Clutter Control

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In our on-the-go lifestyles, organization often drops down on the list of priorities and chaos quickly takes over. The good news? There are plenty of ways to fend off this assault and bring order to your home. Here are three zones that are clutter magnets and some strategies for getting them back in shape.

Problem: Entryway Overflow
Entry areas can easily become drop-and-go zones when there’s no place to put things. How can you keep your high traffic areas free from fallout?

Solution: The ideal: A dedicated mudroom or combination mudroom/laundry room. In that kind of a setting, Gary Aulik, of design firm Aulik Design Group in St. Louis Park, recommends replacing closets with custom-designed, open lockers, particularly if you have children living at home. By doing so, you’ll likely clean up the floor and improve organizational compliance from the entire household. “If you ask a child to hang coat on hanger, the likelihood of that is low,” he says. “If you create a locker environment dedicated to individuals in the family, they will use it. And the next time they go to find their coat or backpack, they’ll know where it is."

Quick fix: Create a dedicated space for the usual suspects: shoes, boots, and jackets, which otherwise pile up in inopportune places like floors, entryways, and stairwells. To help store and dry wet caps and mittens, Gary Aulik likes to use wire baskets for an inexpensive and practical solution. For boots and shoes, “we build individual lockers where boots go into a designed space, which might include a boot tray.” Aulik has also installed hook strips on the wall of the lockers in varying heights so kids are encouraged to keep their coats hung up, too.

Problem: Culinary Chaos
One of the hardest working rooms in the house, the kitchen can often be the most disorganized. Simply getting to all of your gadgets, serving ware, and tools of the trade can make meal preparation and entertaining a real workout.

Solution: For those pesky pots and pans, install custom drawers with a series of slots for the lids. “If you have to bend over and look in a cabinet with doors on it, it’s much more cumbersome than opening an oversized drawer and looking for the item you need,” says Aulik. “It’s ideal to have them in a dedicated location.” Aulik also builds dish drawers with a peg system alongside the dishwasher. Not only do plates and bowls neatly stay in place, but they save a lot of lifting and reaching, too. Dawn M. Ewest, a designer with Gabberts in Edina, agrees that custom cabinetry can help outfit your kitchen with the exact storage solutions that fit your specific needs.

Quick fix: Need help right away? Install drawers in existing kitchen cabinetry (available for approximately $50 at The Home Depot). “You’re not reaching into the back of the cabinet and pulling out everything in front to get to the item in back,” says Ewest. “It will save you frustration in the long run.” The drawers also work well for serving ware and dinnerware, too. For utensils, Ewest recommends buying drawer dividers to separate the spatulas from the serving spoons.

Problem: Cumbersome Closets
Closets are the perfect spot for all of life’s extras. Simply stuff and close. They also can be the source of endless frustration when you need to find something. Regardless of which closet is your worst culprit, there’s a solution for you.

Solution: As important as closets are when it comes to housing clothes or hiding your vacuum, they don’t always make the best use of space. Designers can create a system in which everything has a home. The first step is to assess inventory, says Ewest. For bedroom closets in particular, homeowners should consider every item: from shirts, pants, dresses, and shoes to belts, hosiery, and so on. That way, a tailor-made closet system can be constructed to make the most use of space. Ewest also likes to install drawers if there’s room in the closet. “You can section them off for nylons, socks, and jewelry,” she says. “It helps keep everything centralized.”

Quick fix: For a more inexpensive—and immediate—solution, implement a series of shelves, bins, wire baskets, and even drawers. For bedroom closets, companies like Closet Organizers USA offer belt and tie racks and sliding valet rods for around $35 each.

Problem: General Clutter
Easy fix: Sometimes, all the stuff that doesn’t seem to have a home can be the most infuriating. Where do the throw pillows go when it’s time for bed? How do you keep all the remote controls out of sight? Where should the beverage coasters live? According to Ewest, decorative boxes and totes, along with storage ottomans are easy, attractive antidotes to everyday clutter. “There are so many beautiful options out there with wicker and leather,” she says. “You can contrast them in light and dark finishes and fun colors, and they give an organized appearance.”