Assign a home to all your belongings in your mudroom and entryway. Don’t let an important area of your home become a bigger version of your designated “junk drawer.” Here are a few tips to keep this space organized.

Brighten it up

Make a mudroom and entryway pop with the perfect color! Though the name may lack it, it’s probably the first part of your home guests see. A tranquil color can be just the thing your mudroom or entryway needs to give off a relaxing feel and for your guests to feel welcome.

Decide what belongs in this space

Pick and choose what you want in your mudroom. Items like umbrellas, book bags, coats, shoes, and maybe laundry, are all well-suited for this room. Once you decide what items you do and don’t want here—stick to it! If laundry is done upstairs, make a point of not leaving any dirty jackets or clothes in this area of your home. Have a designated spot for everything you own, that way you can avoid clutter.

Utilize wall space

More often than not mudrooms and entryways are a small area of the house to work with. So, instead of thinking how limited your floor space is, start building up!

Utilize your wall space with hooks and decorative holders for items you don’t need to have on the ground. Hanging coats, keys, and other items can help you optimize the space you are working with.

Wainscoting

This is a type of strong paneling that can be applied to the bottom of any wall, but can be particularly helpful in a mudroom where shoes and bags go flying about. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing as a look for your home, but it also plays defense against the messiness and unpredictability that comes along with kids and pets running around the house.

Laundry

Many people often have a washer and dryer in their mudroom. Consider a stackable washer- dryer combination to make the most out of the space you have. That way, where your dryer once was can now hold a laundry basket or a place for detergents and other cleaning supplies. You could even consider hanging a drying rack from the ceiling!

Space for the kids

If this is the first room your kids hit as they walk through the door, chances are whatever they have on hand will land in that area and stay there. Make a space to call their own, that way they have something to be excited about while you are discretely keeping them organized! Assign or create cubby areas for each member of the house. That way there is a space for each individuals shoes, coats, and backpacks to go after school.

Don’t avoid walking through your mudroom or entryway to avoid the clutter, manage it by implementing these tips!