Home's 'hot spots' can be neat, well-organized

No matter how much you sort, shuffle and stack your belongings, some spots still seem cramped and cluttered. Unfortunately, these problem areas — the junk drawer, medicine cabinet and coat closet — are also the ones you use every day.

But these places aren't doomed to disarray. Try dividing a chaotic drawer with a series of small boxes or creating shelves in the lower half of a hall closet.

A few simple strategies will help you organize the busiest spaces in your home. With the right system in place, you'll spend less time rearranging and searching — and more time doing just about anything else.

Junk drawer

Use wooden boxes to divide and conquer a drawerful of odds and ends. Measure the inside of your drawer, and cut a piece of kraft paper to this size; note the drawer's depth.

Bring the paper to a home store that sells wooden drawer organizers. Place different-size boxes on top of the paper, covering most of its surface. If there's room, add lidded spice canisters, which are ideal for small items, such as buttons and tacks.

Arrange the containers in your drawer, using them to keep like items together.

Coat closet

Take storage to new levels by installing shelves below a row of jackets. Position the shelves near the base of your closet, and you won't have to rifle through items strewn across the floor.

Consider giving each family member a bin for hats and scarves. Designate a shelf for shoes and another for boxes holding dog toys, tennis balls and the like. Leave 1 foot of space between the shelves and the door frame, and you'll have room for boots and an umbrella stand.

Install long hooks on the back of the door and use them to hang handbags neatly. You can also attach an acrylic organizer to the door to ensure essentials, such as a wallet and sunglasses, are accessible.

Car trunk

Items kept in the car tend to get lost underneath the seats. Organize them in a heavy, vinyl handled bin (available at home stores) and include paper towels, a first-aid kit, an auto fire extinguisher, duct tape, flat-tire repair kit, bungee cords and a bag filled with flares, jumper cables and other necessities.

Under the bed

Keep extra sheets, blankets and pillows at the ready in handmade rolling drawers, and fit them with snap-on fabric covers to keep them dust-free.