Betsy Burnham Eclectic Home Office, Los Angeles

Two feminine pagoda chandeliers create interesting contrast to the Miro print, black bookcase featuring strong and simple lines, and the large glass-top table.

BPF: Any decorating pet peeves? BB: I can’t stand it when people push their furniture up against the walls of their room. This is not a furniture plan! Pull your furniture in, let it “float.” By creating more intimate groupings of pieces, the result is a much warmer space. Another pet peeve, and I’m sorry BPF, is too much DIY. Most people are not good painters, or paper hangers. Hire a professional to do the work. It’s really well worth the splurge, and that well-prepped and painted wall will make even Ikea furniture look expensive. BPF: No offense taken! I'm a pretty darn good painter and stylist; however, I leave true wallpaper hanging to my team of professionals. I totally agree that there's many cases where paint jobs should be left to the professionals.

Use boxes and trays to keep things neat. Designer Betsy Burnham's studio stays organized via shelves full of white boxes and a series of functional trayscapes.

Do you love eclectic style? Add a shiny finish to bamboo-inspired lighting.

Start off organizing the photo format that will give you the biggest peace of mind. For most of us that's hard copies. Professional organizer Christie Gelsomino suggests to sort by theme (kids, pets, holidays, vacations) or by date. You can also use a combination of the two.

Wall storage is perfect for my personal clutter-busting method: The Box System. I keep everything in my office in lovely white boxes with clear labels like “Tape,” “Glue” and “Thank You Notes.” Looking for paper clips? They’re in a box labeled “Fasteners,” along with brads, staples and big ol’ binder clips. Now the inside of that box is not all right angles and perfection. It’s a pile of various fasteners. But the contents are not cluttering up my office — they’re housed in one of many pretty boxes that look great and make it easy to find what I need fast.

The most important thing is to have fun. Making it easy to sit down and wrap gifts, make cards or bake cookies means you’re transforming a holiday activity from a chore into a chance to be creative and to have fun together. Whether you’re wrapping gifts with your kids, having friends over for a cookie-decorating competition (everyone wins when baked goods are involved) or simply finding a spare moment to knock out some of your holiday cards, it’s important to spend time with the people who make life special despite the hustle and bustle of the season.More: 10 Ways to Get Your Kitchen Ready for the Holidays

The practical rule of thumb. Dispose of photos that are duplicates, blurry, of people or events you don’t remember, and multiples of the same group (people, pets, palm trees, whatever …) in slightly different poses. In fact, you really need to keep only a few images that best document your experience of any given event. While the practical approach may feel cold until you get in the groove, you’ll feel rewarded when you start uncovering long-lost gems. Sort by these categories: keep, toss, give away, and digitize (so you know you’ll never lose your favorites).

Not even on a good day has my desk ever looked this tidy, but a girl can dream. Trays on a desk can organize paperwork or things you want to look at while you work. Keep desk basics, like a cup of pens, a tape dispenser and a stapler, from shifting about with small trays.

Wall storage is perfect for my personal clutter-busting method: The Box System. I keep everything in my office in lovely white boxes with clear labels like “Tape,” “Glue” and “Thank You Notes.” Looking for paper clips? They’re in a box labeled “Fasteners,” along with brads, staples and big ol’ binder clips.