Organize Your Entryway and Mudroom

Do you feel like you are tripping over clutter when you enter and leave your home?  Try these easy steps to create calm and order in your entryway.

Sort and reduce:

• Go through all the items that have collected in your entry and sort them into groups of similar items (mail, shoes, umbrellas, jackets, etc.). 
• Set aside anything that doesn’t belong there.
• Get rid of unneeded, worn or poorly fitting items.
• Consider deep storage elsewhere for out of season outerwear or sports equipment that you can rotate as the seasons change.

Create “takeoff” and “landing” areas:

• To make your morning run smoothly, have a space such as a small table, bench or cubbies for briefcases and backpacks. 
• Set up a nice basket to immediately capture junk mail for recycling. 
• Pack your bag the night before to reduce morning stress. Your children can pack their schoolbags and sports bags in the evening, too.
• Purchase a bench with a cushioned seat and multiple cubbies for boots.
• Put a heavy duty mat inside the door to catch dirt and drips.

Optimize your storage options:

• Mount a holder for mail and keys on the wall. 
• Try an attractive dry erase magnetic message board to post schedules, lists or reminder notes.
• Inside your coat closet door, use an over-the-door shoe organizer with see-though pouches to store pairs of gloves, bug spray, sunglasses and car lock de-icer.
• Avoid large bins: they fill with jumbled items quickly that are hard to see or find.

Rachel M. Gambone is the owner of ReOrganize with Rachel, LLC.  In addition to general home organizing, she specializes in helping you organize your office, papers and digital information.  Her signature approach is positive organizing where she builds on your strengths, helps you find your treasures, and teaches you life-long organizing skills.  See more organizing tips and a link to her free podcast at reorganizewithrachel.com.