Ding dong. Gasp! Most people can relate to feelings of angst when a friend or neighbor stops by without warning and your home is not at all company-ready. Embarrassed, you make your way to the door, tidying as you go, and stand in the doorway shielding the disorganization within.

Organizing expert Vicki Norris calls this phenomenon the dash and stash, when we frantically rush around hiding clutter, hanging up coats, or even strategically placing a plant or floral arrangement, before opening the door.

"Many people stuff things in the nearest closet at these moments," says Vicki Norris, organizing expert, author of Restoring Order™ to Your Home, and featured expert on HGTV's Mission: Organization. "But you still have to deal with the closet later. To turn panic into poise at the doorway, I recommend people strive to keep the most visible spaces of their home organized 24/7. It's not nearly as hard as it sounds."

According to Norris, organizing doesn't have to translate into time-consuming, it's just a matter of figuring out what systems work best for you and your lifestyle. It boils down to prioritizing projects, finding purpose for each space and personalizing one's home. Here is Norris' how-to for the top three most important spaces in which to create inviting, hospitable spaces that are always ready for company - even when you aren't.

The Entry Way a.k.a. The Drop Zone

Because the entry way is the easiest place to drop shoes, coats and handbags, and it is the first space that guests see, the focus in this area is clutter control. Implementing a clutter capture system is the key. People must determine what types of items are dropped here, and then consider the ideal way to manage it.

• First, to help identify your storage solutions, judge the quantity of each item that lands in the foyer or entryway. Look around. Do you see a handful of coats or an entire closet full? Do you spy a few shoes or a shoe mountain?
  

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