Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Entry Room Closet Ideas

Add shelving above and below coats to maximize your closet's storage.


Because entry room closets are used for so many purposes, they can easily descend into chaos. However, careful organization can help make your entry room closet both more functional and more attractive. The first step in improving your entry room closet is to get rid of any extraneous clutter. Throw away or donate any items that you do not regularly use. Once you have reduced your entry room closet items to the essential, make sure each item has its own place. Finally, don't be afraid to use cabinets or curtains to hide unattractive but necessary items. Does this Spark an idea?


Create Zones


You probably use your entry room closet to store everything from winter coats to crafting supplies. To prevent your entry room closet from becoming a jumbled mess, create different "zones" in your closet. Use shelving and closet rods to divide your closet into areas for storing linens, shoes, sports equipment, coats and other items. Group similar items together, labeling each zone. This will help children and guests put items away correctly.


Add Shelving


If your entry room closet doesn't already have shelving, add some. Shelving units placed above your closet rod will provide space for storing hats, folded items or cleaning supplies, while shelves placed a foot above the floor will provide space both above and below for storing shoes and boots. If you have a spacious entry room closet, add additional shelving along its sides and back wall.


Install Brackets


Brackets, or shelf dividers, will maximize your entry room closet's efficiency, as they prevent items from spilling onto one another. Brackets allow folded linens to be stacked next to winter boots or gardening supplies on your closet's shelves. In addition, these separators will increase the neatness of your closet.


Add Pegboard


Install pegboard on the inside of your entry room closet door, or on the inside of one of your entry room closet's walls. Stud your pegboard with hooks. Now you have space to hang hats, sports equipment, light coats and other items.


Use Shoe Cubbies


Large households, especially those with children, often use their entry room closets to store a wide variety of footwear, from sports shoes and gardening clogs to roller skates. In this case, lining the bottom of your closet with shoe cubbies will help keep your household's footwear organized. You can also use hanging shoe bags, or hang a multi-pocket shoe hanger on the inside of your closet's door. Place an appealing bench outside your entry room closet door---this will serve both as a convenient station for removing and putting on footwear and also add decorative charm to your entry room or foyer.


Use Bins


Unsightly entry room closet items can be neatly hidden in attractive bins. This also makes these items easier to find. Use individual bins for items like balls, hats and gloves. Clear bins work well for storing crafting or sewing supplies, as they will enable you to quickly locate an item.


Wallpaper


To beautify your entry room closet, you can wallpaper its walls or the inside of its shelves. A colorful wallpaper pattern will add instant style and interest to your entry room closet. Chose durable, long-lasting wallpaper for best results.


Use Sachets


Entry room closets can often acquire musty or unpleasant smells. To mitigate this, stock your closet with sweet-smelling sachets. These will also help any clothing stored in the closet smell better. Use sachets with moth-repelling properties to protect vulnerable clothing items.

Tags: entry room closet, your entry, your entry room, entry room, room closet, your closet