is the key to properly utilizing a home office. There are a number of easy home office organization ideas that will keep the office from becoming cluttered. These home office solutions will improve the overall function of an office, making it possible for a person to use the room in a more efficient manner. Home organization ideas are plentiful and you just have to make it a point to implement them in your life.

Office Desk Accessories

A desk is the center of most home offices. These days the modern computer desk is the choice over an antique roll top desk or a solid wood desk if you want this core office item to be built for your computer system. It is also an area that tends to become messy and cluttered easily, but desk organization can greatly improve the efficiency of this area. Using office desk accessories can greatly reduce the clutter, and keep the desk area clean and organized. There are many desk organizer ideas available for both the surface of a desk and desk drawers. The first step to an organized office is an organized desktop.

Click for Details

A number of desktop organizers are on the market to keep common items in their proper place. One of the most useful desktop organizer products are wire trays. These inexpensive products make it easy to keep track of papers, such as bills and invoices, as a person goes through them. Bills and invoices that have not been read can be placed in one tray as they come in, and then transferred to another tray when they are paid. Some professionals subscribe to journals and trade publications that pertain to their work; it is easy for these publications to make a big mess and end up all over the room. Magazine cases are useful desk top organizers to keep the magazines at hand when needed, while also keeping them organized by date and subject. A magazine case can hold many issues on top of a desk without taking up too much space.

Click for Details

Many people throw multiple items into desk drawers to get them out of the way. This quickly results in drawers that are full of stuff, making it hard for a person to find the items that they need. You can oftentimes find this when it comes to a kitchen drawer as well. A desk drawer organizer is designed to fit into drawers of all sizes, and using one makes it easy to common office items such as pens, paper clips, and staples. Home office desk accessories are usually inexpensive, but they can greatly enhance the usability of a desk.

Office Storage Solutions

Click for Details

A desk in a home office can only provide so much storage. In order to keep a home office fully organized other office storage solutions should be used. A desktop computer can take up valuable room on a desk. A CPU holder, seen in the image to the right, can give a desk extra room by safely storing the CPU of a computer underneath a desk. A CPU stand hold a variety of different models, and it is easy to mount one on the underside of a desk. Many models can be pulled out for easy access to the CPU.

Click for Details

A filing cabinet is a great piece of office furniture to use in order to keep track of multiple papers, such as tax returns, bills, invoices, or other important documents. Depending on the amount of paperwork that needs to be organized, a person can select either a 4 drawer file cabinet or a 2 drawer file cabinet. These cabinets typically have deep drawers, and a person can purchase the best hanging drawer organizer to meet his needs. A filing cabinet next to a home office desk makes it easy for a person to access important documents quickly. You can even purchase an organizer within an organizer as is seen in the hanging drawer organizer in the image to the left.

When a person decides to get organized he may find that a filing cabinet does not provide enough home office storage on its own. Home office cabinets are available to provide extra storage. Many retailers sell easy to assemble home office cabinets in a variety of sizes. For a custom look cabinets can also be built by a carpenter. Cabinets are a great place to store home office items that are not used on a regular basis.

With so many office organizers available people may overlook how useful a wall organizer can be. There are several different wall organizers available; they may include a plastic organizer that attaches to the wall, or shelves that can hold a variety of office supplies. Using wall space is a great way to include extra space in a home office.

Other Office Organization Products

Click for Details

It requires time and effort to incorporate the best home office organization ideas to create an office that is organized and easy to work in. After organizing the office desk, using a filing cabinet, and adding wall storage, there are several other office organization products available to further enhance the usability of the area. Since mail is delivered six days a week it often piles up if not attended to daily. A mail organizer can make it easy to sort each piece of mail that a person receives. Using this type of organization product keeps a person on top of their mail, ensuring that important letters are dealt with in a timely manner. An office paper shredder is another accessory that you can use to shred mail that you don’t need which will help to cut down on clutter.

While some people have a large space for their home office, others may work in a tight area with a small desk. When space is at a premium, an under desk keyboard tray, or a keyboard drawer, can provide an extra workspace when the computer is not being used. These products easily store a keyboard out of sight, making the desk area look cleaner and better organized. When use of the keyboard is required it is easy to access.

Click for Details

White boards and cork boards make it easy to write ideas, or pin important information, where it will be seen. A magnetic whiteboard can be used to write down ideas, while also holing sources of business inspiration. These items are inexpensive, but can be a great addition to a home office.

A cluttered, messy home office can be a disaster, but an organized office allows a person to work efficiently. If a person does most of their work from home their home office is essential, but even an office used for household business needs to be well organized. There are many great home office organization ideas available, and utilizing them will make a home office a lot easier to use.

Invest in a Multipurpose Office Paper Shredder

Written by Bob on October 14, 2011

Shredding paper is an act of simultaneous destruction and gratification for a lot of people. There is something very positive about destroying items that can be a

source of frustration. An office paper shredder can help you keep clutter in check as well as help you stay organized by eliminating excess paperwork associated with your job. Shredding up a stack of junk mail can not only be liberating but satisfying. With the proliferation of identity theft in recent years, paper shredding has become a preventative measure by consumers. Eliminating access to personal information is a step that everyone should seriously consider. An office paper shredder is an excellent solution for destroying anything you have that may contain personal or company-related confidential information.

Shredders are used to destroy personal, confidential, or just annoying excess paperwork. Even if you own a modern 4 drawer file cabinet, you don’t want to keep unimportant excess paperwork even though you can store it out of sight. That is where an office paper shredder comes in handy. There are various types of shredders that you can consider if you’re interested in making a purchase for your work office, home office, or just to have around the house. Just think how convenient a home office paper shredder would be alongside your modern computer desk in your personally configured work space. You might even want to have a paper shredder in your kitchen for excess mail or papers that come home from school. You could buy a reasonably-priced personal strip cut shredder or a heavy duty paper shredder. In fact, a major shredder manufacturer has reported that at least a quarter of the commercial shredders purchased in recent years are being used at home. There is

also evidence that consumers who purchased a cheap, underpowered shredder opted for a more powerful commercial paper shredder for their second purchase. One thing you must consider before you buy one for yourself is the various types of shredders that are available. So what is the best paper shredder for you?

Strip Cut Shredder

This type is considered the least effective version of the paper shredder due to the fact that it simply cuts paper into elongated strips. If you are looking to protect your identity, these strips could be re-attached fairly easily to re-create the original document. Some experts recommend that if you have this type of a shredder you should get rid of it unless you want to use the strips of paper for the bottom of your hamster cage.

Cross Cut Shredder

A cross cut shredder will cut a piece of standard-size paper into roughly 400 triangles or rectangles. These particles of paper are often referred to as confetti. At a minimum, for an office paper shredder, this is the type you want to purchase. A cross-cut shredder can also shred floppy disks, DVDs and CDs which is extremely important when it comes to the home or company office. Oftentimes, personal information is saved on this type of media so a CD shredder comes in handy. The ability to completely destroy any possibility of someone recovering this type of personal information and data with a cross-cut paper shredder is very comforting to the consumer. This may be perfect for a home office paper shredder.

Micro Cut Shredder

The micro cut shredder is the cream of the crop when it comes to consumer-type paper shredders. If you were going to compare the three common types of shredders mentioned here the strip cut will cut a standard size piece of paper into approximately 34 strips. The crosscut paper shredder or confetti cut shredder will result in 400 pieces but the micro cut will cut a standard-size piece of paper into approximately 3700 pieces. If you are concerned about identity theft and someone reassembling a document that you have shredded with a micro cut shredder, your mind should be at ease if you decide to invest in this level of paper shredder.

Particle Cut Shredder

A particle cut shredder is a high-end shredder which is used primarily for electronic media such as CDs, DVDs, 3.5″ floppy disks, Zip disks, 4mm DAT tapes into tiny pieces. The resultant particles are tiny circular or square pieces and reconstruction of the media is virtually impossible. If you are looking for an industrial paper shredder, a particle cut shredder is a heavy duty shredder which should satisfy your document destruction needs.

Personal Usage Scenarios

An office paper shredder can also come in handy when you want to destroy personal items that may be a source of aggravation in your life. An example of this type of scenario came up with a close family relative of mine. His second wife wanted him to remove pictures and artifacts associated with his first marriage from a shed at their home. He kept a couple of boxes of pictures from his former marriage which included pictures with his wife, who is now deceased, as well as cards and personal items that he had accumulated over the years. He called me up one day and asked if he could burn the contents in an outside fireplace that I own. I told him that burning pictures is not environmentally smart and could be illegal since there are chemicals involved. I told him that I own a paper shredder and suggested to him that he could come to my house with the box and we could shred the pictures and other items. It took a couple of hours but at the end of that time, he had a box of shredded memories that he could take to his recycling center. It depends on what your needs are when it comes to the best home paper shredder, so you have to do your research and find a model that satisfies your requirements.

Whatever your document destruction needs are, an office paper shredder can come in handy for both business and personal use. Check out the various models that are in the marketplace and you’ll be amazed at what is available for the consumer. You may want to pay a little bit more now rather than having to upgrade later.

Discover the Variety of Innovative Home Office Desks

Written by Bob on September 24, 2011

In recent years, the term home office has certainly taken on a whole new meaning. With the popularity of telework, particularly in the high technology sector, there has been an enormous demand for home office furniture that is made for the technology of today. This is especially evident when it comes to home office desks. The styles and designs are numerous and the technology has driven this innovation in design. Office desks for home use are obviously a matter of personal taste which has also led to the many different types of modern home office desks that are available in the marketplace today.

The benefits of working form home are obvious such as the time savings of not having a commute and the cost savings associated with gas, vehicle maintenance, or public transportation. I happen to telecommute part-time and have done this for many years. One consideration if you do work from home is that you are the one who has to furnish and finance your own home office. Some may look at this as a positive thing, especially if they enjoy home decorating, and others look at it as more of a pain. Having to outlay my own hard-earned money for office furniture including a home office desk, a reclining office chair, an office paper shredder, and a 4 drawer file cabinet was my concern but you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to being a home office worker.

Home Office Computer Desks

There are many different options and flavors of computer desks for home office use available in the marketplace. As it is obvious from the

name, the desks are built around the computer. It is true that a large percentage of home office workers are in the high tech sector. Being a member of the high tech sector, it is important to me to find home office furniture that is made for the technology that I use every day. Home office computer desks have certain common features. A modern computer desk is usually equipped with a pull-out keyboard tray and there are usually a number of levels associated with the desk for your keyboard, monitor, and peripherals. Given the fact that not all computer systems are wireless, most home office computer desks allow for the free flow of wires either by having no backs to the desk or having cord slots incorporated into the design.

Glass Office Desks

A lot of contemporary office desks use glass or acrylic as the predominant material due to the fact that it is economical and it also adds a modern flair to the furniture. The glass is utilized typically in combination with metal such as aluminum or steel for the frame so that the desk is rigid and stable. In the version shown here a plastic pull-out keyboard tray is used in conjunction with the metal frame and glass levels. The open concept to this desk, allows the free flow of any wires that may be utilized between computer peripherals. There are not a lot of moving parts but the desk does the job as far as being a low footprint model, reasonably-priced due to the low material costs, and with a contemporary design that should work well in any size home office.

Wood Office Desks

If you are looking for a reasonably-priced modern computer desk, you’re probably not going to find one that is a solid wood desk. The use of manufactured wood that has been veneered with a natural wood grain is a common practice when it comes to commercial office desks. If you are looking to add a touch of old world charm to your home office you could opt for a reproduction of a 19th century roll top desk. This type of desk works well if your home interior style is simple and rustic. The desk shown here is typical of the home office desks that you can find with the prototypical features of the slide-out keyboard tray, multiple levels, metal frame, and open back. This version also includes an additional acrylic shelf on the top level and a built-in CD rack as part of the frame which adds some innovative storage as well as a contemporary look.

Small Home Office Desks

If you have a home office, as I do, but are limited as far as space is concerned, you may be forced to limit yourself to a small home office desk. If you want to save money you could create a a do-it-yourself desk by using two file cabinets, one on each end, and place a piece of plywood or a solid wood door on top for the desktop. The model that is shown here is a small wood and glass version where the wood is used for the

pull-out keyboard tray and the glass is used for the level above which will hold your computer monitor and will be your desktop. Once again, the frame is metal which allows for an open concept where there is no back to the desk allowing for wires to run freely to and from computer components and peripherals.

The choices are endless out there in the marketplace to furnish your home office with a contemporary office desk that is built for the technology of today. Home office desks and home office furniture of today are made to work with the various computer components that we use in our everyday lives. If you work at home you should do what I did and research the various options that are out there. Find a model that works perfectly for your office configuration and you might find that your home office is not only a pleasant and properly configured environment, but is also a productive and efficient place to spend your working hours.

Upgrade Office Quality with a Reclining Office Chair

Written by Bob on July 24, 2011

Since your office is your home away from home, you should make it a point to furnish it properly so that your life in your office is productive and comfortable. This also goes for anyone who has a home office. You want it to be a pleasant and enjoyable place to be or you are going to want to leave it as quickly as

possible. A reclining office chair will add some comfort and ergonomics to your office that may just make you look forward to going to work each day.
Ergonomic office chairs can come in many different shapes, styles, and colors. Recliner chairs add a level of comfort that you simply won’t find in a standard office chair. You can find them in many different materials including cloth, mesh, and leather. A mesh office chair is very affordable and comfortable option. A leather reclining office chair may definitely be worth the investment if you have already

fashioned your office with a contemporary and stylish solid wood desk or a reproduction of an antique roll top desk. Perhaps you have furnished your office with cheap modular office furniture or an expensive modern computer desk, adding an ergonomic office chair or a leather recliner chair should fit in well with any office décor.

If you want to add some accessories you could purchase a reclining office chair with foot rest. The foot rest can be a separate item but you can also buy recliner chairs where the foot rest is attached to the chair. Similar to the classic Lazy Boy chairs, the foot rest emerges

from the base of the chair as you recline in the chair. You can relieve tension and stress during the day by slightly changing positions in your reclining office chair. The circulation in your back and legs will be stimulated throughout the day reducing your stress and adding to your productivity. If you’d prefer a separate ottoman you can always go that route as well.

Investing in an ergonomic reclining office chair should make a big difference in your stress level and your productivity while you are in the office. Make that investment and you’ll be kicking yourself that you didn’t make it sooner!