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Too Close for Comfort

Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-302 -- More Projects » (Continued from Page 1)

Professional organizer Lynda Foxman steps in to bring order to this chaos. She recommends that the Madsens go through their belongings one small bite at a time to keep it manageable. Everything is color-coded for a particular category (Tyler's drawer, closet shelf, etc.). Items are classified as "keep," "go" or "I don't know" for those things family members can't agree on initially. The Madsens end up with 90 bags of clutter to be removed. The hard part is done. Time for the results of the reorganization:

Before: The 12 x 23-foot living room looks smaller than it actually because of the overstuffed furniture, disorganized pictures and uncontrolled clutter.

After: Coordinated storage around the TV and in the dining area, a sleek couch and matching chair and rug, a glass-top dining table and a dramatic red wall make the space look and live much larger than before.

The majority of the changes affected the boys' room. There wasn't much order to anything, and they even had clothing in their closet that is at least 10 years old.

Before: The boys' room, which is 11 x 15 feet, has bunk beds and only one desk (difficult to find under all the books and CDs) for two students.

After: The bunk beds are gone and replaced with captain's beds which have full-length storage drawers underneath. A snazzy color scheme adds a fun, funky touch.

Before: The boys' closet, which lacks a door, is filled with their parents' clothes. Musical instruments and shoes are piled in front of the clothes, hindering access to the closet.