The entryway closet often serves as a catchall for items that don't seem to belong in any other area of the house. As such, these spaces are quick to get cluttered. The first step to a well-designed entryway closet is emptying it of its contents and sorting through each item to determine what really belongs there. Once you have the contents pared down to items that truly belong in an entryway, selecting neat design ideas is simple. Does this Spark an idea?
Shelves
To make the most of the space in your entryway closet, installing shelving at the top and bottom of the closet can be very useful. Shelving at the bottom can be used for shoes and boots. A large bin on the floor could also be used for sporting equipment. At the top of the closet, you can store items that are used less often, such as tools, extension cords and seasonal items that aren't currently in use. Baskets, bins and plastic boxes can be used to keep things organized. Assign a bin to each member of the family for shoes or other belongings, and keep each bin at an easy-to-reach level appropriate to the bin's owner.
Hangers
Although you may have flimsy wire hangers in the other closets of the house, try to provide sturdy wooden hangers in the entryway closet. The coats that are often hung here are heavier than most other items and will benefit from the added support. This is also the only closet that guests are likely to see, and it's nice to have quality hangers to offer them for their own coats. Always keep several empty hangers in this closet to accommodate guests. When you're having only a few people over to dinner, there's no need to toss their coats on a bed somewhere when you have a well-designed entry closet. Specialized hangers can also be purchased with multiple hooks for scarves.
Door
The door to the coat closet provides ample opportunities for designing additional storage. Over-the-door shoe holders can be hung in the entryway closet for gloves, scarves, and hats. The small pockets are ideal for these accessories. You can label each pocket or row of pockets for a member of the family to keep things neat and organized. Another option for back of the door storage is a hook hung from the top of the door or mounted to the back of it. These hooks are great for tote bags and purses. When each item has its own place, keeping a neat and well-designed entryway closet is an easy task.
Tags: entryway closet, items that, each item, entryway closet, keep things, member family
