Take advantage of all of that extra time spent indoors this season -- winter is a perfect time to tackle larger organizing projects. Clearing the clutter and bringing order to every room will reap benefits for the entire year.

Where's an extra button when you need one? Find sewing supplies fast in this three-ring-binder repair kit. Add zipper pouches and a felt needle holder (use spray starch to make felt sturdier).

Mini three-ring binder, russellandhazel.com. Zipper pouches, containerstore.com (punch new holes as needed to fit binder).

Make a monthly calendar that is as changeable as your schedule. Instead of crossing out plans as dates shift, write appointments and events on movable sticky notes.

This is the season for giving. And since it's cold outside, why not host your own drive for coats, sweaters, and other warm clothes? Set out a labeled collection basket and ask friends and relatives to bring an item to donate when they visit. Check that the clothes are clean and in good condition, then give them to a shelter or other charity.

Discard expired cosmetics and prescription medicines. Then, affix a sheet of precut galvanized steel to the interior of your medicine cabinet with construction adhesive. Magnetic hooks can hold scissors and a mirror, and small plastic cups with magnetic bottoms corral small necessities, such as rubber bands and hair clips.

Take storage to new levels with shelves below a row of jackets. Install shelves near the base of your closet, and you'll no longer have to rifle through items strewn across the floor. Here, each family member has his or her own bin for hats and scarves.

The lower shelf is lined with shoes, and boxes tucked underneath hold dog toys, tennis balls, and the like. Leave a foot of space between shelves and the door frame, and you'll have room for boots and a metal bucket for umbrellas. Long hooks keep handbags neat.

Add a splash of personality to a lackluster work space by covering plain floating bookshelves with wallpaper. Measure the shelf, and cut the wallpaper slightly longer and wide enough to wrap around it with an overlap. Use wallpaper paste to affix the wallpaper to the shelf, pasting one side at a time. Cut slits into excess paper at ends, forming flaps; fold down, and affix with paste. Let dry completely, and hang shelves as usual.

If the cards you buy tend to be of the belated variety, this calendar will serve you well. Print the template, then fill in names and birthdates of friends and family for each month. Fold the chart in half to show six months at once, and pin it to a bulletin board or hang it on the refrigerator. You can even shrink it and slip it into an address book. With a glance, you'll be reminded of important dates ahead of time.

Normally used in kitchens, a pull-out pantry becomes a shoe closet when the shelves are installed at an angle; professional assistance is recommended for this project. Nonskid shelf liners prevent pairs from sliding when the unit moves.

To add flavor and kick to your winter dishes, keep an arsenal of spices and herbs in your kitchen. Stock these essentials, and you'll never come up empty-handed when following a recipe.

Stock your car's trunk for winter-weather emergencies. Include a compact shovel, ice scraper, flashlight, sand or cat litter, flares, a heavy blanket, and warm clothing.

Four divided trays, painted orange, become a layered jewelry organizer. Two trays lie flat along the drawer bottom. The remaining two, joined with wood glue, form the top shelf, elevated by strips of 1-inch square molding affixed to the inner sides of the drawer.

Whether you're packing a suitcase or storing items at home, these drawstring pouches are handy to have around. Made in a range of sizes, they are perfect for stowing jewelry, shoes, and even laundry.

A home color-coding system can bring order to your living space wordlessly, providing information at a glance without a miscellany of labels. Put hues to work, whether you're organizing papers, preparing food, or outfitting your entryway. With these bright additions, your living space will be far from drab -- and far easier to manage.

Clever ideas, practical storage, unusual solutions -- Martha shares her secrets for creating a kitchen that works.

Wall hooks keep an assortment of brooms and mops off the floor.

Keep a variety of stain remedies at the ready: cornstarch to absorb fresh grease stains; oil solvents or dry-cleaning fluids for greasy residue; combination solvents and a mild, clear dishwashing liquid for all-purpose stain removal; natural bleaching agents like lemon juice and white vinegar; glycerin for ballpoint ink; and eyedroppers and cotton swabs for easy application.

Spread gritty alfalfa meal -- available from feed stores -- on slippery paths to provide traction on ice and snow. In spring, the alfalfa serves as a nitrogen fertilizer for surrounding greenery.

Why should your favorite snapshots linger in a drawer? Pull them out and create a display using colorful, inexpensive mats.

It's hard to remember all of those numbers and characters, especially since you shouldn't use the same password for more than one service. We've come up with simple ways to keep everything straight.

There are clever and stylish ways to conceal the necessary electronics of this modern age without resorting to a haphazard arrangement stuck away in some inaccessible closet.

Do you have room for two dozen rolls of paper towels? Here are tips for getting good deals, as well as for stashing your purchases -- all you need to be a savvy and satisfied bulk buyer.