The REAL SIMPLE Home may give you inspo for a major home design refresh—but you don't even have to spend a single penny to put some of the space's smart ideas into action. Check out the clever organizational ideas that were added to common clutter hotspots, like the laundry room and pantry. Steal these strategies to help you target key areas—and get your clutter under control.
Study Your Trouble Spots
In general, the biggest clutter areas tend to be shared spaces where your stuff—and the stuff of other people in your household—mingles. "The toughest spots are where it’s unclear about who's responsible for managing it—like the pantry, the living area, places where people tend to drop and accumulate things," says Tyler Moore, founder of Tidy Dad, author of Tidy Up Your Life, and the 2025 REAL SIMPLE Home's resident organizing expert.
That includes places like the entryway, where you're constantly moving things in and out of the house, the pantry, the office, and of course, the kids' rooms (or anywhere where kids' toys and gear collect!).
"You need to study how you’re going to live in the space, and what your habits and routines are," Moore says. "You need to envision how you're going to use your space, how are other people going to come into and out of that space." Understanding what's working—and what you might need to change to make it effective—will make it easier to organize the space successfully.
Give Yourself Time to Declutter
So many people try to do a declutter marathon to get things in ship shape and dedicate an entire weekend to the task. But Moore suggests starting smaller. "After an hour or two, your enthusiasm really wanes," he says. Your best bet? Focus on key areas where you get the biggest bang for the buck, and keep declutter sessions short. "You need to identify your pain points—how we start and end our day is a good place to start. Creating a glam station where your makeup and toiletries are organized, and your shoes and work bag are ready to go, helps you start off the morning in a solid way. Then tidy the area right next to your bed so you can unwind at the end of the day."
Get Everyone on the Same Page
If you're the only one who knows where the baking supplies or the snacks go, you're going to be constantly fighting a losing battle. "Everybody needs to understand your organizational blueprint," Moore says. "It can be helpful to draw out maps and diagrams for cabinets and shelves, and use a label maker so they can see that this is the shelf where such and such goes. It removes some of that thinking work, so people are more easily able to maintain the system."
Let People See What the Reset Looks Like
Moore loves the idea of showing people what you want the "after" to look like, and touring them through the space. "There’s something about restoring things to factory settings," Moore says. "When there's too much clutter, doing a little reset helps, so people have a better understanding of what expectations are and how they want the space to feel."
Choose Flexible Storage Options
Your storage needs aren't set in stone, so it pays to spring for adjustable storage options—like the adjustable shelving in the REAL SIMPLE Home kids' room—which can be shifted to accommodate new needs. "I think organizational flexibility is the new luxury," Moore says. "Using adjustable shelving and organizing things sets you up for the future and being able to change the system in a year or two when your needs are different."
Fortunately, flexibility is more accessible than ever. "It doesn't have to come with a custom price tag," Moore says. You'll find affordable systems that'll make it simple (and stylish) to keep everything in shape.
Get Creative With How You Use Your Storage Options
Just because something is pegged for pantry or closet storage doesn't mean it has to be used in that space. "There are so many different systems out there, and you can use a system that you'd typically put in the bedroom into a different space, like the laundry room," Moore says. For instance, a stylish woven basket can be used to hold toys in a kids' room or snacks in the pantry.
Use Closed Storage
Closed, opaque storage—like the storage baskets in the pantry and kids' rooms—helps reduce visual clutter and makes storage spaces more stylish. "You want something that’s beautiful and aesthetically pleasing," Moore says. "Function is what actually breeds beauty—and having access to things when you need them, there’s nothing better than that."
Source: Milbrand, L. (2025b, September 17). 6 Smart organizing tips for the most Clutter-Prone areas of your home. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/organizing-tips-for-clutter-prone-areas-11807818