Have you ever stopped to think about how it feels when you enter or leave your home? For most of us, it’s a part of the day that we don’t give much thought to. We just grab our keys, juggle bags, and rush out the door, or stumble in with our hands full and a head full of the day's chaos. But what if that first and last impression of your home—the entryway—could be a moment of calm, ease, and order?
The entryway is often the unsung hero of home design. It’s the gateway between the hectic outside world and the peaceful sanctuary we hope to create inside. And just like any other system in your home, if the entry is disorganized, it can create unnecessary stress right when you walk in the door. But with just a few changes, you can make that transition smoother and more peaceful.
Here are a few simple ways to get your entryway running like a well-oiled machine:
Coat Closet Overhaul
With the colder months here, it’s time to think about how your coat closet is functioning. Coats, shoes, boots, scarves, hats—these seasonal items can easily crowd your entry and create chaos if not stored properly.
Pro Tip: Keep only the current season’s items in your coat closet. For fall and winter, that means bringing out your heavier coats, rain gear, and waterproof boots, while storing lighter jackets and sandals elsewhere. Consider organizing out-of-season items in bins labeled “Spring/Summer” for easy storage in the garage, basement, or even the back of the closet. Before storing these items, take a moment to evaluate whether you’ve worn them in the past year or if you still truly LOVE, NEED, or USE each piece. If the answer is no, it's time to let go and mark them for donation.
To make life even easier, use a hanging closet organizer for hats, gloves, scarves, and smaller items like dog leashes, flashlights or umbrellas. This can free up space and keep everything neatly in place.
Mail, Keys, and Other Essentials
Is your entryway drowning in piles of mail, random keys, and forgotten sunglasses? Keeping a dedicated space for essential items can keep your entry clean and clutter-free.
Pro Tip: Consider adding a console table with drawers or a floating shelf with baskets near your entry. Use the drawers or baskets for quick-grab items like keys, glasses, wallets, and your phone. This small, organized space becomes a convenient place to "dump" items when you come in, so they’re always there when you need them. For mail, try sorting it before it even enters your home. Set up a designated area (like a decorative tray or small basket) where you can quickly sort and recycle unwanted mail. This keeps your entryway from becoming a dumping ground for clutter.
Train Your Brain to Stay Organized
Getting into the habit of keeping your entryway organized may take a little time, but it can be done! I like to call this the “training wheels” phase—creating small reminders to put things in their place.
How to do it: Use things like painter's tape, labels, or index cards with bold lettering to remind yourself and your family where everything should go. It might feel a little silly at first, but these small cues help reinforce good habits and keep things in their designated spots. Once the brain is trained, these reminders can be easily removed.
Bonus Tip for the Garage Entrants
You might be thinking, “But Melissa, I enter through the garage!” Don’t worry, the same tips apply. With a little creativity, you can set up an organized space in your garage entryway as well. Use hooks for coats, shelves for shoes, and a table or wall-mounted basket for keys and mail.
Remember, your entryway is the first thing you see when you come home. It sets the tone for your entire day and is the first impression you get of your sanctuary. It’s worth the extra effort to make it a peaceful, organized space where you can leave the chaos of the outside world at the door.
Final Thoughts
When you create a simple, organized entryway, it transforms your whole experience of entering and exiting your home. It’s the bridge between the outside world and your safe space. Take the time to tweak this often-overlooked area, and you'll feel the difference every time you walk through that door.
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To connect with our collective: http://edge-walking.com / 206.825.9780 / edgewalking.transitions@gmail.com
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