Entryway Storage Ideas
An entryway is that area of the home that collects shoes, coats, hats, gloves, backpacks, purses and umbrellas whenever family comes home or friends arrive. Whether you have a grand foyer or a tiny portion of a front room dedicated to this purpose, you can keep it organized through the use of hooks, furniture, baskets or shelving. Does this Spark an idea?
Closets or Built-Ins
One way to add storage and hide clutter in an entryway is to build a simple closet in a section of the room. If you do not have any sort of foyer, but instead enter the home directly through the kitchen or living room, you may be able to build a shallow closet for storage on either side of the front door. You could also create a closet on an angle in one corner of the room. Another option is to add a 3- or 4-feet-high unit with hooks and shelves between the entryway and living area. This will not only create storage for coats and shoes, but can also help define the two spaces.
Furniture
The hall tree is a piece of furniture made especially for entryways. It usually includes a few hooks for coats and hats, a mirror to check yourself before you leave the house, and a storage bench to stow footwear, scarves and gloves. If you have a large entryway, a piece of furniture such as a dresser, buffet or hutch can also provide a great way to add extra storage. A dresser offers places to store outerwear with room left over for summer paraphernalia like sunscreen or straw hats. A hutch with cabinets below could hold shoes, boots or even backpacks. If the piece is older, you might consider adding coat hooks to the backboard or sides. Otherwise, add a few wall hooks on either side. A simple bench can also provide storage in addition to adding a convenient place to sit while tying shoes or pulling off boots.
If your entryway is not big enough for a bench or cabinet, consider a simple upright coat rack. Some even come with an umbrella stand built into the base, which is especially convenient because umbrellas can be damaged when stored on their side, according to GoodHousekeeping.com. If your storage piece or coat rack does not include a space for umbrellas, a simple mesh waste can or tall wicker basket will do.
Shelves and Wall Hooks
Add storage to a small space by building or buying shelves deep enough to hold a few baskets for outerwear and baseball caps. Some shelving units are made with built-in hooks to hang coats or backpacks. If you are building shelves yourself, you can purchase inexpensive brackets and 1 x 12-inch planks. Add hooks directly beneath for coats and scarves, and a few more hooks a little lower down for backpacks or purses. Attach narrow shelves a few inches above the floor to stow shoes.
Tags: also provide, backpacks purses, coat rack, coats hats, either side
