3 Steps to Improve Your Entryway Today: Back To School Edition
Kristin Giesselmann
If I got paid for every time someone popped into my DMs about their entryway being a fluid concept, I’d FOR SURE be more financially stable in my small business!
For those of you who have hung out with me for a minute, you know that our entryway (where our front door is) also doubles as my kids’ main play area. Now while you may think I’m on something, I’ll assure you every square inch is intentional for everyone using the space and everything has a home. I also have to note that this spot happens to be more of a secondary entryway for us currently.
Our pass thru from the kitchen to the laundry/pantry/garage is what we use most and MUST be a well oiled machine or it’s a one way pass to the hot mess express. Another less significant in and out point of our home is near the door to our backyard, but more on that spot another day! You can read more on our garage pass thru entry/exit spot in our home and streamlining your morning routine a recent blog posthere.
Your primary entryway in your home is a workhorse, however it is set up. It does, however, often get ignored because of the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. How often have you noticed something in your entryway as you were leaving and thought “geez, it would be nice if ____ was different?” Only to go on with your life and only think about it again the second you are back in that spot. Sound familiar?
Well today we’re going to learn how to break this cycle of confusion and chaos in your entryway once and for all with tools/strategies that will stand the test of time. Deal?
Here’s 3 steps to improving your entryway that I know you can do in a snap so you can get back to all the living!
1. Observe, audit + edit.
For the sake of this exercise, I want you to identify the primary entryway or in and out point in your home. This doesn’t necessary have to mean your front door.
Next I want you to simply observe what is going on in this space. Look at it with fresh eyes like you’re a visitor to the space. Who uses it? What do they need there? What clutter chaos is hanging out there? What doesn’t need to be there? Are there other functions going on in here (this is where we also do laundry and unpack groceries)?
Now I want you to do a thorough, RUTHLESS edit of this space. If it is not going to support the actions that must happen in this space, relocate it, donate it, recycle it, send it packing. Only allow things to stay that will actively support your in and out routine in your home. Again, I want you to be ruthless, OK?!
PS. Do not feel discouraged for a second looking at my laundry room/mudroom photo up there…it has been RUTHLESSLY edited and organize over the years (this is also my job!) and I can assure you that this photo makes this space appear far larger than it is in real life!
2. Create essential zones.
With your primary entryway newly edited, it’s now time to create clear zones for your essentials. Remember, your essentials are the things you MUST have for your entryway to work well, improve efficiency and streamline every action you’re doing. Try to limit any “extras” in this space and only focus on what you need to make life EASY moving in and out of your home.
Some examples zones might be: shoe storage, bag or backpack storage, seasonal clothing storage, reminders board, extra baskets or bins for store returns or library books, etc. Create whatever zones you need to make your space efficiency for all the users of the space.
We’ve spent time streamlining/editing your entryway, and now it’s time to possibly bring things in to make your space work even better. Do you need more hooks for backpacks? Do you need a smaller basket for shoe storage to encourage less options to be stored there? Do you need a place to sit to put shoes on? Do you need a pen visible to sign papers for school? Think through each step, each detail and each need and keep asking the question…”how can I make this easier”?
A few quick considerations from your resident Interior Designer here and efficiency chasers:
Remember who is using each item and consider the height or reach range of each user so they can easily use hooks, shelves, baskets, etc. If they can’t reach it, they won’t use it and chaos will continue.
Consider the weight and durability required for things like wall mounted hooks or storage shelves. Install these items in studs in your home wherever possible. Verify weight capacities on any product you install for safety and so you know how much you can store where.
Focus on durability and aesthetics while selecting items to finish streamlining your space. If you select pieces that won’t last, you’re wasting your money and material resources. Shoes shouldn’t be stored in white soft bins for obvious reasons. Consider items that can be easily vacuumed out or wiped down. Also, make sure you actually like each item you bring into this space. You will be looking at it everyday, several times a day. It will impact your mood and it’s worth the attention to get it just right.
Bonus points - select items that you could use in other areas of your home in the future! This is how the “shop your home” concept continues to come full circle with intentional buying!
3. Live with it + make changes.
There is an unfortunate misconception that once we get a space set up that it’s done for good. Sometimes we do get really close and don’t have to touch it for a while. True. But is that realistic for anything, to expect it to never change or evolve over time? Does anything in life stay exactly the same? No. I want to encourage you to have the mindset with any area of your home that somethings might need to be tweaked and a few things changed here and there. Not only is this necessary but this mindset is aligned with real life.
At this present moment, I want you to live with the changes you have just made. Give them a few test runs. Check in with all your users and see how it works for them? Were they able to put everything back where you showed them things belong? Did you need one more bin or need to remove one that is not being used? Do you need one more hook in a different location than you thought? Do your keys need to be stored in a completely different spot? Make a few intention tweaks if needed and then get back to living.
Inevitably seasons change, needs change, kids get taller, schedules shift, etc. Do a check in during the first few days of your improved space, then only sparingly after that when you detect a bit of extra chaos. No problem. Simple run through these three steps again and you’ll be good to go!
Product ideas if you need them (but please shop your home first as always)!