How to organize paperwork at home – 6 steps to fabulous filing

In the digital age, we might not put too much thought into how we deal with our physical paperwork. This often makes paperwork one of the leading causes of clutter at home, especially in entryways and home offices.

Along with getting rid of paper clutter, it is important to organize paperwork at home to keep important information safe and easy to find, professional organizers urge.

Here, they break down their six favorite ways to organize paperwork at home to help you establish a fantastic filing system so nothing gets lost.

How to organize paperwork at home

When organizing paperwork, it is helpful to gather it all into one place. This means decluttering a home office, organizing an entryway, and clearing out your living room to help find every odd piece that might be useful.

With all your paperwork together, you can get to getting rid of junk and organize the essentials.

1. Use wall organizers

When dealing with paperwork that you need regular access to, such as bills or insurance documents, it is helpful to keep them within easy reach. To achieve this while saving space, Barbara Brock, professional organizer, and home stager at Barbara Brock Inc. suggests using wall storage ideas.

‘When organizing a home office, be sure to provide storage containers to house paper items. Consider vertical files that can be attached to a wall; hence, a space saver.’

2. Corral paper in a container

For paperwork that you need to keep hold of, but don’t need to dig through too often, a storage basket or bin is a great solution to keep it all together but out of the way.

Barbara Brock, professional organizer, continues, ‘Containers go a long way to collecting and keeping clutter at bay. Utilize a box or bin, whether it’s to hold or separate papers – stackable clear bins for papers and organization allow for easy identification.’

3. Use a file folder

Given that I only have a small amount of paperwork to keep organized, I like to use a file folder to keep documents categorized, safe, and altogether in a drawer.

I label each section and slot paperwork right in whenever I have dealt with it, from medical documents to instruction manuals for furniture and appliances I have around my house. It is the perfect, small-scale home organizing idea.

4. Keep quick-reference documents on your desktop

If wall storage is not an option, but you still need documents close to hand, consider adding in paperwork storage when organizing a desk.

Amanda Schmitt, lifestyle blogger and owner of Life as Mama, shares ‘I use desktop organizers for bills, important mail, and homework that needs attention. I have designated drawers for important documents like tax returns, insurance papers, and warranty information.'

5. Digitize important documents

Given that paper is one of the most common types of clutter, it can be helpful to get rid of all of it altogether. Before ditching important documents, however, digitize them to keep track of essential information without the physical footprint.

Elizabeth Dodson, co-founder of home management system, HomeZada, recommends a digital filing solution that stores your most important documents (mortgages and loans, insurance policies, product warranties, home inventories, wills, and trusts, etc.) in a cloud-based library that offers easy and immediate access from any personal device.

6. Keep sensitive documents in a fireproof safe

Amanda Schmitt, lifestyle blogger, reminds us that some documents should always be held onto, such as birth certificates, graduation documents, vehicle titles, and legal paperwork. For these, she suggests investing in a good quality fireproof safe. This is not only a great home security tip in case of a break-in but also ensures these irreplaceable documents are safe in the event of a fire.

When decluttering and organizing paperwork, remember to shred or burn any documents you no longer need that contain sensitive information such as names, contact details, or addresses.