Organize and Declutter your Entryway

Your entryway is your guest’s first impression of your home. You don’t want shoes and other knickknacks lying around. You want a bright and beautiful space.

And we’re going to tell you how to do that.

Declutter the Portal of Passage

HGTV calls the entry way the portal of passage between your home and the outer world.

Don’t neglect your floors. They have feelings too! Mud, leaves and even moisture leach onto the bottom of your shoes and get tracked into the entryway.

Fix that by placing entrance mats on both sides of your door to trap tracked-in dirt and rainwater before it sneaks into your clean house.

Stay on top of clutter. People typically leave mail, newspapers, paperwork, magazines, library books, extra clothing and broken items at the door.

Fix that by scheduling regular STOP clutter sessions in the entryway.

Your walls aren’t just for looking pretty. Use them for storage. Place a key rack near the door for easy access. Pegs and hooks can hold jackets, rain gear and summer hats.

Don’t forget about your door. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of the door. Big pockets hold mittens and scarves, suntan oil and sunglasses, pet leashes and shoes where they’re accessible but not right in your face.

No more, “Oh, I think I forgot something.” Have a dedicated space to hold all the “out-the-door” essentials for each person. For me this would be my keys, phone and sunglasses. You could dedicate cubbies in the shoe organizer to each person’s “out-the-door” items or utilize a bookshelf if you have enough space.

Make putting things away easy. We all do it. We come home and we toss our keys, wallet, receipts, pocket change and sunglasses on the first available space we can find. This way putting things away are easy and you’re also less likely to forget something—which is a huge perk to being more organized.