Home offices typically include a computer which the kids may also be using for homework, chatting and games. While the above picture doesn't quite capture the "before," the table you are looking at will be removed and replaced with a filing cabinet. Imagine that the chair and desk is rotated 45 degrees to the left.
We brought up the filing cabinet from a downstairs closet and turned the desk and chair so that it is now perpendicular from its orignial position. The filing cabinet ensures that bills and statements will be filed (instead of 'hoping' that they make it downstairs where the cabinet was originally found).
This is one of the bookshelves that sorely needed to be purged. A number of books were boxed up for donation and the remainder were sorted by size and type. The bags on top contained papers that were eventually filed.
Isn't this more pleasing to the eye? The tops of the shelves can now display family photos and there is a much greater chance of actually being able to find a book.
This is the bookcase beside the desk, before it was rotated. The shelf was also purged and loose CDs gathered up and stored in a CD holder. I find that most people have organizational tools (CD holders, plastic trays, filing cabinets); they simply aren't being used effectively. This is another reason to purge first instead of rushing out to buy more tools, as you may be surprsied at what tools you already own!
As you can see, the computer table and chair have been rotated 45 degrees and the active files are located on the top shelf of the bookcase, stacked neatly (and labelled!) in manilla folders. The floor is clear of debris and there are no loose items stuck in between the wall and the bookcase.