Address clutter hot spots. Every home has a few spots where clutter tends to accumulate — the kitchen counter, the back door and so on. These places are often along our most frequently traveled paths through the house, so it makes sense to work with the hot spot rather than try to eliminate it. Simply placing a bit of storage in the problem area should do the trick. Style note: In the kitchen, try using a few strategically placed file boxes to quell the mess.