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The Home Edit brand went from social media sensation (their Instagram has a whopping 2.1 million followers), to New York Times bestselling book before Netflix snapped it up. The pair’s latest tome The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything – was released on September 15.

Shearer and Teplin’s notion that “it’s OK to own things” comes with a caveat – they ultimately want to help you create smart spaces. The Nashville-based business counts celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow and Khloe Kardashian among its clients, who doubtless don’t bat an eyelash at having to pay between US$185 and US$250 an hour for the duo’s services.

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In the first episode of the Netflix show, the pair help Reese Witherspoon organise her memorabilia wardrobe – think the fuzzy pink bathroom from Legally Blonde, awards show dresses, and Big Little Lies ensembles.

In another episode, Shearer and Teplin work their magic on a home office. Husband-and-wife duo Jed and Jodi, who are parents to three young boys, reveal a space cluttered with unmarked boxes, books and disorganised paperwork that they desperately need help whipping into shape.

It may have been filmed before the pandemic, but home office and workspace organisation has become key for those of us forced to turn our living rooms into board rooms since Covid-19 arrived. So, without further ado, here are The Home Edit’s five top tips for getting your work space in order.

1. Edit

When starting a project, Shearer and Teplin begin by editing what’s in the space. They first go through every item to determine what is essential, what is sentimental, and what can be donated or thrown away. If your home office is packed with important documents, consider following the duo’s method – spread everything out and see what you have.

This step must occur first as it gives you a chance to see everything you’re keeping and allows you to begin categorising things. It also ensures that you’ll use your space more wisely once unnecessary items have been removed.

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2. Categorise

The next step in their process? Categorising the items that are leftover. A great starting point is considering your daily routine or “touch access”, meaning the items that need to be available on a regular basis. This can include documents or books you’re working with, bills, medical files and current tax statements. Then, consider what doesn’t need to be readily accessible so those items can go into storage.

The pair recommend using that guide as a way to create a system for future paperwork or documents as well. For instance, you will have more taxes, bills, and medical records in the future, so it would be wise to create a growing space for them to live.

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3. Contain

Now that you’ve categorised, don’t just shove important documents into a desk drawer or cavernous box. Put what you have in containers so it stays sorted. A smart space is one where you don’t have to spend 10 minutes searching for a certain file.

Shearer and Teplin are fans of clear trays and organisers that easily display items. They also advocate colour-coding as a way to keep things simple and aesthetically pleasing.

4. Label

Congratulations, everything now has its place and your home office is in order. To ensure that it stays this way, label how you’ve organised everything. The duo are often telling their clients they’re building a system so they can return to it again. Set yourself up for success by establishing an order that will work for you in the future.

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5. Highlight the positive

When Shearer and Teplin tackled Witherspoon’s wardrobe, they arranged the display around her happy accomplishments and memories. Take a page from their book and showcase moments in your life that make you proud, whether that’s letters, awards, degrees, photos, or memorabilia of your own.

This article originally appeared in Business Insider.

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