Problem areas for me would probably be the kitchen counters and the aforementioned common areas. Messy countertops seem to repel me from the entire space, especially when I'm trying to cook or prepare meals. Despite my efforts to wipe them down, they somehow still attract stray crumbs and mystery spills that I only seem to notice once they've congealed!
My current solution is to keep a basket at each end of the kitchen counter. One is for odds and ends that don't belong there - an empty mug, random Tupperware needing washing, etc. The other basket holds all the cooking utensils and tools, which can then be quickly whisked away if say, dinner guests pop by unexpectedly.
As for the living room, it's a constant juggling act to keep the clutter at bay with two young kids. Toys have taken over what was once a decent display shelf! I try to instill the habit of putting things away before getting new ones out but, let's be real, that only works about 50% of the time. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. So much easier to close the toy cupboard and restart another day.
I've also relied on pretty storage baskets for the harder-to-contain items - they're a good visual compromise when the contents are a mess but the basket itself looks presentable. My secret weapon is actually labels! Having clear and visible descriptors seem to help everyone else in the house understand what goes where too, especially the sticky fingers crew.
. 
!
