How To Make Your Entryway Functional, Organized and Beautiful On a Budget

Learn some tricks and hacks to a functional, organized and beautiful on a budget.

While your entryway may not be the biggest space in your home, it’s the last place you see before you leave for the day ahead and the first place you see when you return home. Consequently, your entryway can set the tone for your entire day ahead. It’s also the first and last place guests see in your home. If it’s not beautiful and functional, it’s time to make some changes. Entryway organization and redesign can be fast and cost-effective. In just a day, you can make big changes in your home.

How To Make Your Entryway Functional, Organized and Beautiful On a Budget

Get Organized

The first thing to do is determine what really needs to be stored in your entryway. Since we come in through the entryway, it often becomes a dumping ground for any items we bring home. If these items have no designated area elsewhere within your home, they will just live in the entryway, creating clutter. Some examples of this are junk mail, school artwork and sports gear.

Go Behind the Door

 

Entryways are often smaller than your other rooms, so it’s critical to use vertical storage to maximize every inch of space. Over-the-door shoe organizers are perfect for entryways. They fit over the back of a door in a spot that would otherwise go unused. You can store shoes in them, of course, but you can also use one to organize scarves, hats, mittens, dog leashes and even keys or wallets.

Note from Alex and Cassie: We too have used this trick for years in our our entryway, behind the door of the front closet. 

Hang It Up

A pegboard is another affordable and easy-to-install entryway addition. These can be spray painted any color you want to match your decor. Add hooks for all the small items cluttering your entryway, such as keys, reminder notes and school work. Use the hooks creatively—you can attach baskets to hold paperwork, shelves to hold decorative frames or plants, and carabiners to hold your keys. Pegboards have become much more stylish in recent years and are even available in trendy stainless steel.

Even if you only have an hour, you can organize your entryway. Simply hang some hooks on the wall and designate one for each family member. If you want a little more space, hang pails or baskets from the hooks to contain loose items. Hooks are an easy solution for getting clutter and clothes off of the floor.

 Think Outside the Box

 

Think creatively. If you’re on a tight budget or don’t have a lot of time, consider using non-traditional storage containers to corral clutter. For example, stainless steel buckets are a great way to contain shoes, toys or umbrellas. When putting nontraditional items in your entryway, look for durability first and foremost. Then, decide if you can personalize them to fit your decor. Even plastic buckets can be spray painted for a custom look and feel.

Create a Spot for Technology

We all have a lot of technology. Build a charging station for your entryway so you can plug your phone or tablet in as soon as you get home. If you don’t like the look of exposed wires, use a container that you can cut holes in to run the cords through, then charge phones and other technology inside. Or, if you are more technologically inclined, install USB outlets in your entryway. Charging your devices right when you come home will ensure that you never forget to do so. It will also help you “unplug” and enjoy your time with family while inside the house. Plus, you’ll never leave the house without your phone if it’s sitting next to your front door!

Use a Cubby System

My all-time favorite entryway organizer is the cubby system. These freestanding units can be added anywhere you have a little floor space and provide infinite organization options. Give each family member their own cubby, as well as a container or two to hold their items, then add some nice labels so it will always be clear where to put personal items. In an entryway, it’s important to use containers that are durable and washable. Shoes will drop dirt and, if you live in a cold climate, snowy mittens and hats will shed water. Plastic bins are easy and quick to clean—just wipe them down with a damp cloth when the time comes.

 

The entryway is the perfect place to start organizing. It sets the tone for both the rest of your home and your family’s lifestyle. Being able to easily find and grab the items you need to make it out the door in the morning helps you start your day off on the right foot, and it makes the rest of the day go more smoothly. Just a small financial investment and a few minutes will make a big difference in your home and your life.

Guest post by Bonnie Joy Dewkett, as a professional organizer and author shares helpful advice on how to get your home in order and writes about it for The Home Depot. She uses tools like storage cubes and containers to create a clean, uncluttered space.  Click here to see The Home Depot’s selection of organization accessories.

This article is editorial content that has been contributed to our site at our request, and is published for the benefit of our readers. We have not been compensated for its placement.