Organize Your Important Papers, Bills, Receipts & More

If you like to stash photos, invitations, and memos in sight, why not show them off a bit? An attractive, easy-to-use metal wall hanging helps you keep track of papers. Its decorative geometric design adds interest and keeps everything on hand for when you need it.

A right-sized magazine holder keeps reading materials in check and clutter free. This bold design was perfect for its punchy surroundings, and it's big enough to hold plenty of catalogs without being overwhelming. Remember to purge old or untouched items on a regular basis to avoid a paper pileup.

Take charge of underused kitchen items that could be repurposed for organization. This vintage toast rack becomes an elegant in-box on an entry table. Use the slots to keep postage stamps handy for outgoing mail and to sort what comes in.

Forget boxy filing cabinets. Flat-bottom tote bags are sized right for file folders and make perfect project carriers. Tuck a separate shelf under a desk to keep the bags upright. Add more storage with a set of stackable drawers on the desk and stash wrapping paper in a pretty bin beside it.

With meetings, school, practice, and pets, it's easy to lose track of time on busy mornings. A drop zone is a foolproof way to manage mail that needs to go out the door. Designate two trays -- one for bills to pay and one for outgoing letters -- near the entryway of your home to make sure nothing is missed.

A well-ordered expense tracker makes it easy to maintain inventories and keep important documents on hand. With several compartments, this file box ensures manageable space to organize receipts and other frequently-accessed items. Look for a device with labeled pockets so you can organize information by subject or date, or alphabetically.

By keeping papers on hand and off the desk, this wall-mounted file helps corral paper clutter. Use each compartment to organize items by category, such as bills, schoolwork, and notepads. Affix metal hooks to outer panels for keys or grab-and-go items.

Keep clutter at bay with a multi-purpose work station. This communication haven is built from a patchwork of magnet, dry-erase, chalkboard, cork, and pegboard squares behind the built-in desktop. The combination of materials ensures that messages and papers can be stored in versatile ways. Use magnetic boards to hold papers you need only temporarily, dry-erase boards and chalkboards to jot down quick messages, cork boards to stick more permanent papers on (favorite take-out menus, emergency phone numbers), and pegboard squares to mount containers for desk supplies.

Create a personal filing system that meets your daily needs and makes sense to you, but make it easy to use. Intended for dishes, the slats of this drying rack stand file folders and notebooks at perfect attention. Use the slotted compartment designed for sponges to stash small office supplies.

Quarter-sheet baking pans make great clutter-catchers in shallow desk drawers. Designate a tray for each specific need, such as organizing bills or corralling extra office supplies, to keep counters clean.

Keep needed items in sight and in mind with color-coded folders. Attach towel racks to the side of a desk to create a file cabinet. Add grommets to file folders and hang them from the bars with curtain hooks. Personalize each folder with labels and postcards for a memorable way to organize.

Stash everything you need to accomplish a task in one designated area. Perfect for storing small items, this letter holder adds a burst of style to the desktop and keeps colorful stationery on hand for jotting a quick note.

Keep homework and school papers organized with a simple filing system. Standing files with tabbed dividers sort paper by subject or activity, making it easy to separate classes from extracurriculars.

Sync your family's busy schedules with a communication center at the heart of your home. A host of wall-mounted organizers, such as bulletin boards, magnetic panels, and file folders, save space and encourage parents and kids to exchange important messages. Magnetic strips of memo board provide a place to hang cards and photos.

Create a portable coupon and receipt organizer from an index card case and stash it where you'll remember to take it on errands. Alphabetized divider tabs are the perfect solution for filing lists accordingly. The holder's small size makes it easy to stow in a purse.

Stop searching high and low for important papers, coupons, and receipts. Instead, sort papers by type and organize each subject in an accordion file box. Designate an hour each month to sort through everything, and toss expired coupons and archive last month's bills and receipts in a separate file.

If your home has many people who get mail, designate a specific spot for each person's incoming letters and magazines. Turn basic baskets into savvy organizers and store them in an easily accessible location, such as near the entryway.

Take advantage of unused wall space to contain clutter. Spiff up a metal poultry feeder with iron shelf brackets and magnetic strips to keep contents in place. Use different sections of the feeder to sort cards and receipts. Simplify organization with magnetic labels, and fill mini canisters with rubber bands and paper clips.