Organization

An ice cube tray makes the perfect organizer for tiny bits and pieces because of the small compartments. Better yet, you can even stack them if you have space in your drawer. You can store items like jewelry, sewing and craft materials, and office supplies in the trays.

If your office space looks like most, chances are it's white or beige or some other combination of neutral shades — in other words, it's an ideal backdrop to add some of your own personality.

Bringing a bit of character to your workspace can be a great way to kick-start your creativity, so we've come up with some simple, affordable tips to inspire you. Mix and match these easy tips to decorate your desk:

• Book stacks. Bring a few coffee table books to work — or even issues of your favorite magazines — and use the pile to prop up your computer in a fun, unexpected way.
• Etsy prints. Find an affordable office-themed Etsy print to add a cheeky, creative touch to your workspace.
• Concert memorabilia. Consider yourself a total music junkie? Gather your old concert tickets and posters and photos from memorable shows to create a cool collage. Another idea: put your favorite record on a small stand as a simple, personal accent.
• DIY poster. Upload one of your best snaps to a photo editing website like PicMonkey to add creative, artsy effects, then order a poster-size version of the image and have it framed for your wall.
• Seat pillow. Buy a small patterned throw pillow in your favorite shades to add comfort and personality to your office chair. Don't need the extra cushion? Find a bright wrist rest to set in front of your keyboard instead.
• Desktop calendar. Shop for a colorful, playful calendar to decorate your space, or create your own calendar using photos of friends and family — a unique, practical way to display photos.
• Postcards. Collect postcards during your travels to create a simple collage of all your favorite places. Prefer a more vintage look? Shop on Etsy for old postcards from around the world.
• Knickknacks. Love travel souvenirs? Have a quirky collection that inspires you? Grab a handful of small, meaningful knickknacks to display on your desk.
• Colorful supplies. When in doubt, invest in bright, chic office supplies to liven up your space. Whether it's a neon green stapler or a bold, red journal, colorful desk accessories are an easy way to cheer up your workday.

Now that it's Spring, many of you are eager to start afresh and give your home a face-lift. But renovating your home can end up racking up a huge bill, which you may not be able to afford. Although HGTV makes home improvements look so easy, we all know they're anything but. Here are some simple things you can do to improve your home on a budget.

Declutter. You don't need an interior designer to make your home look better. What would make a world of difference is to rid your home of clutter. Resolve to throw away, donate, or sell at least a bag full of stuff every weekend this season, and you'll find your home looking much more spacious.

Add a closet system. Your closet may not be making the most of its space. If you haven't installed anything in your wardrobe, it's a good idea to start. Add shelves you can buy from companies like Container Store to make the most of your space.

Read on for more.

It might be overwhelming to just look at your clutter, but there are some very simple steps you can take to declutter your place in no time. All you need to do is just start. We talked to Peter Walsh, a celebrity organization expert, who gave two very simple tips to start tackling your mess:

• The trash bag technique: "The very first thing you should do if you're feeling overwhelmed in your space is to set aside 10 minutes a day." Walsh says. Give everyone in your household two trash bags and have them fill them up during that 10-minute window every day. Fill one up with things to trash and the other up with things to donate or sell. If you live with someone else and the two of you use this simple technique for one week, you'll end up with 14 bags of trash and 14 bags of stuff going to donation at the end of the week. "That's a really simple technique — 10 minutes a day that will make a massive change," he says.
• Back-to-front clothes: Walsh says we all wear "20 percent of [our] clothes 80 percent of the time." The best way to check what you don't need is to use the back-to-front method. Turn the clothes that are hanging in your closet so that the hangers are facing back to front. For the next six months, every time you wear a piece of clothing, hang it back up the correct way. "At the end of six months, whatever is still hanging back to front, chances are you are never going to wear. Send it off to Goodwill."

Once you've said "Yes!" to a marriage proposal, the grueling wedding planning begins. The first step every bride-to-be should take is creating a wedding planning and inspiration folder to stay organized. Here are some suggestions for things you need if you're planning on making your own binder:

• Three-ring folder: Get a folder, to which you can keep adding materials. Pick a binder size that reflects the size and type of wedding. For example, for bigger and more formal weddings that entail more planning, it's better to consider a three-inch binder. For regular weddings, a two-inch binder will probably suffice.
• Dividers with pockets and tabs: Divide your documents into three main sections starting from prewedding events to the actual wedding to the honeymoon. Be sure to add dividers within the three main sections. For example, you can place dividers for these categories within the wedding section: budget, attire, venue, decor, photography, bridal party, guests, and entertainment.
• Clear protector sheets: Place a few sheets in after each divider or where needed. You can insert things like magazine tear-outs, swatches, brochures, and sample invitations — basically any odd-size or fragile documents that you can't punch and file in your binder.

Read on for more.

The root cause of your clutter can be deeper than you think. Wise Bread makes a case for fixing your mind to fix your mess.

I've been messy since birth. One of the constants in my life has been arguing with my mother over how to clean the house, any house, properly. My neatnik mother is one of those naturally tidy people. You know the type. She's so put-together that she looks like a flight attendant.

"A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind," she'd say, passing me the feather duster. "If that's the case," I'd shoot back, quoting Einstein, "Then what does an empty desk signify?" 

RELATED: Clutter-Free: The Zero-Accumulation Household

I mean, really. Does it even matter that I have a messy mind?

I asked my friend Dr. Regina Lark, who chairs the Education Committee of the National Association of Professional Organizers, if there's any connection between a messy desk and a messy mind.

"Of course," she said.

Fudge.

I hate losing arguments to my mom.

To quote Regina, "There are people who are genetically messy because their brain is hardwired for non-linear thinking. They are very right brained and artistic. They are out there in the world. They are social. They'd rather do anything other than file. So when these people come home, they get an idea for a project, and everything else just goes on the floor."

Uh oh. As of this moment I count seven, SEVEN unfinished projects in my living room alone. On the floor. Of course.

So, how do non-linear thinkers clear their internal and external space? For me, this means less about relieving the footprint of clutter and more about maintaining a level of organization that allows me to spend the maximum amount of time pursuing creative projects.

I asked Regina how she would handle a client like me. "We'd develop a workaround for you. We'd find a fix that would solve the mess but not make you feel like you are losing your creative edge. For example, I have clients who have piles of clothes cluttering their bedrooms because they hate hanging up their clothes. They argue that, 'the clothes are just going to come off the hangers anyway so why put them on the hangers to begin with?' Since I'm never going to convince the clients that hanging up their clothes isn't a total waste of their time, my attitude is, 'If you just can't stand putting your clothes on hangers, let's go get you some really awesome looking hooks.' Take the sticking point — the hangers — out of the equation."

Read on for more.

Cleaning a couch is one of those things that doesn't happen as often as it should; part of the reason might be because it's hard to know exactly how to do it without calling in expensive professionals. Can you take a vacuum to it? Do you use water-based solutions? We've answered those questions and more so you can get the full scoop on how to leave your sofa nice and tidy.

• Determine the fabric: Before you do anything else, figure out exactly what type of fabric your couch is made of. Even though it might seem obvious (leather vs. cloth), each couch has specific care instructions. Many include letters on the tag that indicate what sort of treatment you should use. (A "W," for instance, indicates that it's OK to clean with water-based solutions. An "S" means that you should only use water-free detergent.)
• Do some surface cleaning: Before you get down to the full-blown cleaning, be sure to wipe off any crumbs or dust that's on the surface. Most of the time, it's safe to use a vacuum (just don't get too aggressive) to get the job done.
• Figure out the best cleaning solution: Some people like to use a steam cleaner, some a carpet shampooer with an upholstery attachment, and others a spot and stain remover. Again, determine the fabric first to see what the best option is, and test a small section first to make sure it won't damage the rest of the furniture.
• Remember all parts of the couch: Whether it's a metal base or wooden arms, don't skip out on cleaning the other parts of the couch that need just as much attention. Under the couch is often an overlooked spot, and dust tends to gather there easily.
• Clean the extras, and wait for a full dry: Once the main couch has been cleaned, remember to wash the cushion and pillow covers (and/or flip the cushions). You'll also want to let the sofa dry completely before using it again.

As for when you should clean the couch, the answer is it depends. Of course you'll need to tackle the task right after a major spill, but how often you give it a good clean depends on the conditions of your home, how often you use it, and so on. When you notice more spots than usual or if it starts to smell, then consider that a big sign. Otherwise, give it a surface clean about once a week and a deeper clean every month.