Get Listed
Why office clutter costs more than you think
Every office has that cupboard. The one where old files, spare cables and last year’s event supplies pile up until nobody wants to open the door. Clutter costs more than most people realise, though. It eats into floor space, slows everyone down when they need a document, and makes even a well-designed workspace feel cramped.
The good news is that better office storage solutions do not need a big budget or a full refit. A few practical choices, made in the right order, can free up a surprising amount of room. Here is how to approach it.
Start with what you actually need to store
Before buying anything, spend an hour finding out what is taking up room. Sort what you find into three groups: things people use every day, things needed occasionally, and things that should not be there at all. Most offices discover that a fair chunk of their paperwork belongs in a recycling bag or a digital archive rather than a drawer.
What is left tells you what kind of storage you need. Daily-use items belong close to where people sit, in pedestals or shelving within easy reach. Occasional items can go in taller cupboards further from the desks. Anything confidential needs something that locks. Once you know the split, choosing between the different types of used office storage becomes far easier, because you are matching furniture to a job rather than guessing.
Use height, not floor space
Floor space is the expensive part of most offices, so go up. Storage cupboards commonly stand anywhere from desk height to well over two metres, typically 800 to 1000mm wide and 400 to 600mm deep, which means one tall unit can hold what would take several low ones. If you are considering the taller options, measure your ceiling height first and allow a little extra, because cupboards usually have to be tilted or lifted into position.
Doors matter too. A standard hinged cupboard needs clear room in front of it to swing open, while tambour units use a roller shutter that slides out of the way, which suits corridors and tight corners. If you would like a plain-English explanation of the terms you will come across, from side filers to double-sided tambours, we have put together our guide to tambours, cupboards and filing cabinets.
Choose the right cabinet for the job
Not all filing storage is equal. A standard filing cabinet is deep and holds hanging files in drawers. A side filer is wider and shallower, and one of its drawers holds roughly one and a half drawers’ worth of a standard cabinet, which can make it the smarter pick for a tight room. Under-desk pedestals keep current work and personal items close at hand without using any extra floor area, while lockers give hot-desking teams somewhere secure to leave their belongings.
On materials, metal generally offers the best value. A simple metal double-door cupboard is hard to beat for the price. Wooden cabinets look warmer and suit reception areas or meeting rooms, but they cost more, particularly when it comes to filing cabinets.
Think about how often each cabinet will be opened, too. A unit that is used all day belongs close to the team that needs it, while archive storage can sit at the far end of the room, or in a corridor recess, out of the way of everyday traffic.
Keep confidential paperwork under lock and key
Even in a largely digital office, most organisations still hold some paper: signed contracts, HR records, financial documents. If those contain personal information, they need proper protection. The Information Commissioner’s Office advises storing physical records in lockable rooms and filing cabinets, and keeping a record of who has access to the keys. It is a simple rule, and a lockable cabinet is often the most affordable way to follow it. Lockable pedestals under each desk and a few lockable cupboards in shared areas cover most everyday needs, and they keep sensitive papers out of sight during meetings and visitor walk-arounds.
Why second-hand storage makes sense
Storage furniture is built to last. Steel cabinets in particular can outlive several office refits, which makes them ideal candidates for a second life. Buying pre-owned costs less than buying new, and every unit that stays in use is one fewer that has to be manufactured or sent to landfill. For businesses trying to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on function, it is one of the easiest wins available.
It saves time as well. We hold a large stock at our 39,000 sq ft showroom in High Wycombe, and we deliver and install with our own vans and fitters. You can visit by appointment, see the sizes and finishes in person, and have everything in place without juggling several suppliers.
Get your storage sorted
Decluttering does not have to be a big project. Audit what you have, go tall where you can, match each cabinet to its job and lock away anything sensitive. If you would like a hand working out the right mix of office storage solutions for your workspace, get in touch and we will talk it through with you, from measurements to delivery. A tidier office is rarely about owning more furniture. It is about making each piece earn its place, and that is where the right storage pays for itself.
For more information on Smart Office Storage Solutions to Cut Clutter and Save Space talk to Recycled Business Furniture Ltd