10 Tips to keep your entranceway clear of clutter
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Controlling the clutter at the entrance to your home can be a nightmare. With many people using the same area and all having different organizing styles clutter can develop. Together decide on what will be stored near the doorway and how it will be stored. When everyone knows the plan, everyone can participate in keeping the entranceway clutter-free.
1. A place for coats
Place hooks low enough that everyone can hang up his or her own coats, sweaters, and jackets.
2. A spot for bags and backpacks
Establish a space that can be reached without help for each person’s backpack or gym bag. This could be a shelf, cupboard or hook.
Organizing Backpacks
3. Use vertical space
Have enough space near the entrance for shoes that are used regularly. Buy stackable shoe racks and use vertical space efficiently. Footwear worn occasionally should be stored elsewhere and brought out as needed.
4. Use the inside of doors
Have a place for seasonal hats, gloves and scarves. A hanging shoe organizer is ideal for this purpose. Put regularly-worn hats, scarves and pairs of gloves into the pockets, where you can easily see each item and quickly select what you need. Storing hats, mitts and scarves directly with a jacket also helps to keep everything together. During the warmer months put sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses and hats in the pockets
Use a shoe organizer for hats baseball caps gloves sunglasses
5. Have a collection basket
Have a basket to collect mail, newspapers, and schoolwork as you come in the door. It will keep all the paperwork in one place and you can easily take the basket to your work area to sort it and deal with items quickly.
Samsill Pop,n Store Container
6. Collect garbage and recycling
Do you need a garbage can and recycling bin near the entranceway? Some people do and some people don’t. It helps to keep the area clean. Garbage from the car, a backpack, a gym bag or snacks can be easily tidied up and not left lying around. I saw this wastebasket with 4 compartments on one of my trips. 
7. Protect your personal property
It is tempting to store keys, phones and purses near the door. Don’t do it. Find a more secure location for those items so no one picks them up and walks away with them when you’re distracted.
8. Have multi-use furniture
It is nice to have a place a person can sit to put on their shoes or boots. Have a stool that also has storage space. It can be a good place to put a blanket for sitting outside when it gets cool, cushions for chairs, small toys for children or pet supplies.
Nebel Foldable 15″ Tufted Square Storage Ottoman
9. Re-purpose furniture
Add a deacon’s bench, buffet, or dresser that is sitting around your home. Place it by your entranceway to provide additional storage at no additional cost.
Mickelsen Entryway Hall Tree with Bench
Use verticle spaces in your entranceway to get more storage space. Share on X
10. Declutter often
Declutter your entranceway often. Place items back in their correct storage place, let go of items you no longer need, store off season items way from the entrance and remove garbage and recycling.
Book a virtual organizing appointment and work with Julie to get your entranceway working well for you. Click here for more information about Virtual organizing services
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
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This is one of those spaces that needs constant maintenance. You just have to clear it out every now and then, and once the system is established, everybody in the house has to commit. Hooks like the ones you show can do wonders. I feel like the mudroom is just a clutter magnet, but at least I have one, for which I am thankful!
It is nice to have a space that is a designated entryway. When the area by the door is small, narrow, at the base of stairs or enters directly into a room it can be difficult to set it out. A mudroom is a nice feature of a home. Thanks for your comment
There are so many terrific ideas here. I love repurposing old furniture. I have an old dry sink and I use it as a bar and place to store extra platters, napkins, placemats etc.
The over the door shoe bag is ideal for caps, scarves and mittens, especially for children.
As you said, the most important thing to do is to keep up with it and go through the areas on a consistent basis.
Yes, maintenance is the key to an organized entranceway. The over door shoe bag is good for the whole family. Taller people can have the higher pockets and shorter people the lower pockets. Clear pockets is the trick to making this organizing gadget work well. Thanks for your comments
I love these smart tips, and you picked ideal photos to get your point across. #s 4 and 9 are my favorites. As for #8, I have a hollow storage ottoman (purchased during after a medical emergency, when I just plain needed an ottoman) and learned that a round storage ottoman is semi-worthless. Your square selection is much better!
I have a round ottoman too. It is so easy for them to tip over. Finding the balance point is hard on a small one. If you think of using the vertical space there are a lot of fun things to use in an entryway. Thanks for your comment
It looks neat, but I’m only afraid it will last a few days only :))
Entranceways are hard to keep decluttered. It is important to do a quick clearing most evenings. Make sure everyone in the family takes turns clearing up the hallway. It can be a great learning experience for some people when they have to clear up other people’s mess.
thankyou for share
You’re welcome.