Simple Ways to Organize Your Home's Entryway

In a mudroom or entryway, function should always come first, says professional organizer Lucy Milligan Wahl, founder of LMW Edits. “You can make any system look good, but you have to create it first,” she says.

Everything from a home’s layout to your lifestyle and even the climate can affect the way the area is arranged.

If you live in a region where it’s always raining, having a dedicated and easy-to-reach spot for umbrellas and rain gear is important. If your family is involved in a heavy rotation of sports and music lessons, you might want to carve out a nook for the gear they’ll be toting back and forth. 

Carving out a kids’ zone can be a helpful way to encourage them to stay tidy—or something close to it. Emery suggests dedicating a cubby or shelf for each child to help them form a habit of stowing their belongings the moment they walk in. 

“A bench with storage drawers is great for kids, as they are low to the ground and simple to get in and out of,” she says. 

Though if you’re looking for a simpler approach, wall-mounted hooks are the way to go. Be sure to install them at a height the little ones can easily reach for convenience when hanging coats and bags.

Swivel hooks, which can often feature three to five movable hooks, are a great option for maximizing a space and keeping one person’s items confined to a dedicated spot, Emery says. And if you have enough wall space, install a few in a row. 

The Shopping List
• Oversize Hammered Metal Wall Hook, $40 at Pottery Barn
• Safavieh Damien 3-Drawer Wood Storage Unit, $254 at Walmart, $270 at Home Depot

Shop more wall hooks: Amazon, Target, Wayfair

Keys, wallets, and similarly sized items can easily get lost in the shuffle, so it’s always worth having a dedicated spot for them. “Use containers that are just large enough for the items you need,” Wahl says. 

Keys can go in a small dish or tray, phones can live on a charging station, and mail can be stacked in trays, Wahl says.

Take things a step further and give each member of the family their own tray to make the process a bit more streamlined. The entry is an area that’s already filled with lots of stuff, so avoid adding anything extraneous because it will instantly become clutter.

“The area should be for the things your family uses on a daily or near-daily basis,” the organization expert says. 

Shop mail and key organizers: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Wayfair

If you have more belongings than storage space in your entryway or mudroom, a freestanding cabinet can be a good solution. One that incorporates an array of useful features—think a coat rack, shoe holder, and bench—can be a great way to consolidate the basics into one neat zone. 

The sort of cabinetry you choose to bring in can include features like a clothing rod, drawers, hooks, or shoe shelves, says certified professional organizer Schae Lewis of Mission 2 Organize. It all depends on your needs.

Play to the weaknesses of the area. If you’re lacking a designated zone for a specific category, be it shoes, coats, or bags, find a storage unit that can cater to that.

“If you are creating the space from scratch without any cabinetry, plenty of hooks and a shoe solution are crucial for this space,” Lewis says. 

The Shopping List
• Vasagle 3-in-1 Coat Rack, from $70 at Amazon, $107 at Wayfair
• Godishus Wardrobe, $150 at Ikea
• 6-Tier Shoe Storage Cabinet, $40 at Amazon