Organizing your entryway

Does this scenario ever play out in your home? You walk in the door after a hard day at work, a long school day or a fun night on the town. You toss your keys, throw your coat and kick off your shoes. The entrance of your home can quickly pile up with all sorts of items. That is the first part of your home that a person sees when they come through your door.

Whether you live in a house or apartment, the entryway seems to be a dumping ground for shoes, gloves, scarves, keys, mail, baseball mitts, umbrellas, dog leashes and anything else you might have when you walk in the door. Keeping that area organized can be a challenge, especially if you have a lot of people living in your home. However, this is a challenge you can meet and conquer.

By setting aside an hour or two for this task, it can be completed. Go through the entryway closet. There are probably coats, jackets and sweaters that are not needed this time of year. If you have somewhere else to put things for the summer, you can move them and make more space for items needed during the warmer months. Sports equipment, especially if there are kids in the home, can make for a treacherous entryway. Finding a nice place in the closet can help reduce the clutter.

There are things you can buy to help organize your foyer or entryway. A set of hooks for your keys can save time and frustration. Once you get in the habit of automatically hanging your keys on the hook immediately upon entering your home, you will always know where the keys are without the need for a keychain GPS unit.

A basket for incoming and/or outgoing mail is another idea. Only mail that needs immediate attention should stay here. This can end up as a trouble spot if it is not regularly attended.

Some entryways have enough room for a piece of furniture to help organize the sports equipment. A bench with storage inside or cabinet will ensure all of the scarves and accessories have a nice place to stay. Even an umbrella stand or hat rack that can hold hats, scarves and light jackets can make a big difference in minimizing clutter. If there is no room for a piece of furniture, a small chest of drawers can be put on one side of the closet as most jackets, hoodies and sweaters only use half of the vertical space. The long winter coats and full-length raincoats can go on the other side.

An eye-level mirror will give you the opportunity to check your face before you leave the house. If it is a large mirror, it can help make the area look larger. Instead of seeing the entrance as a combat zone, you can turn it into an organized place that gives a great first impression.