Gabriela Clough, research director at Real Simple magazine, says, "Nobody takes my systems seriously. My rule is to take your shoes off when you walk in the door. I have a shoe hanger in the hall closet for my husband and me and a storage bench for our two girls, but shoes still get strewn all over the entryway. My two-year-old is young, but my six-year-old should be doing a better job. And let's not even discuss my husband."

1. Think like your family. Identify who in your clan is left-brained (technically oriented) and who is right-brained (creative, free-flowing), then tailor tasks to the individuals. Says Atteberry, "If an artsy, right-brained teen won't put her keys on a rack, perhaps she'll place them in a pretty piece of pottery-an object she has created or purchased that will help her buy into the system."

2. Get the troops involved. Kids are more likely to put away their stuff if you work with them to create systems. If your goal is to have little Oliver hang up his clothes, "ask him how he thinks they should be organized," says Stephanie Calahan. "You might think in terms of item-shorts, shirts-while he thinks in terms of color." If your child likes to play baseball and soccer, instead of placing all the balls in one bin and the bats in another, "ask her if she'd rather have the gear organized by sport," says Betsy Fein.

3. Divvy up the duties. Your husband might not put mail in the bin, but he sure knows how to arrange his baseball-hat collection. Let him organize the thing he finds most important. Don't assume your way is the right way. Make him your partner in organization and let his solutions surprise you.

This week consider setting up a new system or recommitting to one you have let slide.  Remember what Jay Conrad Levinson said, "If you're experiencing stress, you're doing it wrong."  KISS--Keep it Super Simple (see sidebar for tips).  And remember to enlisit the help and support of family, friends, and house-mates. Happy de-cluttering!

Until next week

Wishing you Simplified Interiors

Kathie Seedroff

**This article written by Nicole Sforza. Additional reporting by Nubia DuVall and Martha C. White.

The Experts: Deb Allert, Clutter-a-Go-Go, San Diego CA; Katherine Atteberry, Mind Over Matter MOM, Bozeman MT; Stephanie Calahan, Calahan Solutions, Bloomington IL; Liz Canavan Alchemy of Order, Boulder CO; Ilene Drexler, Organizing Wiz, New York NY; Betsy Fein, Clutter Busters, Rockville MD; Nancy Heller, Goodbye Clutter, New York NY; Jill Lawrence, Jill-of-all-Trades, Washington DC; Nancy McGivney, Getting Things Done, San Clemente CA; Martin Pospeshil, Klutter.org, Buffalo Grove IL; Eileen Roth, Everything in Its Place, Scottsdale AZ; Steve Webber, Steve's Organizing LLC, Tacoma WA