4 Tips to Restore and Organize Your Entry
INSTANT ORGANIZING
Use our quick tips to restore and organize your entry, a high-traffic zone.
1. Purge Paper
Organize your entry by setting up a system to manage every piece of paper that comes into your house. If you can’t file it (bills, bank statements) or frame it (kids artwork), out it goes. Toss junk mail immediately, and sort magazines and catalogs on a small tray with handles, which you can take to another room for reading.
2. Designate “Spots” to Organize Your Entry
Make sure every item has a dedicated place that you can return it to – it’s a quick way to control the chaos. Opt for a table or bench with separate storage bins underneath to stash recycling, hats, gloves and more by the door. Organize your entry by using catchall baskets: Either give each family member his/her own basket for incoming and outgoing mail. Choose a single bowl or tray for car and house keys so you don’t have to dig for them each time you leave the house.
3. Hang It Up
Install hooks just inside the door at varying heights to suit all family members. Hooks are great tools to organize your entry and keep items off the floor. Coats and bags will immediately find a home. And use wall space that would otherwise go to waste. A single shelf is a great spot for mail or dog walking supplies. Before installing a shelf permanently, measure its depth to be sure there’s room for the door to swing.
4. “Smartify” Your Front Door
If you’re prone to losing keys, consider an app-enabled interactive lock system to organize your entry. These devices which can unlock your door digitally or with a virtual key, are controlled through your smartphone. You’ll never need to search for lost keys again, and you can lock and unlock remotely if you have unexpected guests and need to let someone in before you get home.
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HOW TO KEEP FLOORS CLEAR
Gather up Sports Gear
Tired of tripping over the stray hockey stick? Set a big wire basket near the door and get your kids to stash the current season’s athletic paraphernalia in it the minute they come indoors.
Add a Rug
A durable, dirt-trapping carpet like a flat-weave kilim can halt messiness in its tracks. Look for prints that disguise stains and a low pile that won’t bunch up beneath the door. Carpet tape or a nonskid pad will ensure that it lies flat.
Keep a Boot Tray By the Door
Ask family members and guests to remove their shoes here – it keeps them organized in one place and cuts back on tracked-in dirt. It’s surprising how closely associated grime and clutter are.
Further Reading
