Small Room Organization Decorating Ideas

Clutter, like some invasive weed, seems to constantly grow and multiply. But fear not, it can be controlled. The first step: Learn to become an impartial judge of your belongings. "People try to contain more than they need or use," says Kathy Waddill, a professional organizer in San Francisco who wrote The Organizing Sourcebook. Ask yourself: "How many of these toys does my child actually play with?" "Why am I keeping those heels that kill my feet?" Once you've pared down, it's time to clean up. Here, our experts tackle the biggest organizing dilemmas, offering easy, practical solutions that really work.

THE BEDROOM

The Mess
Molehill-like heaps of clothing-on the verge of becoming mountains-scattered across the floor and on furniture

Clean It Up
The sad fact is that dropping clothes on the floor is "just something people do in bedrooms," says Waddill. "If you're in a hurry, you're not always going to fuss with a hanger or drawer." Plus, guests typically don't see your bedroom, so "we tend to let neatness slide," says interior designer Monica Pedersen of HGTV's Designed to Sell. But take comfort in the fact that both Waddill and Pedersen say that a "clothing chair" (the spot where you toss that not-quite-dirty but not-quite-clean pair of jeans or shirt) is perfectly acceptable. It's light years better than the floor, and "one step closer to the closet," says Pedersen. Make an effort to sort through the pile at least once a week. Meryl Starr, a New York City-based personal organizer, also advises installing an over-the-door valet hook, which is handy for hanging dry cleaning before you get a chance to put it away.

The Mess
Boots and pumps and sneakers-oh my!-mingling awkwardly on the closet floor

Clean It Up
Unfortunately, many of the footwear storage solutions on the market have Achilles' heels. Hanging bags can be great for kids' shoes, but grownup shoes are often too large for the compartments, says Waddill. And when you arrange shoes on a rack formed from two horizontal bars-another popular product-they tend to slip through the cracks. Experts recommend placing the shoes you wear most often on solid shelves, such as the 2-Shelf Storage Stacker available at The Container Store. Keep everything else (off-season, special-occasion) in clear plastic shoeboxes on a high shelf.

THE FAMILY ROOM

The Mess
Abandoned car rallies and Barbie tea parties strewn haphazardly across the floor.

Clean It Up
Instead of piling toys in a chest, which kids have to dig through, Waddill suggests dividing them by type among open bins. Clearly label the containers and place them on low shelves. Because cardboard game boxes tend to get broken and their pieces lost, she suggests putting small items, like dice and cards, in clearly labeled resealable bags along with the directions and a cutout picture of the game from the box. For wireless video game consoles, controllers and games, Starr advises keeping a basket next to the television. Stash wired consoles on a shelf just underneath the TV.

The Mess
Magazines and catalogs papering the coffee table

Clean It Up
Store magazines temporarily in an attractive box or bin- Pedersen likes to keep one by the sofa. But make a rule that "when you get a new copy of something, you recycle the old one," says Waddill. Before you ditch periodicals or catalogs, rip out pages you want to save and put them in a folder. If you like to decorate with magazines, arrange no more than five on the coffee table and fan them out, says Pedersen. "This way it looks intentional, not sloppy."

THE KITCHEN

The Mess
Leaning towers of Tupperware constantly threatening an avalanche

Clean It Up
A large drawer helps keep food storage containers well-contained, says Waddill. Otherwise, place them in a bin inside a cabinet so you can quickly pull everything out and find what you're looking for. Sort through the receptacles and recycle anything without a top. Stack the rest according to shape and size, making separate piles for the lids. When shopping for new plasticware, purchase the same brand so the pieces nest easily, and opt for square or rectangular containers, which fit better than round ones in the cupboard, drawer and refrigerator. If all else fails, throw out everything (or repurpose the pieces to store kids' craft supplies) and buy Rubbermaid collapsible containers, which can be flattened and stored with their lids, says Pedersen. "They changed my life."

The Mess
Countertops covered with a blanket of papers, the contents of everyone's pockets and who-knows-what-else

Clean It Up
Kitchen counters tend to be drop-off spots for whatever your family drags in-school papers, loose change. Manage the daily influx by creating homes for the items that pile up. Keep labeled folders in a metal file sorter on the counter and use them for mail, takeout menus, each child's school paperwork and so on, says Waddill. Or give each child a sturdy cardboard box to decorate and use as a place for his or her things. "Kids will have more of an incentive to use something they helped create," says Starr. Keep an attractive bowl or basket on the counter for odds and ends like sunglasses and keys. Whatever you choose, make sure it's relatively small. "The larger the container, the more stuff gets thrown in there," says Starr.

THE BATHROOM

The Mess
A jumbled drawerful of makeup that includes colors not seen since the '80s.

Clean It Up
Although some experts advise against storing makeup in the bathroom, where heat and moisture can break down preservatives, we know it's generally the most convenient place for it. To ward off bacteria, keep cosmetics tightly sealed. Get rid of foundation, concealer, eye pencil and shadow after six months. Lip pencils and powders will last a year; lipsticks keep up to three years. Toss anything you never wear and then divide and conquer. On her vanity, Pedersen uses a series of silver mint julep and trophy cups, designating one for blushes, another for brushes, and so on. "It's decorative and functional," says the designer. You can also arrange small baskets in a drawer or use drawer dividers. But avoid slotted organizers marketed for cosmetics, says Waddill. "They assume you have only a certain number of lipsticks and eye shadows, which isn't helpful."

The Mess
Cleaners, supplies and extra toiletries jammed into the black hole-er, cabinet-under the sink

Clean It Up
Under-sink cupboards are often cavernous spaces, with an inconveniently placed pipe snaking through the center. When filled with boxes and bottles, it's difficult to see or access things in the back without pulling out the entire contents of the cabinet. Starr recommends maximizing the vertical space with tiered shelves or stacking drawers and using them for extra soap, shampoo, sunscreen and the like. Corral cleaning supplies in a bucket. "Everything in the cabinet should be contained in something so you can get it out fast in case of a leak," says Waddill.

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