Category Archives: entryway organization
How Jean Organizes Her Entry
This month’s first guest participating in the How I Organize series is Jean of Flower Hill Design Company, whose design aesthetic I love. She gives us a peek inside her home and shares with us her beautifully organized entry:
My design dilemma was that I had an entryway closet that blocked my front door from my living room space. It was small, cramped, dark and not functional. Living a busy life style, I needed organization that allowed me to keep the daily essentials within reach, without having a space that looked cluttered and unorganized.
My solution was to remove the old entryway closet, opening the front door to the living room and allowing more light to fill the space. I designed a built-in closet in another area of the home that not only had space for in season coats and shoes, but incorporated cubbies to hold the day to day essentials that were ready to “grab and go”. Items include my handbag, keys, and accessories like sunglasses or lipgloss. It also needed to provide storage for transient things like my son’s school papers that need to be referred to in the short term, incoming mail, a place to store my laptop when not in use, and some basic office supplies (i.e. a pen for a quick note, tape, notepad, etc…). I painted a mural on the interior of the closet. By treating the closet design like another area of my home (not just a storage space) it keeps me motivated to keeps things looking pretty.
There is a hanging rod for in season coats. Beneath the hanging rod there are two shelves which is ample storage for our in season shoes. An upper shelf holds baskets for hats, gloves, and scarves. The cubbies hold my handbag, accessories, laptop, and basic files to hold paperwork that needs to be referred to but is not quite necessary to be filed away in the office filing cabinet. An urn holds pens for quick notes (either notes to the teacher or a grocery shopping list). Simple DIY storage boxes made from shirt boxes hold some basic office supplies like tape and a stapler.
Everything has it’s place. The cubbies make everyday essentials easy to find. It makes a busy lifestyle and constantly being on the go so much easier. Having a designated space for everyday essentials keep my countertops clutter free.
Posted in entryway organization, how i organize series
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Umbrella Storage
During rainy season it’s nice to have a handy place to keep umbrellas. A few entryways that have stylishly integrated a umbrella storage:
love the little dividers in this one -would probably make a good DIY project 
image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Posted in entryway organization
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Entryway Solution: Basket for Shoes & Slippers
Sometimes inevitably shoes end up in the entryway. If you don’t have a closet to hide them behind, a solution for keeping it from looking too messy, is to have a beautiful basket for them:
If you have a no shoes in the house rule, you can also fill the basket with slippers to encourage guests to remove their shoes upon entering.
image credits: 1- the marion house book, 2- the elegant abode via decor8
Toast Rack as Mail Organizer
Love the idea of using a vintage toast rack as a way to beautifully organize mail or neatly hold stationary:
Look for vintage racks on Etsy, eBay and your local flea market.
image credits: 1- via this is glamorous, 2- via design sponge, 3-photography by Patrick Cline via lonny mag
Under Stair Storage
These lovely spaces take advantage of an area which frequently goes forgotten and under utilized:
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I think my favorite is the idea of installing built-in drawers. Such a great way to maximize storage potential!
Posted in entryway, entryway organization, storage, storage solutions
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Entryway Configurations: Part II
I’m back with inspiration, tips and organizational solutions for entryways -this time for those without an entry closet! I meant to post this earlier, but unfortunately had some technical difficulties! Anyway, all is good now so let’s get started shall we?To keep the small stuff organized and out of view, opt for console tables with drawers. Decorative items on the tabletop can actually serve to help deter clutter since they limit flat surface available for setting things down.
Use drawer organizers to create a specific place for everything {keys, mail, cell phones, the dog leash, etc.} and keep things neat.
via domino
For larger storage, try a chest that fits under a console table
via markham roberts
or storage ottomans which can also serve as seating for taking off shoes.
L: via decorpad ; R: Yvonne O’Brien
Put decorative bowls, tins, trays, bins, etc. into service and designate a specific container for everything you regularly need to store in the entryway
L: via canadian house and home; R: via domino
whether that be umbrellas, newspapers, or the dry cleaning that needs to be dropped off.
Baskets can hold a variety of things and fit nicely under a console table or a bench.
L: via simple effects ; R: via simply natural
You can designate a separate basket for each household member so everyone knows where to find his or her things.
via the nest
Pieces that make use of vertical space like those shown below allow you to add baskets up top as well
L: via pottery barn ; R: via style at home
and utilize hooks for hanging coats, scarves, handbags, etc.
L: via apt therapy ; R: via real simple
If you don’t want to spend much on a piece of furniture, opt for individual hooks and a simple shelf -they hold baskets just as well. If you’re limited on space, try utilizing an available corner.
L: via house to home ; R: via better homes and gardens
If you don’t like the look of baskets, boxes are a nice alternative.
L: via canadian house and home; R: Samantha Pynn
If you prefer to have boxes and baskets out of sight, go with a closed console {or similar piece of furniture} and give every area of it a purpose. Fit it with drawer organizers and dividers giving each household member a space or grouping items by type.
L: michael berman ; R: via lonny mag
L: via domino ; R: via domino
L: via domino ; R: via the nest
L: via elle decor ; R: via house beautiful
L: via domino ; R: via real simple
If you don’t have room for a piece of furniture {even a small one} make the most of your wall space by using hooks
L: rachel whiting ; R: source unknown
and/or wall organizers that hold the mail, sunglasses, and other small items.
L: via domino; R: uten.silo
Oftentimes its the small items that get lost most frequently and can be the cause of the biggest frustrations.
via apt therapy
The more things you designate a home for, the less clutter you’re likely to have
Posted in decor, entryway, entryway organization, organization
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Entryway Configurations: Part I
If you’re lucky enough to have a closet at or near the entry, take full advantage. This is the ideal spot for hanging items and keeping not-so-pretty things out of sight.
Maximize your closet space by installing hooks, shelves and/or by adding a bookcase {either horizontally or vertically like the one below right}. Use boxes for infrequently used items and baskets to corral more frequently used items. Matching hangers will help the space look streamlined. Wooden ones are usually the best for coats as they tend to be sturdiest ones.
L: via martha stewart ; R via realsimple
If you allow your entry closet to meet most of the practical needs, this gives you the flexibility to use the most visible part of the entry to set the mood and decorative tone of your home. Maybe the only other thing you need is a flat surface for dropping off your keys and cell phone, so you can get away with having a non bulky console table that displays decorative items…
L: Rita Konig via domino; R: via domino
L: via domino; R: via domino
…and if you want {and have the space} you can add a chair or bench for taking off your shoes…
L: via vt interiors ; R via country living
L: via domino ; R: nate berkus
…and/or a mirror for a quick check before heading out the door….
L: mary mcdonald ; R h jonny miller
L: miles redd ; R via domino
L: via the nest ; R viacoastal living
L: via design happens round up ; R via domino
L: via domino ; R: jonathan adler
Up next, entryways without entry closets.
Posted in decor, entryway, entryway organization, organization
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