Organize Your Entryway from the Top Down: Part 1

Hat racks, coat hooks, storage benches all help
organize your entryway to make your
mornings stress-free.

One thing I love about the changing of the seasons is that it seems that I get a fresh start, not only with decorating, but also with setting new goals. This fall, I’m focusing on organizing my entryway.  Maybe you are too.  Whether you’re setting up students for back-to-school success or making your own life run more smoothly, this hard-working area of your home should be streamlined and functional. Let’s examine the anatomy of a highly effective entryway from the top down.

Multiple bulbs brighten
dreary spaces

Light

A dim and dreary entrance hides too many problems and causes some of its own.  Car keys and cell phones lurk in the shadows.  Half-pairs of gloves and shoes run to the hinterlands and piles multiply like mushroom colonies.  Shed some light on the issue.  Consider installing a pair of light fixtures, each with multiple lights shining in all directions.  More light pouring down will chase away shadows and greet you with a cheerful atmosphere.  Look for globes and shades that direct the light downward instead of lighting the ceiling.

Double hooks provide twice the hanging space.

Coats and Bags

Next, raise coats and bags up off the floor and hung up.  Not only will things get dry, they will stay cleaner.  Another benefit rests in visibility.  Depending upon your needs, simple organizational tools can make a huge impact in short order.  Some items to consider include a shaker-style peg rack or a hook board.

Try out these common-sense, easy tips for using coat and bag hooks.
• Label the hook with the owner’s name.  Creative or classy, it encourages use of the hook system.
• Select multi-hook styles to separate gear instead of layering it.  Two- and three-prong styles are common.
• Install two levels if you have young children so they can easily reach their own hooks.
• Discipline yourself to use the hooks until it becomes a habit.
• Praise family members for using the hooks until it becomes automatic.  A reward system for youngsters might speed the process.
• Mount the rack on studs.  Coats and purses weigh more than sheet rock can support.  Use a stud finder and use long screws, not nails, for a reliable hold.

Vertical hat racks
maximize space.

Hats

If your family wears a lot of hats, look for a model with hat storage above the hook rack.  Another option would be a stand-alone (hang-alone!) hat rack.  I prefer a vertical option.

Armless, small benches work best in small areas.

Seating

Now that jackets, bags and hats are off the floor, keep moving down.  You need a place to sit to put on and take off your shoes.  Seating choices vary widely and depend upon tour available space.  The choices boil down to two basic categories:
1. A chair or stool.  The benefit of this option is that it fits into a small space.
2. A entryway bench with or without a back. Choose a backless option if you place searing in front of hooks.  Armless models give more room to navigate in tight quarters.  Choose a shorter bench because otherwise, it becomes a landing pad instead of functional space.

If you can implement these organizational strategies into your home, your entryway will not only look neat and tidy, but it will serve as a help to getting out the door in a calm, orderly fashion.  Imagine mornings without the frazzle! You can help your entire family and yourself to face the day with clarity and confidence.

I know you can do it.  Start today.  You’ll be so glad that you did.  Next time, I’ll share some more home organization ideas for your entryway.  I think you’ll like them so much that you’ll be amazed that you ever settled for anything less!

Until then,
Kay
email: GreatDecorIdeas@gmail.com
website: www.GreatDecorIdeas.com