Tip 7: Prioritize Proximity

Make clutter control a convenience, not an ordeal. Your kid is more likely to hang up his jacket if there's a hook on the wall just inside the door.

• "Organize kitchen cupboard space according to what appliance is nearest," says Berry. Cooking utensils, spices and baking pans stay close to the oven, plastic tubs for leftovers near the fridge, and everyday plates and glassware near the dishwasher for speedier unloading.
• A linen closet is great-but storing sheets near the bed often makes better sense. Sliding under-bed drawers or an old-fashioned cedar chest means blankets and all are at the ready.
• Stow cleaning supplies for the tub and sink in an out-of-the-way spot in the bathroom rather than, say, down the hall. That goes for the kitchen, too. "It's easier to do quick touch-ups, and you're less likely to leave sponges lying about," says Garvey.

Tip 8: Set Up a Way Station in Every Room

A catchall basket under a console in the entry or on a kitchen counter can help keep day-to-day clutter in check.

• Place a large shallow bowl or tray on a table in the front hall for keys and change and a bigger basket nearby for library books or rental DVDs awaiting return. "This is your family's launch pad," says Berry. "There should be a central place for all the stuff they'll need to take with them for the day."
• A stack of storage crates or a sturdy tote on a hook by the back door can hold items like sporting equipment, sunblock or gardening gloves before they end up tossed onto the dining room table or the living room floor.
• Kitchen countertops can be magnets for unopened mail, school papers and food-delivery menus. "Don't fight it," Garvey says, "Just file it." An upright bin with vertical slots posted near the room's entryway lets you tame the daily influx-and sort it by what pieces need attention first.