A pervasive concept in organizing is that things should have a "home." Another way to think about that is to say that something has a "parking space." You know those primo reserved executive parking spaces that you drive by wishing you could park there?

In the summer families are home more and they drink more beverages, so the number of dirty drinking glasses tends to multiply. We have a favorite trick that we actually use year-round-- we each have assigned "parking spaces" for our current drinking glasses and use them over and over during the day. 

You can either designate a particular spot on the kitchen counter, such as "right next to the cookie jar," or you can use coasters like we do (seen in this photo). We have tried using color-coded glasses and other methods to reduce the glass usage, but this works better than anything.

Do you use the "parking space" idea in your house? This method works great in the garage too, for bikes and other equipment, and it just somehow helps people think about the home for the item in a more solid way. Tell us in the comments where you park your stuff!

Certified Professional Organizer Lorie Marrero is the creator of ClutterDiet.com, an innovative program allowing anyone to get expert help at an affordable price. She is also the author of The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life. Her organizing books and products are sold online and in stores nationwide. Lorie has been a spokesperson for Brother label makers and FedEx Office, and she is a sought-after expert for national media such as CNBC, Good Housekeeping, WGN News and Woman's Day.