My pincushion holds my seam ripper and scissors as well as pins, so these are seldom lost. Keep an extra pair of scissors on my ironing board to snip those extra threads I might have missed.
When I had a dedicated sewing room, it was always the neatest room in the house -- after all it was my haven. I always put things back where they belonged. Of course this was all prequilting. When I get my dedicated room again, I hope the old habits will return; however, I am sure there will be a relearning curve.