I suggest a counter-level/entry-table bin or crate for each person as a “landing spot”. Their stuff stays separate, and then they are responsible for sorting and putting the stuff away…or not. It’s easy to see whose stuff is where.

The system needs to be based on the types of things that get dumped (and need a “home”) and what kind of “quick sort” will work for the person(s) doing the dumping. Most people don’t want to stop and sort things into folders. It needs to be fast and simple and physically accessible.

- OBJECTS need cubbyholes &/or big bins (notebooks, briefcases) &/or small bins; one or more for each person to stash frequently used “stuff” or to hold things until they can be put away.

- READING materials (newspapers, magazines) need a place(s) to stack them (cabinet shelves, cubbyholes) or display them (wall file?). Think about how coffeehouses and magazine stands store theirs yet invite reading.

- MAIL and loose PAPERS need places that facilitate quick and easy separation: trays or shallow bins, or a wall file, would be easiest and would still somewhat visually display papers to remind people to take action (vs tucking them away in a closed folder or file–out of sight, out of mind).

My mail and papers, for example, can usually be separated into categories: “Pay” or “Action”, “To File”, “Go-See-Do” (for events, places to go on the weekend, shows, etc), “Deals” (sales, grocery ads, restaurant coupons, offers), “Work or Business”, etc.

I’ve repurposed a cheap metal 30″w x 12″d x 60″h shelving rack (from Target, others) which happens to perfectly accomodate two square milk crates on each shelf. (I’ve color-coded the crate/bins with a sheet of colored paper in each, showing through the front section (buy a sheet at a time at Kinko’s copy centers). That’s my new “Quick-Sort Filing System” for sorting and containerizing my enormous paper clutter that never seems to get filed the traditional way, but it could be used for multi-person family bin assignments.) The top of the unit also fits two shallower beverage crates (ask at your local quickie-mart–I have red ones). (I’m storing videos in those, but they would make good magazine or loose-paper bins as well.)

The shelving rack can be set up as two separate units or as a side-by-side, “console table” in an entry hall or nook. Either of these would create waist-high “counters” with twice the counter area, which can be used with or without shallow trays/crates/bins for individual “piles” waiting to be sorted.

Nicer looking “Baker’s Racks” or IKEA-type shelving or bookcases could be used similarly. I plan to look in used office furniture stores for some wall files or cubbyhole-style “paper sorter” cabinets to hold magazines, colored folders, etc. I’ve set up or inherited systems like that at offices I’ve worked in and it kept papers organized but visible.