Clutter Black Holes in Every Home (and How to Outsmart Them)

Some spaces in our homes have an almost magnetic ability to attract clutter. No matter how often we tidy up, they always seem to refill.

We’re talking about clutter black holes—the makeup drawer that swallows up half-used lipsticks, the nightstand that turns into a catch-all for bedtime odds and ends, and the purse that quickly becomes a bottomless pit of receipts and mystery items.

To help us finally take control of these chaos zones, we turned to Kourtney’s own personal organizer, Carroll Cartwright, founder of Neatly & Co. Below, she breaks down why these spots are so tricky and shares simple strategies for keeping them under control.

“Makeup drawers tend to collect products faster than we can use them. Samples, half-used makeup, and impulse buys add up quickly. Before long, everything mixes together, and it becomes hard to see what you actually love,” Carroll says. 

Carroll’s top decluttering tips:

• Start by taking everything out so it’s visible. 
• Toss anything expired, dried out, or that you simply do not reach for anymore. 
• Group what remains by category, such as foundation, blush, and lip color. 
• Keep your everyday items in the front and special occasion pieces in a separate section. Try Carroll’s favorites: acrylic inserts or custom-fit organizers so every product has its place. 

Make it stick: “Give the drawer a quick reset every few weeks. A two-minute tidy keeps it from becoming overwhelming and makes getting ready feel like a calm, enjoyable ritual instead of a scramble,” she says. 

“The nightstand is another spot that fills up quickly, mostly because we are tired at the end of the day,” Carroll explains. “It’s the place where jewelry, hair ties, books, and empty glasses land instead of making it back to where they belong. Over time, the surface starts to feel busy and unsettled instead of calm.” 

Carroll’s top decluttering tips: 

• Keep the top of the nightstand completely clear. A clean surface instantly makes the room feel more peaceful.
• Store what you actually need in the drawers instead. 
• Use drawer dividers to organize smaller items like chargers or lip balm, so they are easy to find but out of sight.

Make it stick: “At the end of each day, close your circle. Clear the top, put away anything you set down, and take a few minutes once a week to return your jewelry to its proper home. Staying consistent with these small resets keeps the space beautiful and allows you to begin and end each day with a sense of calm,” she says. 

“Our bags carry everything, which is why they so easily become a tangle of receipts, lip glosses, and things we never actually use,” Carroll says. 

Too. True. 

“Between work, errands, and events, they collect more than we realize until it feels impossible to find anything when we need it.”

Carroll’s top decluttering tips: 

• Treat your purse like any other space in your home, and give it structure. 
• Use small pouches to group similar items such as cosmetics, tech, or everyday essentials. It keeps the inside organized and makes it simple to transfer between bags. 
• Keep one small section open for your keys and phone, so you are never digging.”

Make it stick: “Set a schedule, whether each night or week, to empty your bag completely, toss anything unnecessary, and put everything back in its place. A quick reset keeps your bag light, functional, and ready for whatever the day brings,” she says. 

Next: organizing tips for underneath the sink and a hack to help declutter your brain.