Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The Mallory Family

Lisa, 41; Doug, 42; Emily, 13; Allison, 11; and Sarah, 8.

Our mudroom is stuck in a rut.
“Whenever one of my girls couldn’t find a schoolbook,” says Lisa Mallory, “I’d say, ‘Look in the mudroom,’ and it would inevitably materialize under a pile of shoes. If I asked them to clean the space, all they could do was line up the shoes and stack more things in the already overflowing bins.” And despite the fact that the room’s large built-in desk was a clutter magnet, Lisa couldn’t bring herself to tear it out.

The Goal: To create an organizing system even the kids can maintain.

The Game Plan: Since the girls use the mudroom to get ready for school, Real Simple transformed the area into a way station. The organizers turned an Expedit bookcase ($80, www.ikea.com for stores) on its side, then slid labeled Nostalgisk boxes ($16 for two, www.ikea.com for stores) onto the shelves. Each daughter has a column of storage all to herself, and the fourth column contains miscellaneous items. Lockers roll out for easy access to the girls’ shoes. The cubbies on the desk double as the girls’ in-boxes, into which Mom can tuck important notes.

The Verdict: “The girls are proud of their new room,” says Lisa. Adds Emily: “Now you can find everything, and it’s easier to keep clean.”