A5) With my client, there was a reason for keeping everything! e.g. sentimental value, it cost a lot so I hate to part with it; this pile is the "lose 5 lb," "lose 10 lb;" etc. It took a lot of time, but piece by piece, we went through it and I forced my client to "take action" on every item. Clutter often results because there is an unrealistic expectation that it will be dealt with in a timely manner; when it doesn't, it becomes clutter. The likelihood of someone wearing something from the "lose 10 lb" pile is slim to none, once the weight has been shed—you will likely buy new clothes, as you should!

So true Lisa. I have to listen up here. As a designer I am often drawn to a new item or look I just love. We always want to change things up. It is time to recognize when an intervention is needed.

I have so many friends who do that too and when they do accomplish whatever goal they have set, that saved pile ends up being forgotten and replaced with new items.

Q6) For someone on a budget, what are some great money saving tips on how to create storage without breaking the bank?

A6) Plastic containers can keep everything organized in drawers or a closet. You don’t have to break the bank. Target, Costco, Home Depot all have lots of options as do specialty organizer stores. Martha Stewart has a great line at Staples. Also, look for hidden storage in your home. Under the beds is a great place to stash extra bedding or out of season clothing.

I have a huge problem with sentimental items. There are not that many, but we have a damp basement and no storage space left in the house. I love the suggestions above about separating yourself from you stuff.

A6) Using affordable, durable and attractive materials like melamine greatly reduce cost and can be used to create a variety of looks, from modern to traditional, for closets, shelving and a variety of home storage.

Yes, you have to get to the root of why you are hanging on to stuff. Does it represent a happier time in your life, or perhaps a happier version of you . . . some emotional work is sometimes needed - but always helpful.

A6) Be creative and resourceful with corner spaces, unusually-shaped nooks, and angles in your home. Add shelves, hanging rods and boxes to create more storage space! In a closet, think about slim-line hangers to increase your hanging inventory. Drawer dividers in kitchens, bathrooms and closets can improve efficiencies, as well.

I'm going to make some tough decisions and take photos of everything, keep only 5 items, be ruthless and get rid of the rest. What also helps is that my partner and I have a 2-5 year plan (whatever it takes) to move to France, and of course the less stuff we own, the easier it will be to move!

Q7) People have different comfort levels when it comes to “stuff” in their home. How do you navigate that when working with couples?

Oooooh that sounds like a good plan suzjazz. Keep the partner, toss the rest!

A7) Individualized storage spaces, such as a “his and hers closet”, are great for couples with different attitudes towards organizing. Men and women often have different storage needs and different types of clothing items to store. Having the individualized space makes each partner responsible for their area, and reduces organizing conflict.

A7) Oh, that’s simple – the neat freak wins! Kidding aside, there needs to be compromise here. I find it is helpful if each person has an area where they can collect whatever is important to them – memorabilia, souvenirs, keepsakes, that they have full control over how it is kept, whether organized or a jumble. Common areas need to be negotiated.

I have those super slim velvet hangers and I wonder how I ever lived without them. They create SO much space in the closet and everything is easier to find. You can also get them with pant/skirt racks.

There is a fung shui saying that if you get rid of clutter, you allow space for something new to enter your life (and they don't mean a new sofa!) Also, it gives the chi space to circulate freely.

A7) Compromise on shared areas and let each partner "accessorize" to their liking in their personal spaces (eg closets, man cave, office, etc.). He gets a tie display and she gets a scarf cabinet! :)

That scarf cabinet is genius! Must.acquire.one.asap!!!

Like isn't a strong enough response - LOVE that scarf organizer!

Q8) What’s the most creative design element you have seen that addressed storage in an unexpected way?

A8) The pull-out ironing board available through transFORM is an excellent, space saving addition to the laundry room that eliminates the need for hard to set up, free-standing ironing boards. Often utility rooms in the home such as the laundry room are neglected when it comes to creating storage. These are sometimes the most useful places to create storage such as a linen closet or cabinet space for laundry and cleaning supplies with tilt-out hampers for sorting laundry.

A8) These clever solutions below keep items in order which are always getting tangled such as necklaces, and cords. This rake could be spray painted gloss black or white if you prefer graphic appeal. Cords and cables are a rat’s nest if tossed in a box or drawer. This clever solution uses empty toilet paper rolls. For someone like myself who always has lots of paper, drawings, photos etc. to keep organized, I love the idea of repurposing by using construction palettes as shelving.

I sense a DIY project happening very soon in my household... ;)

A8) Pull-out pant racks are an extremely efficient way to store pants and it keeps them organized and accessible.

A8) Library stack cabinets & sliding book shelves that pocket away...

Q9) How much storage is enough? Any rules of thumb?

Lisa, we need to design a residential friendly version of this. I collect many art and design books and could really use this.

A9) Sure – there is no such thing as too much! Clutter expands to fill available space, but there is a paradox. If there is space, people will fill it. Remove some of the space and you have to downsize and get rid of some of the stuff you have collected. The saying that you should move every five years to clear out the clutter rings true here.

A9) Create only as much storage space as is needed around your system of organization. Designate an area to easily access items used everyday, to store supplies and bulk buy items, and to display your prized possessions. Having excessive storage will take up space and encourage the habit of tossing items aimlessly into drawers and cabinets.

Last question guys!

Q10) Are there specific strategies you have designed in order to keep clutter at bay in your own home?

A9) Everyone is different--with different lifestyles, homes, available storage, etc. If you need to rent a storage facility for your items, then you might want to re-evaluate your items...think "Field of Dreams"...as Judith mentioned, we will fill the space.

A10) When I first walk in the door, I have a place to hang my keys. Having spaces set aside for important items and sticking to that system will help prevent rushing around at the last minute searching for things, and running late. Papers and mail accumulate quickly, so I store and sort my mail next to the paper recycling bin, to simplify the task and encourage the positive, feel good activity of recycling.

A(10) We have small Victorian homes in the area where I live so storage is always an issue, and we are always fixing things. The workshop area can be a real disaster. Here’s an idea my father always used when we were growing up. He stored tons of stuff on the ceiling by either hanging a basket of tools, or by nailing the lid of a jar to the beams and screwing a jar filled with nails, bolts, screws, etc. – all within sight, all out of the way.

I also love to wrap gifts. A simple paper towel holder makes a great holder to keep all the ribbon from becoming a tangled mess.

A10) Recycling magazines if they haven't been read by the time the next issue arrives...

A10) Keeping trash & recycling bins in every room in the house so clutter has an immediate way of exiting (e.g. dry cleaning plastic in a closet). I like to design closets with a pull-out trash bin!

Great chat, everyone! Thank you to the Houzz Professionals for joining us today and everyone else for chiming in! The chat is now over, but feel free to chat freely amongst yourselves. See you on the next Live Chat!

A10) I try to minimize paper / hard copies by keeping and filing everything in my computer. Before I start my work day, I tidy up around me for about 5-10 minutes; then, my head is clear and I am able to start working!

Thank you Jeannie, Emily, Judith and Lisa!

That was fun!

Thanks. I learned some great tips!

It may be because I don't have kids, but I find I don't need as much storage space as my house provides. I have a tiny house (888sqft), and have empty kitchen cabinets, among other things. I recently purged a lot of things, and did some reorganizing of the house and ended up not needing to store things, so much as needing places to display things. I figure if I need to tuck it away some where, then I probably don't need it at all.

Has anyone bought one of those scanner they keep advertising that also files it on your computer?

Thank you, everyone!

hollygates - it sounds a nice idea but you can then end up with an overstuffed computer as the scanned files are pretty large. Plus it's fairly time-consuming. I quite often now take a photo of things with my iPhone for future reference when I previously might have scanned it.

I love the handbag cubby holes.

A hanger like this one works well as a scarf display...

that's really perfect way to settle the things.

A1: I have had the experience of having to move house almost every year or two, and where I am an organized person, I have many people who have helped me to move stuff from house to house but only ended up causing chaos, so thus, some of my ideas that have saved me from a lot worst.

To declutter a home have two large boxes and one large basket. Label one box "Stuff for Charity", label another "Stuff to throw out" and the basket is for things that need to either be sorted out or cleaned later once you have finished. Usually I put these just outside the bedroom door at side of corridor wall, so I don't clutter the space within which I want to clean and organize.

Every two weeks, I get rid of old newspapers and mags and replace old ones with new ones in magazines racks.

Clean house routinely, so dust and grease doesn't accumulate making the job far difficult later and more time consuming.

Colour code boxes when you move house ( not just label them), assign a colour ( post it tags) to each family member's boxes when moving house -or even doing tasks as organizing and when you are tired, colours get you moving faster. Also, stick the same colour on each family member's room door, so movers can put the colour coded box outside that door. Even organize stuff within boxes according to area of room, like 'desk corner', make up table, etc.. then do same thing in the room, assign each set of things to their corner ready to set up. This way, you keep space and save time.

A2: Probably the kitchen as you have so much to work with. I have sorted it out by assigning areas of the kitchen for specific tasks. Middle table for preparation work of veggies or whatever for making stews etc..

Once counter area for baking cakes etc and bread, in the above cabinets over this area are the baking utensils, below- are the baking trays.

In another, I have vegetable baskets and strainers, bowls for washing rice or lentils etc., near the sink..above this all the electric gadgets.

Toward the end of the kitchen near the door, I have guests plates and glass casseroles next to that. Next to the fridge is the larder. It works for me.

All my pans are on one side next to baking trays and skillets.

Hi Jeannie...How do I delete Negative comments from my posts?