Ep. 270 Resetting Your Office Space So It Actually Works for You
If I were to give this episode a subtitle it would be, “How to rethink your desk, cash wrap, or back office so it supports the business you’re running now.” Creating a functional office space that supports both your business needs and your personal workflow is essential for boosting productivity, improving mental clarity, and elevating your overall mood. Designing an organized, intentional shopkeeping workspace not only helps streamline daily operations but can also enhance the overall atmosphere of your shop.
Why This Isn’t Just About Decluttering
Decluttering isn’t about matching bins or buying better storage containers. It’s not about turning your office into something that looks good in a photo.
“It’s about what happens when a space in your business quietly starts repelling you.”
That’s what happened to me with my home office. For years, it was fine – organized enough, functional, working – but I avoided it. I would grab my laptop and work somewhere else in the house. Even though I told myself it was a preference, it wasn’t. The room felt bloated, cluttered, inefficient and wasn’t comfortable, nor did it reflect how I actually work now.
“Once I admitted that the space didn’t reflect how I work, I realized this wasn’t just about the office. It was about what the space was telling me.”
Every store owner has a space like this such as your back office or your cashwrap that doubles as your admin station. There’s usually one space you don’t love walking into. From time to time I will do store intensives for other shopkeepers. When I do store intensives, there’s always that one room or place that makes my clients feel uncomfortable when we start walking around their shop. That discomfort is information to pay attention to.
Avoidance Is a Signal
If there’s a space in your business you consistently avoid, that’s not random, it’s a signal.
For me, the turning point was recognizing that “organized enough” had allowed me to postpone decisions for years. I had accumulated ten years’ worth of paperwork, supplies, tech equipment, books, and random office items without really seeing it.
When I finally emptied the room, and cleaned out bags of things and furniture I didn’t need – the layers became clear.
A space can be organized and still be outdated. It can be tidy and still create friction. It can look fine and still drain you.
“I want to be clear about this: Organizing is not the same as deciding. That’s the difference.”
When Your Space Reflects an Old Version of You
One of the biggest realizations I had was that my office reflected who I used to be, not who I am now.
The desk was too small for the type of work I do today. The bulky file cabinet made sense when I relied more on paper, but over the years I’ve shifted to being mostly digital. The furniture had been pieced together at different stages of my life. It worked, but it wasn’t intentional. What really pushed the project forward was clarity.
In 2025, I had a much clearer understanding of what I actually do. I know where my time goes – everyday tools used and parts that matter most. That clarity made it obvious that the space needed to catch up.
Whether you’re newer in business or more established, your space might reflect experimentation. If you’ve grown, your space may simply be lagging behind your growth.
“The environment eventually needs to align with the reality of the work.”
How I Approached the Reset
If you’re thinking about tackling a space in your business, here’s the order I followed:
Map out a new floor plan.
Before I decluttered and bought anything I asked myself how I actually wanted to use the room now. For some of you this step might actually need to come AFTER the decluttering because you might need more clarity first.
Hire an interior designer for a consultation.
I wanted an expert perspective from Colleen Primm Design. Colleen validated a couple of ideas I already had and offered a few adjustments and ideas I hadn’t considered. That step gave me confidence. Sourcing and deciding would have held this process up and I didn’t want that.
Commit to the large anchor pieces.
I ordered a new desk, bookshelves, and an area rug. Those were chosen intentionally, based on how I work today.
Empty the room and organize.
Almost everything came out of the room while I created zones throughout my house: office supplies, equipment, books/decorative items, paperwork, personal and professional memories.
When everything is spread across drawers and shelves, it feels manageable. When it’s in piles across your house, you see the full picture.
“I was overwhelmed because I was holding on to way too much stuff. I just couldn’t tell because it was…. so organized.”
I decluttered each zone separately. One category at a time – what stays, what goes, and what no longer reflects how I work.
Rebuild the office.
When I rebuilt the office, I created clear functional zones within the office:
- Work zone (desk area)
- Shipping zone
- Space for Master Shopkeeper (MSK) welcome packets
- Designated office supply area
- Zone for memories
- Reading/quiet zone
- Tech equipment area
Each one has a defined purpose – no complicated system, just clarity.
The Physical Environment Matters
There was another factor I almost ignored – the room was cold in the winter. I told myself that didn’t matter but it did. So I bought a simple space heater, and that one change made the room dramatically more inviting.
“Sometimes avoidance isn’t mental. Sometimes it’s physical.”
If your office space is dark, cramped, freezing, poorly lit, or uncomfortable, that affects how you show up there. If your desk chair isn’t supportive or you’re constantly shifting piles to create space, that’s friction.
You don’t need a full renovation to address physical space discomforts. But you do need to notice and address those discomforts.
Applying This to Your Store
This process applies directly to any decision space in your business.
If you have a back office that feels tight or cluttered, start by asking how you actually use it today. If your cash wrap doubles as your paperwork station, ask whether it reflects your current workflow. If your stockroom desk is buried under overflow, consider whether the furniture and layout match how you operate now.
“You don’t start with buying new shelves. You start with deciding what belongs and what doesn’t.”
Here’s a simple recap if you want to start your own reset:
- Ask yourself (you may not need to) if the space just doesn’t work for you, do you avoid it?
- Can you start to envision a new layout? Even if you can’t, the answer to question #1 is enough to move you forward.
- Get an outside perspective from a professional if you need it.
- Decide what timeframe makes sense for this project and add some buffers.
- Empty the space completely or as much as you can.
- Sort into zones.
- Declutter each zone.
- Commit to major anchor pieces including lighting if needed.
- Commit to small supportive, decorative and organizational items
- Rebuild with clear functional areas.
Be Strong and Decisive
At the end of this project, what changed most wasn’t the decor – it was the clarity. The room now supports how I work instead of requiring me to work around it. It feels current, aligned, and so much lighter. It feels much more like me. Mamita (my Mom) said, “it’s very Kathy”. Your new space should give you the same feeling.
You are allowed to let go of what once made sense. You are allowed to make strong, decisive choices about how your business operates behind the scenes.
If there’s a space in your store that you’ve been avoiding, don’t criticize yourself — walk into it. Stand there for a minute and notice what feels outdated, inefficient, or heavy. Then, start making decisions.
“Deciding begins with small steps. You can get this done and feel incredible afterwards, even if the steps are hard.”
I did NOT realize how big of a project this would be. In my mind I kept thinking “but this is such a small home office”. But once I got started and realized how involved this would be, I realized two things. That this was way overdue and that I could coach while not beating myself up for what this office had become.
Start by just making decisions – do not start by decluttering or organizing.
You’re simply deciding. Deciding that you are capable of tackling this project. Deciding that you deserve this. That’s where the real shift happens.
In Episode 271 I’ll share more including pictures of my new office!
