This room's problems

This is the first room anyone sees when they walk in. As such, I have always believed it should be the best-looking room in the house. After all, if the rest of the place is a disaster, at least nobody has to know it!

For nearly 2 years, this room has been a disaster. Periodically it's been cleaned-out for family parties and big holidays, but it always fills right back up, mostly with things that come in the front door: jackets, book bags, shoes, mail, and - the biggest offender - shipments for Neil's bookstore. Everything comes in the front door and doesn't go beyond this room.

Of all of the disasters in this house, I think this is the one that bothers me the most. If we have to have a dumping ground somewhere, I'd prefer it to be in a not so public place!

Updates

02/25/06: SUCCESS! Ah, it's so great in here without all of those books! (I'm sitting on my favorite chair in the room as I update this website, in fact.) I am considering this space to be DONE, although there are still some book piles that have to go. They are relatively unobtrusive and Neil has promised to get them out of here as soon as I've decluttered the basement and made space for them down there. Sounds fair to me.

02/19/06: I'm nearly done with this room. I've cleaned all I can except for the wall unit between this room & the dining room. Everything else is book-related. We're having a party next weekend, so Neil is going to attempt to relocate many of the books before then.