Ways to Create a Clutter-Free Entryway That Actually Stays Organized

Want to walk into a clutter-free home every day?

Your entryway makes the first impression on anyone entering your home. It sets the vibe for the rest of the house. But…

Your entryway is also likely the most cluttered spot in your entire home.

Here’s what’s happening in mine right now…

Shoes are EVERYWHERE. There’s mail stacking up on the counter. Keys mysteriously disappear every.single.time.

Sound like your entryway?

Good news! It’s not difficult to make your entryway clutter-free. With the right systems, you can prevent that mess from ever happening again.

In this post:

• Why entryways are naturally clutter magnets
• The biggest sources of entryway clutter
• Storage solutions that actually work
• How to handle mail overflow before it piles up
• Daily habits that keep the entryway tidy

Why Entryways Are Naturally Clutter Magnets

Believe it or not, the entryway is the clutter capitol of your home.

Think about it:

Entryways are the transition zone between outside and inside your home. Every article that comes in, ends up here.

Grocery bags. Jackets. Shoes. Packages. Mail.

Want statistics that prove homeowners feel overrun with clutter? Check out these statistics from recent surveys.

54% of American homeowners feel overwhelmed by clutter in their homes.

And where does that household clutter tend to begin?

Right at the door.

If your entryway is cluttered, chances are other areas of your home are cluttered too. Overflow from your entry spreads out into the rest of your home. Before you know it your entire home feels cluttered and chaotic.

That’s why tackling clutter in the entryway can make SUCH a difference.

Sources of Entryway Clutter

Before we jump into solutions, let’s identify what causes clutter in the first place:

• Shoes all over the floor
• Coats and bags strewn about
• Keys and wallets lost every day
• Overflowing piles of mail

Okay. Mail.

Mail tends to be a bigger problem than most people realize. The average American household receives 848 pieces of junk mail every year.

Remove junk mail from that problem and you’re still left with subscriptions, packages, bills, and magazines.

Here’s a tip that can stop mail clutter before it starts.

A digital mailbox allows you to receive mail without it ever coming to your door. With an electronic mailbox service, your mail is scanned and uploaded for you to view online. You then decide what physical mail gets forwarded to your home and what stays stored online.

Pretty cool, huh?

Alright, let’s finish tackling those entryway clutter sources with some easy solutions!

Entryway Storage Solutions

The key to any organized space:

Everything needs a home.

There should be a designated spot for everything in your entryway. If there isn’t, it has a tendency to turn into clutter.

Simple enough, right? Let’s break it down…

Shoe storage.

Ever walk into a home and the first thing you see are shoes scattered across the floor?

We’ve all been there. I know I have. Having a designated spot for shoes and coats eliminates that problem instantly.

For shoes, you can opt for a shoe rack, a boot tray or a cute bench with built-in storage.

Location is key. You want it to be convenient to where you’d naturally take off your shoes when you enter the house.

Hooks and hangers.

Hooks are your best friend when it comes to entryway organization.

Variety is also helpful. Having hooks at different heights can be beneficial if you have kids. Some can be for coats. Others can be for handbags. Heck, throw a hook up for the dog’s leash too.

Entries should function for every member of your family.

Another tip: Hang a small shelf above the hooks. You can store baskets or other decorative items on this shelf. Not only does this look nice, but it gives you additional storage.

Pro-tip: Only hang a few items on each hook. Don’t let them become overwhelmed with hats, gloves, bags, etc.

Make a “drop zone” for daily essentials.

A drop zone is basically a spot to place keys, wallets, sunglasses, kids’ backpacks, etc.

You know…the daily essentials you need to grab when you leave the house.

You can buy a pre-made drop zone or keep things simple with a small tray or basket.

Place it somewhere visible. If it gets lost in the background, nobody will use it.

Solve the Mail Overflow Crisis

We mentioned this already, but mail is bigger clutter problem than most people give it credit for.

Here’s a solution that can prevent mail clutter before it happens.

Mail sorting station.

Once mail is brought into your home, designate a sorting station for mail. Keep it simple:

• Trash it – junk mail and catalogs
• Read it later – magazines, subscriptions
• Keep it – bills, important documents

You’ll want to do this once a day. A couple minutes of sorting mail will save you from the dreaded mail pile up.

How to Keep the Entryway Clutter-Free

Implementing an awesome entryway organizational system is just the first step.

What’s just as important is maintaining that system.

The best entryway set-ups are the ones that are easy to maintain. If your system requires a lot of effort, someone isn’t going to follow through.

I like to call these “set it and forget it” systems.

Here are a few daily habits that will keep your entryway looking great:

The One-Minute Rule

If it takes you less than a minute, do it.

Hang up the coat. Put shoes away. Throw junk mail in the trash.

It takes seconds to keep these types of clutter from building up.

Give yourself a weekly reset.

Set a timer for 5 minutes once a week and do a quick entryway check.

Are there stray items that don’t belong in the entry? Put them away. Sweep or wipe down the floor. Easy.

Every season, purge your storage.

Donate tired shoes. Pass along coats that no longer fit perfectly. Chuck old mail that survived the trash pile.

Keeping only what you need keeps everyone reminded of what “works” in your entryway storage.

Wrap-Up

Entryways can make or break how your home feels when you walk through the door each day.

Take back control of yours by making it a clutter-free zone.

Reduced stress. Time saved looking for lost keys. Makes a great first impression on guests. Prevents mess from spreading to other rooms.

It’s amazing what a well-organized entryway can do for your entire home.

Remember…

Know what causes clutter. Give EVERYTHING a home. Maintain the system with daily habits.

And it’s decluttered.

Everything else is just details.

What storage solutions have worked for you in the entryway? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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