Many envision working from home as a simple affair involving slippers, pajama pants and a few hours on a laptop. In reality, there is a great deal of responsibility needed for successful self-employment, and a great deal of paperwork as well. In order to claim the tax deductions that you've earned while working from home, you need thorough documentation of every expense (particularly in the event of an audit). As a result, home offices tend to amass a great deal of clutter. If left unchecked, it can quickly overwhelm an otherwise orderly workplace. 

When it comes to keeping your papers in check, there are a wide variety of organizational tools at your disposal. Manila folders and filing cabinets are a tried-and-true method of organization; however, there are plenty of other places to stash away papers, as well. Poly file folders and binders, for instance, can serve as far less space-consuming alternatives. Shelves can be used in a pinch when there are large quantities of paperwork in need of storage, but bin organizers are an exceedingly more common, reliable and orderly looking solution. For those whose troubles reside more so with excess office supplies than with paperwork, there are also countless other methods to reduce clutter. Desk drawers are the simplest solution, but not everyone has them (or has enough room in them). In these cases, there are countless variations of cabinets, drawers and organizer chests on the market. With the advent of internet shopping, finding the appropriate storage for your home office has become easier than ever. 

With the proper organization, any home office can strike the sacred balance between cleanliness, convenience and audit-readiness. Paperwork and office supplies are important, but don't make practical furniture; so when they start taking up more room than the desk, it is generally time to look into organizing. How does your home office weigh in?