How to Clean Your House in 5 Minutes

Making a neat pile of books and magazines will bring order to a coffee table in a matter of minutes. For this Hamptons home, designer David Lawrence created a sophisticated tabletop display by placing flowers and candles atop the books. The fabric on the sofa is Vizir in Indigo from Old World Weavers. Throw pillows by Ralph Lauren.

If you need to clean up a room quickly, storage baskets are a smart, speedy solution that help you divide and conquer the clutter. In the guest room of this Long Island home by designer Suzanne Shaker and architect Cary Tamarkin, five baskets are stacked on an open shelving unit. There's even one on the floor.

Trays are an easy, elegant, and quick way to organize. Designer Joe Nye gathered perfume bottles, lotion, and q-tips on a small tray in this Beverly Hills bathroom. Nye covered the walls with Cowtan & Tout's Laurent Stripe in Red and Gold and hung a 19th-century mirror.

Tucking a blanket into the sofa adds instant polish. Designer Daniel Sachs did exactly that in the living room of this New York apartment. Fold it lengthwise, then in half, and then tuck into cushions. Chairs are in Pienza Carciofino by C & C Milano, through Holland & Sherry. The Ghiordes Turkish rug is from the 19th century. Drawings by Andrew Lord.

To create a clutter-free entry fast, place a small dish on a table to collect keys, coins, and other odds and ends. In this Alabama home by Tracery Interiors, a tiny bowl sits next to two vases on a Swedish demilune table. The walls are China White by Benjamin Moore.