Small Spaces Part 2: Three steps to a better entryway closet

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Coronavirus has us all stuck inside for an indefinite period of time. We might as well make the most of it by using this time to bring order to our homes in the midst of the added chaos we find ourselves in.

This is the second of our Small Spaces Series, where we will walk you through the process of organizing those places in your house that can be neglected in the busyness of everyday life. These are the tucked-away spots it's easy to shut a door on and forget about. You can view Part 1, which covered how to organize the space under your kitchen sink, here.

Today, we will tackle the entryway or hall closet.

The entryway closet (or hall or guest closet) tends to become a catch-all for everything we don’t know what to do with. While it can be a useful place for miscellaneous items you need to store out of the way, it should be designated for specific purposes to keep it from becoming a dumping ground.

Whether you are living alone or with a partner, set it up with purpose from the beginning so that it is easy to use. Store things in an intuitive way.

First and foremost, this closet is meant to be a place to hang coats for you and your guests. It is also a good place for accessories such as hats, gloves, scarves, outdoor shoes and pet supplies. If we don’t stick to these categories, this closet can become mayhem fast.

It is NOT meant for random clothing and accessories your household can’t fit in their own closets, tools, appliances, random files, memorabilia from decades ago, baby toys, strollers, kitchen supplies, etc.

Here is our process for organizing the entryway closet in three easy steps.

1. Edit

We start all of our projects with taking everything out first. Then you can see what you have inside and determine what stays and what goes. Take this opportunity to vacuum and clean the closet.

Sort through what was in there, keeping what you plan to put back in and setting aside the rest for other places. Sort through all of the adult and kids coats and donate what you don’t need or doesn’t fit anymore.

2. Maximize every inch of the interior space.

By installing shelves, hanging storage and using bins or baskets, you can find new ways to store more items in a more systematic way. Consider a shoe rack for floor storage and upper shelves for small luggage and duffels. We like this shoe rack from Yamazaki or this one from Design Within Reach.

The best and most cost-effective solution is the Elfa system. By mounting brackets on the walls and inside the doors, you can install shelving and baskets to store gear and accessories.

Choose hangers that can hold bulkier items such as coats. These wooden hangers or this smaller option from the Container store work great for heavy coats.

Now add decorative coordinating bins and baskets to your shelving. Our favorites include these stylish options from Design Within Reach or the Container Store. Keeping them all the same style will give your closet a streamlined look and add to the overall esthetic.

3. Restock your closet

Categorize all the items you designated as keepers and place them in the proper bins and baskets. Add labels to help you remember where each category is stored. Rehang all your coats.

Now you will have an entryway closet that is set up to contain the most stuff in the smartest way.

This closet gets a lot of traffic, so remember to straighten it weekly and remove any items that don’t belong.

If you are looking for more storage solutions for your hallway closet, check out the bins and baskets in our shop.

#entrywaycloset #closetorganization