My master bedroom totally is a nightmare.  I did a post on it about a month ago and how I was going to get it painted and cleaned and make it a nice place to hang out and it is still a disaster!!  Ugh!  But I did fold all the laundry piled up in there today so I consider that a victory.  I have all the paint and supplies I just need to DO it!!  Keep us updated on your progress!

Funny you guys should say the master bedroom is your problem.  It's mine, too!  It's where everything gets thrown.  It has very few decorations up...and I really don't like what we have.  I'm sick of my bedding.  I want to paint.  Need I go on?  My main problem is lacking cash to do something.  Maybe I'll get some gift cards for Christmas! ; ) If anyone has any great solutions...or a place you really like to get bedding at, let me know!

Deb--

Painting is one of the least expensive ways to change a space, but it requires time.  My thoughts?  Prep in the evening, when the kids are in bed and paint either the following evening, or during naps times. 

Amy- for some budget friendly bedding, I choose to look at JcPenny's and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  You can almost always find a coupon for these stores and they have good quality items and a large selection.  I hope this helps and I hope you get some gift cards for Christmas!

Tara- How does everyone seem to have 20 pairs of shoes and 5 coats?!  We have the same problem at our house.  Do you have space for a larger rack for shoes, or cubbyholes?  Where do you currently hang your coats?

I have a basement that someone finished up with wood panel.  bleek!  I would have prefered some sheet rock but a finished basement is better than nothing, right?  I can't do anything about it right now but I am trying to think of ways to make it more modern looking.  Thoughts?

Katrina- Just paint it!  It will be amazing how awesome the transformation will be.  Check this out:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/08/how-to-paint-wood-paneling/

Deb, I do have a closet by the front door where I could hang the coats, but realistically we all just leave them by the back door.  I have 3 coat hangers, but the problem is that the kids can't reach them, so they end up just throwing their coats on the floor.  

Tara- Here's a really cute coat rack.  Or here are some cubbies with coat hooks below.  Would either of these work?

This is great...I'm sitting here online when I should be "tidying up" the master bedroom before it gets cleaned tomorrow!!  Our kitchen is also a dumping ground, too...drives me nuts!  I think I just need to be more diligent about cleaning up after I am done!  That's what my husband would say, anyway!

We have just moved into a much smaller home.  Downsizing now that the children are grown, graduated from college and in careers--in other words they have no plans to ever move back home, and we are very happy they are so settled as are they.  I do love having a smaller home where I don't need a walkie talkie to find my husband.  We are enjoying our "Cabin in the Big Woods on the Beach".

I am experiencing going from 5,000sq.ft. to 1200sq.ft.  What to do with all the stuff!!  Decluttering is a great thing to do, but it's not a quick process.  I have an island in the kitchen that seems to be catching it all--all the junk including keys, mail, and spare loose change, all on the corner.  The house has the great room design so this corner is visible all the time. 

I love our new home, we are right on the water (Puget Sound) and we have a view from all the windows, but the smallness and trying to get rid of so much stuff is getting to me.  My sister was here for 2 weeks helping me set up house, as she is very good at it and I am not. 

I wish I had advice for you, but I look forward to what others have to say to solve the problem.

--Mari