Designate a Spot for 'Junk'

Whether you accumulate junk by the front door, in front of the TV, or in a drawer, it's best to limit yourself to one small space.

In your living room or TV room, store remote controls in a caddy. It’s amazing how much a caddy or tray can transform a pile of clutter into something useful. If you have a junk drawer, use a muffin tin for little odds and ends. Small containers in drawers help separate odds and ends and make them easier to find.

A junk bowl, tray, or drawer is only effective if you make a point to go through it regularly and either trash or file the items.

Use Magnetic Desk Organizers

Use magnetic desk accessories to corral office supplies. By using magnetic trays, you can rest easy knowing your paperclips or bulletin-board tacks will be securely in their container when you need them.

Designate a Donation Center

Having a place to donate old clothing, shoes, and accessories before beginning to declutter makes the process easier. Find a local donation center or charity that you can easily leave lightly used items with.

Hang Kids' Artwork

Hang kids’ artwork from clips to avoid fridge clutter. You have to display your kids’ artwork, but not forever, and you can make it look more interesting than just hanging it on the fridge with magnets.

Use Shower Curtain Rings to Hold Just About Everything

/ Letícia Almeida

Shower curtain rods are surprisingly useful. You can use them in your bedroom closet to hang ties, scarves, handbags, or belts. In the kitchen, they can effectively hold tea towels or dishrags. Carefully place fabric items on metal shower hooks, or use plastic shower hooks instead.

Declutter Your Mudroom With Built-In Storage, Hooks, and Bins

The mudroom or entry tends to be a dumping ground. Take the time to either DIY or build proper storage for things like umbrellas, winter gear, bags, and shoes. Organize your mudroom by moving stuff off the floor and onto hooks for easy retrieval. Built-in storage such as shelves or cubbies can also go a long way to uncluttering a mudroom.

In the end, your mudroom will be functional and look better.

Be Prepared With Baskets

Use attractive baskets for quick living room decluttering. This corrals clutter in a way that doesn't detract from your decorating scheme.

Create a Clutter Cabinet for Home Accessories

A "clutter cabinet" can store home accessories like tchotchkes, picnic gear, candlesticks, and centerpieces, and decor items you display only sometimes, like picture frames, mementos, vases, and seasonal items.

These can be stored in an accessories cabinet or in project bins. This way, when you want to change up your decor or entertain, you know exactly where to retrieve these items. Plus, when it’s time to store them again, you know exactly where to put them

Have a System for Project Magazines

/ Margot Cavin

Don’t save a magazine for one recipe in it. Have a system for managing the content in magazines you actually want to keep. Store recipes in your recipe file, DIY project ideas in your DIY project file, and so on.

Invest in a Shredder

If you have lots of paper clutter, a shredder will help keep it under control. Use a shredder as you go through the mail so these piles of junk mail don't even get a chance to accumulate. Also, periodically go through your files to see if there is anything you can shred.