Your entryway is where the outdoors meets the indoors – it needs to be functional. It is also the first impression you and your guests receive of the interior of your home – it needs to be beautiful. Organization is the stepping stone to both a functional and beautiful entryway. Below are some organizational ideas to help you elevate your entryway from dumping ground to warm welcome.
Make A Shoe Space
Shoes tend to congregate in entryways, typically in piles. Not only does that add physical and visual clutter, but it also increases the amount of dirt being kicked around your entryway. Shoe storage benches are a great way to manage your shoes! They come in a variety of styles to match your design aesthetic and your organizational method. Some come with a hinged seat, opening to a large space to store shoes. Others have ample space below the bench for baskets or bins to corral shoes. Not only will the shoes be out of sight, you’ll also have a space to sit while putting on shoes, gathering your bags, and getting gloves on before heading out the door!
Up The Walls
Entryways often have more wall space than floor space, so you need to make the most of your walls. Pegs for keys and a coat rack are nearly necessities. Even if you have a coat closet nearby, having a place to hang damp coats to dry or to put guest’s coats will be very helpful. It’s also helpful to add a mirror to your wall. It brightens up the space, makes it appear larger, and pulls double duty by letting you give yourself a quick once-over before leaving.
On The Floors
Managing the dirt, mud, and moisture that come in from outside is a big functional purpose of an entryway. Place a thickly bristle doormat outside the door to minimize the dirt that gets tracked in, and put a nice soft rug inside. Not only will the interior rug protect your floors from mud, it also helps to define the entryway space from the living spaces it connects to. Look for a stain-resistant, washable rug that is colored and patterned. A colorful pattern will help hide the dirt in between washes.
Baskets And Bins
Never put something down that doesn’t have a designated place. If something doesn’t have a place, put a basket there! A small pot on a wall shelf or half-table can handle sunglasses and earpods. Baskets in your shoe bench can divide shoes by person or by type. Bins on the coat closet floor or tucked into a wall corner will take care of pet leashes or sports equipment. A long, flat basket or tray is a great landing space for incoming mail. If something is routinely taken off or put down in your entryway, make a place for it to go. A pile on the table isn’t good enough if you want a functional and beautiful entryway.
Put Off-Season Items Away
So you have a coat rack and you have a shoe bench, but both spaces are still getting overwhelmed. Have you considered tucking away the off-season items? Flip-flops and water shoes don’t need to be in your shoe bench when there’s inches of snow on the ground. Thick coats and bibs take up unnecessary space during the heat of summer. Get a large plastic tub and pack away all of the seasonal items that you truly don’t need to have accessible all year round. Make sure they are clean and have plenty of space. Alternatively, consider using vacuum-sealed bags.