If I'm in the middle of a project, things stay where they are. Towards the end of a project, things begin to return to their proper place. At the end of the project, most things are back where they belong and I vacuum, etc. before I start the next project. UNLESS, of course, I have the grand children coming. THEN everything gets put away (I sew in my spare bedroom) from curious little hands! Once they're gone, everything comes back out.