Closing the laptop at 5: Storage ideas that help you switch off

Choosing effective office storage ideas helps establish a distinct separation between your professional and personal life at home.

Working from home has blurred the line between work and leisure time. Often, the place where we work is also where we eat, drink, socialise, keep entertained, and maybe even sleep. The physical reminders of work, whether that's through files, books, laptops, monitors, or stationery, can make it impossible to fully switch off from work.

By tidying away your work equipment at the end of the day, you signal to yourself that working hours are over, making it easier to mentally switch off and fully relax once your laptop is closed.

Why visual clutter makes it harder to switch off 

Your work-from-home space might be a dedicated home office. Maybe it’s a nook in your living room. Maybe you set up your laptop at your dining table every day. Whatever the case, you need to ensure you can control the visual clutter caused by your setup, as this impacts productivity and your ability to switch off at the end of the workday.

Keeping equipment, wires and cables, books, and stationery out of sight really does help push work onto the back burner. You create a clear, healthy boundary between work and personal time. Seeing a Post-it Note on your computer screen can make you think about upcoming meetings. When you don't see your work, you're less likely to think about it.

Give work a defined home

Don't let work seep into your daily life. Give it a clear, defined home. You can do this by creating clear boundaries and improving organisation.

1. Ensure all work stationery is stored in drawers.

2. Keep files stored away in a work-only cabinet.

3. Hide cables and chargers by using Velcro ties to bundle cords together and use adhesive strips to stick cables under the desk or to table legs to keep them out of view.

4. Place your mouse and keyboard away in a drawer.

5. Utilise fitted home office furniture solutions that are ergonomic and functional.

Make multi-use rooms feel like living spaces again

Multi-use rooms serve multiple functions, such as a bedroom that's also a workspace. These rooms are commonplace nowadays. However, the work aspect can really start to overtake the other functions.

Here are some ways you can make your house feel like a home again.

Create a clear work zone

Designate your main workspace by arranging essential items, such as your desk, comfortable chair, and computer, in a specific area. To reinforce this zone, ensure that items you use less frequently are tucked away in drawers or cupboards. Position your desk and chair so they face away from the rest of the room, helping you mentally transition into ‘work mode’ when needed.

This spatial separation encourages focus during work hours and makes it easier to switch off afterwards, restoring your room’s other functions for relaxation and living.

Hiding work away

Ensure that items such as notebooks, laptops, and other work essentials are labelled and tidied away, out of sight when you're not working. By keeping these items concealed, you’ll help the space feel like a true living area after work hours.

Separate personal and work belongings

If you use your laptop or computer for both work and personal activities, or if your work and personal calendars are combined, it’s worth setting clear boundaries between the two.

Ideally, consider having a separate device or calendar for work and another for personal use, so you can fully disconnect outside of working hours. If this isn’t possible, try using colour-coding or different calendar apps to visually distinguish between work and personal commitments.

For your laptop, set up separate user accounts or use distinct desktop backgrounds for work and leisure, helping you to mentally switch between the two and maintain a healthier work-life balance.

Rituals

Create clear routines when you first log on. You may light a certain scented candle, so your brain associates that smell with switching on. Then, at the end of the day, switch up the scent to something that allows you to relax and switch your brain off.

Plan storage around your daily routine

Everyone’s home working routine is unique – whether you’re a graphic designer relying on a high-spec computer or a sales professional making the most of a dual screen setup. By tailoring your workspace and daily habits to suit your individual needs, you can create an environment that helps you stay productive and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Book a free design visit with Hammonds and find ideas to maximise home office storage solutions to suit your space and routines.