Allow me to paint a picture for you. You just got out of the car and are looking for your keys, while juggling two bags of groceries, a pile of mail and your phone. One kid behind you has all their sports equipment and the other has muddy shoes. You know the dog’s going to want to go out as soon as you open the front door, but you can’t remember where you left the leash. And to top it all off, it’s raining.

OK, OK, I may be exaggerating a little, but this scenario probably sounds kind of familiar to most people. Your daily life is busy, and you need a place in your home to help you manage the never-ending piles of shoes, bags and other items.

That’s why I’m going to share with you how to get your entryway organized once and for all. Keep reading below as I take you through our 3 handy steps, from planning out your drop zone space to putting it all together.

1. See How Much Room You Have

When you start organizing your home’s entry, the first thing you’re going to want to do is take a look at the space. That will help you determine what items you should keep where and how best to arrange them.

So, when you walk into your home, what does it look like? Is there a wide-open area for a large table or is it more of a narrow hallway that could use some hooks? Do you have a nook for a bench or does the door open into your living room? And what about closet space or built-in storage options?
Don’t worry if you feel like your space is too small, because the whole point of this exercise is to make your entryway work for your day-to-day life and there are countless ways to mix and match organization options to fit. And if you have a garage or a back door that opens into your utility room, one option is also to create a drop zone there. I personally love the idea of having several different spaces throughout your home for items like shoes, important paperwork, etc., so you always know where to look for something.

2. Decide Your Space’s Purpose

Once you’ve established how much room you have, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to use it. Feel free to grab a pen and a piece of paper to help you out with this step! Think through your regular routines and brainstorm what would help you get and stay more organized. For example, when you come home, do you kick off your shoes and toss your keys on the nearest surface? Or are you more of a long-term planner who likes to put everything in a particular place?

You’ll probably find there are some items you need access to more easily, like gym shoes or schoolbags, while others, like heavier coats or umbrellas, can be tucked inside a closet or cupboard. If you have kids or pets, consider what items they need on a regular basis, and plan to keep them handy in their own spot.

Then, ask yourself what frustrates you the most. Have you forgotten to pay a bill because the mail got buried under other things? Does your partner misplace their wallet regularly? Are you always tripping over the kids’ shoes and dirty sports equipment? Knowing the answer to questions like these will help you prioritize and make the most of your space during the next step.

3. Optimize Your Storage and Decor

Now we’ve come to what I consider the fun part, where you put it all together and actually build your drop zone. Start by deciding on any big pieces you’ll need, like a hall tree, bench or cubbies. Once those are in place, you can fill in medium-sized items like a shoe rack, shelves or a chalkboard calendar. Then finish up with hooks for bags and jackets, bins for shoes and baskets for your daily essentials.

And don’t forget about decor pieces! Just because you’re making a functional space doesn’t mean it has to be boring. This is your entryway, which means it’s the first thing people are doing to see when they step into your home. It should reflect your style, so think about wall decor, color palettes you like and any personal touches you like. This might include making a space for family photos or mementos from special trips.

Once you’ve created a strong organizational foundation, the best part is you can easily update your home’s entryway throughout the year by swapping out different items. For example, you might keep a rain jacket within reach during the spring or put out seasonal decor during the winter holidays. Another thing to remember is that you can change up your space if you find your original plan doesn’t quite work. Maybe you set up at spot to drop bags and clothes, but find you need more of an office nook. That’s OK, because it’s better to have an entry you’ll actually use than one that will just continue to frustrate you!

With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a more organized home. And if you’re ready to check out more helpful homeownership tips and trends on everything from cleaning different surfaces to popular paint colors, you can check out more content on our Studio blog below.