A calming vibe starts as soon as you step in the door, and a cluttered foyer can carry disarray and restlessness throughout your home, The solution? Make its organization brainless.

"I have a pretty stand to immediately place umbrellas in on a rainy day," says interior designer Keita Turner. "I installed a switchplate that has a key hook and also a place for mail. And in my coat closet, I hung hat and scarf hooks on the inside of the door."

"As mother of a creative, active toddler, I found a brilliant way to keep my son from writing all over the walls," says interior designer Laurie Haefele. "I installed a white board on the lower portion of the wall in my family room. Now he can have his creative freedom while my walls stay clean of any 'art.'"

Thanks to piles of mail, craft supplies, and toy collections, decluttering is a process that's never really done. Instead of fighting it, try this way to hide it.

"My dining table used to a be a mess, since I was always using it to sort paperwork, mail, or whatever everyday stuff accumulated," says professional organizer Jaime Novak. "Now I use a rolling cart. I can roll it under the table or in a closet, or just toss a tablecloth over it when I have company. I also use a cart to move laundry from room to room, and another to roll food and dishes into the dining room from the kitchen. It's not that I have super-long hallways, but the carts allow me to take one trip instead of many."

"When all else fails, splurge on high-end sheets," says interior designer Dee Murphy. "There are days when not even well-placed flowers or a helpful basket can help take the edge off. So head to bed with the certainty of softness from your nose to your toes, and promise yourself a well-rested tomorrow."

You won't have a completely spotless and tidy home all the time (sorry to break it to you). But you can contain the clutter by having a dedicated space for it.

"Maybe you have a homework table for your kids, where they can throw backpacks and books," say feng shui expert Anjie Cho. Or, assign just one bin for forms and bills, or a basket where your family can drop bags, scarves, and whatever else they bring in every day — and know exactly where to find them later.

"When tempers start to rise and crankiness emerges, I turn on relaxing classic music," says home mentor Lisa Luken. "Usually by dinnertime soothing music is playing! And on mornings when it's tough to get everyone moving, I play energetic music. It improves everyone's mood and gets us out the door (no missed busses!).