Entryway coat closets in small homes can be tricky beasts. They can go from clean to chaotic with the simple addition of a few hard-to-store items – before you know it you’re shutting the door just so you don’t have to look at it any more.
Take a deep breath, and open the door. Let’s work our way from the top down…
As you know, we love everything to have its own place, and often times that place is a bin. Getting organized doesn’t have to be rocket science, sometimes it’s as simple as assigning shelf space to containers of various sizes, like these Open Canvas Storage Bins, and letting them be home to the things that would otherwise crowd your shelves and floors. We love that these have labels on both the horizontal and vertical walls so even if the bin is stored up high, you can read the contents before bringing it down. We’ve used them here for hats (each person in the household has their very own bin) and winter gear. They bring that minimalist-chic style without breaking the bank ($7.99 to $11.99 per bin). Available in grey or cream and three different sizes.
Next up is this 20-Pocket eco-fabric over-the-door shoe holder. While I’m not a huge fan of these aesthetically, when you are short on closet space they are non-negotiable in my world.
It frees up all your floor space for alternative storage and the pockets are deep enough that both men’s and women’s shoes fit easily. Bonus: it’s made from 65% recycled plastic bottles, turning something harmful (plastic) into something constructive (environmentally friendly storage). You will find it in grey or beige and start creating more open floor space now.
Tip: If you don’t want the conventional steel hooks peaking out when the door is closed we like to use damage free Command Hooks as a way to mount the bag inside the door.
Alternatively placing a large basket near the front door is a great way to corral unruly shoes and cut down on dirt and energy being tracked in from outside. The one featured here was found on a whim at Home Goods. I’m consistently surprised by their vast selection of hand-crafted artisan bins.
Last but not least, we love to use these Fashion Cube Storage Bins in closets because they look sleek and their rigid sides are great for storing taller items from yoga mats to wrapping paper.
Outside of the closet these hold more compact belongings beautifully and can even be proudly displayed on a storage bookshelf unit like the Kallax from Ikea, another favorite of ours!
Go forth and conquer your small entry way coat closet, but FIRST don’t forget to let go of all the things that are: broken, haven’t been used or worn in the past year, have rips or tears and you know you’re never going to fix them, you get the point. Let all the excess go and make space for what makes your life, happier, easier and more organized.