Key Points Start mornings strong with visual routine charts for your kids.Batch tasks like snacks, outfits, and school papers ...

Visual clutter is “anything that disrupts the calm and intentional flow of your home,” says Molly Heartfield, the founder and CEO of Heart & Co. Home Organizing and Design.

In a study, researchers show that this clutter alters how information flows in the brain, as does the precise location of that clutter within the wider field of vision.

In the case of visual perception, researchers say, the location of visual clutter didn't change the order of the phone tree, but it did change how well the message was relayed person to person.

1. Visual clutter on surfaces Things like mail, phone chargers, hair ties, etc. that end up taking a residence on your countertops may seem harmless but actually causes stress.

1. MISTAKE – Ignoring visual clutter SOLUTION – Tackle one surface at a time and keep only what is functional 2. MISTAKE – Neglecting home decor ...

In the case of visual perception, researchers say, the location of visual clutter didn’t change the order of the phone tree, but it did change how well the message was relayed person to person.

How that visual “clutter” affects visual processing in the brain, however, is not well understood. In a new study published Oct. 22 in the journal Neuron, Yale researchers show that this clutter ...