How To: Create the Perfect Entryway Organizer

With the cooler weather approaching, you’ll be bundling up a bit more to go outside. When you come back inside, the heavier footwear, jackets and hats will take up more space at your front door. At Emerge2, we believe this area doesn’t need to be a mess for the entire fall and winter. Entryway organizer projects you can do yourself will keep your space tidy and items easy to find. Here are five items you need to create your perfect DIY entryway organizer and help you organize your life better.

#1. Cubbies

Cubbies are usually found at the bottom or the top of an entryway organizer and are another great way to keep everyone’s items tidy and together. You can make them in whatever shape you like.

If you go for a small rectangle shape, they make a great spot to kick off your shoes when you get home. Square cubbies allow you to put bigger items like a backpack in them. Keep in mind what you’d like to use the cubbies for – the bigger they are, the fewer individual spaces you’ll end up with. Find baskets that fit into your cubby holes, fill them with smaller items like mittens, hats and scarves, and pull them out as needed.

#2. Hooks

Simple, yet extremely effective, hooks are one of the most common items you’ll find in this area. Attaching hooks to your organizer gives you a place for coats, hats, keys, backpacks and handbags.

Plain black hooks go with any style, but chrome or colored hooks will work if they match the hardware you use for the rest of the project. For even greater organization, and to keep everyone happy, put labels above the hooks so each person knows where to hang their things. Make sure you have one for the dog’s leash, too!

#3. Chalkboard

Adding a chalkboard to your organizer is a helpful way to remember things, but doesn’t need to be a separate item. With chalkboard paint, you can even paint a chalkboard on a wall and build your organizer around that. Build a shelf to double as an upper border to your chalkboard and the top of your entryway organizer.

A chalkboard comes in handy if you’re labeling spots with peoples’ names but don’t want anything too permanent. And, you now have the ability to make notes for yourself as you’re running out the door. Keep chalk handy as a reminder of the places you need to go and things you need to do. If your list is short or your chalkboard is empty, a motivational quote or fun song lyric will brighten anyone’s day as they pass through your entryway.

#4. Seating

Along with cubbies, shelves, labels and chalkboards, an entryway organizer should also have a space to put on and take off the items that you keep there.

Bench seating is the most popular type of seating for organizers. Having a bench gives you an area to sit and take off your shoes or boots and coat, or just to take a breather. Adding a cushion or pillows gives you a comfortable place to sit and gives your organizer a softer look in your home. Cubby holes can be built underneath the bench to make more usable space.

#5. Personal Touches & Accents

When people come into your home, your organizer will be one of the first things they see and use. Match the practicality it brings with decor that makes it part of your home. Adding a mirror is a simple option that can be used for both decorative and practical purposes. Not only can you give yourself one last check before you head out of the house, mirrors provide benefits like better lighting and the illusion of more space.

Small plants and flowers are another way to decorate your organizer. If you have some cubbies sitting empty or a shelf that is looking a little bare, a plant can fill that area with a pop of color. If art is more your thing, place some of your favorites in a frame and set them on the shelf over your organizer. Smaller pieces can even hang from the hooks you’ve added. Marquee letters with the initials of family members also add a unique and personal touch. For added color and light, LED strip lighting can be installed under shelves and cubbies.

If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to visit Emerge2 for assistance. We would be happy to help you in any way we can.