Tackling The Home Office

Tackling your home office can be a daunting challenge, but "Real Simple" magazine's design expert and contributor Kate Parker has some great tips on how to get the task done.

As part of the "Early Gets Organized" series, Parker helped Amanda and Adam Hall re-design their chaotic home office space.

The couple had moved in to their apartment a year and a half ago, but the room slowly turned into a "junk box," becoming a collection point for books, papers and boxes of stuff.

Parker gave the room a makeover, turning a cluttered space into a bright, efficient and beautiful office the couple can share.

To maximize space, she arranged the desks facing each other; she also created a library of sorts, by adding book shelves along the walls. Bright lighting and accessories were the finishing touches.

Parker stopped by "The Early Show" to share her home office re-design tips.

She said the biggest problem is paperwork, and recommended using colorful filing boxes and folders to get organized. She pointed out that the boxes and folders come in a variety of sizes to fit all kinds of media, documents and larger files.

For these purchases, Parker said she likes "The Container Store."

While you can go on a budget on some things, Parker said one should not skimp when it comes to buying a desk. Look for a large surface, and filing cabinets underneath.

Parker said she likes West Elm and Pottery Barn desks. She also pointed out that a variety of accessories are usually available that match the desk. One line she likes is Pottery Barn's Bedford collection

To soften up a room, Parker recommends buying a rug, open book shelves and perhaps a reading chair to make the space cozier and inviting.

And finally, she had a word of advice on lighting: look for a lamp that gives a lot of light, but has a small footprint, meaning it uses up less of your desk or floor space.

Check out Real Simple for more tips.