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"A fireplace is a great luxury in the home, but the fireplace area \u2014 comprised of the fireplace and mantel \u2014 can be a casual resting place for a lot of what makes its way into living and family rooms. Where fireplaces are concerned, clutter invites clutter, so this is an area to keep as spartan as possible. Fireplace: The fireplace itself is rarely an organization problem. If you have a gas fireplace, you don&amp;#039;t even need to worry about cleaning ashes or storing firewood. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, the brick or stone footing around the base of the fireplace should only be used for the fireplace accessories and perhaps a decorative urn or sculpture. Fireplace tools should be kept organized with a stand or separate hangers. Keep wood tidy in a large, fireproof wood basket, tin bucket, or metal cradle. Keep on hand only the wood you need for a single fire; too much wood means extra mess. Mantel: Although it&amp;#039;s a tempting ledge for all kinds of small items, keep the mantel as clear as possible. Use it as a showcase for one or two of your favorite decorative (fireproof) pieces. Put a cherished ceramic bowl in the center of the mantel, or place candles in heirloom candleholders at either end. The mantel is also a place for items relating to the function of the fireplace, such as a decorative match holder or fire igniter. Keep the mantel spare and people are less likely to absently place their eyeglasses or the cordless phone there. The less there is on the mantel, the more items that don&amp;#039;t belong will stick out.  For more on organizing clutter, see Good Housekeeping&amp;#039;s The Complete Clutter Solution "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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