10 Neat Hallway Tips to Steal From Tidy People
Too laid-back to be truly orderly? Here are some practical ideas for managing a messy entry while embracing the lived-in look
Of all the potential mess magnets in the home, the entryway is one of the most common. It’s the place where we tend to dump everything as soon as we get through the door, and it can quickly gather so much stuff, it can be difficult to navigate. A messy hallway isn’t the most welcoming of scenes for unexpected guests, either. Here are some achievable ideas to help you manage your untidy tendencies without turning you into a complete neat freak.
1. Display your accessories. It makes perfect sense to store outdoor clothing near the exit, and it doesn’t have to be hidden away. Arrange a row of attractive hooks that are a feature in their own right, and hang woolly hats and cozy scarves together to take a messy pile up a notch. In warmer weather, swap them for sun hats, beach bags and chill-busting evening blankets.
2. Add some furniture. If you do have a little space to play with in your entryway, create more surfaces on which to place things. The upholstered bench, basket and coat rack in this hallway provide spots for outerwear to sit, and they make the space look homier and more welcoming.
3. Drop to a child’s level. Kids create their own world of chaos, but giving them dedicated pegs on which to hang their coats and bags is an easy way to avoid a heap on the floor. Get them to choose their own hooks and give them a little lesson in safe DIY as you install them. It will instill a sense of pride that might actually mean they’ll use the hooks.
4. Put a dish on it. A small ceramic trinket dish or plate on a little table is a great way for messy folks to create order. This will let you quickly and neatly drop items as you move through the front door into the house.
Having a dedicated place to leave your keys and the contents of your pockets will mean no more fishing around for them in bulging bags — or losing them completely.
Having a dedicated place to leave your keys and the contents of your pockets will mean no more fishing around for them in bulging bags — or losing them completely.
5. Lean on a ledge. Elevating your bag drop to a ledge like this beautiful wall-mounted piece is preferable to leaving a bag on the floor, and easier on your back too.
6. Go for open display. There’s something lovely about seeing a family’s belongings all piled together right at the front of the home. So instead of hiding everything away, use a system of open storage that makes it easy to grab and go. Separate pieces like these add character while leaving a neat impression.
7. Line up some baskets. Baskets and crates, or even something like salvaged drawers, are the ultimate in affordable yet visually appealing storage, so make the most of a series of containers against your hallway wall.
Here, the homeowner has found an excellent all-in-one solution in the form of an old gymnasium bench with built-in baskets beneath it. You can make as much stylish use of a matching free-standing set of almost any sort of boxes or baskets of an appropriate size; they’ll work wonders in disguising the many and varied types of entryway clutter.
Here, the homeowner has found an excellent all-in-one solution in the form of an old gymnasium bench with built-in baskets beneath it. You can make as much stylish use of a matching free-standing set of almost any sort of boxes or baskets of an appropriate size; they’ll work wonders in disguising the many and varied types of entryway clutter.
8. Make a feature of it. A dressmaker’s mannequin like this one makes a beautiful backdrop for coats and bags, and for other bits and pieces to accumulate around it. No one minds a mess when it’s framed so beautifully! Check out eBay and antiques markets for similar pieces.
9. Keep it hidden. This compact cabinet has a spot for everything, all in one shallow space. Large pegs and shoe racks mean items can be stashed with minimal fuss, while bifold doors keep the area hidden when not in use.
Once you’ve got the empty cabinet built in, this is an easy area to customize. Put shelves and hooks exactly where you need them, and do the math with the family’s shoes, gloves and bike helmets to work out what goes where.
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Once you’ve got the empty cabinet built in, this is an easy area to customize. Put shelves and hooks exactly where you need them, and do the math with the family’s shoes, gloves and bike helmets to work out what goes where.
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10. Upgrade your umbrella stand. Probably the messiest item — barring muddy boots (and anything to do with pets or children) — is a soaking-wet umbrella. Leaving it by the door is the best way to keep it from dripping all the way to the nearest sink or bath, so give it its own fancy stand. Suddenly, a soggy mess looks rather stylish!
Tel us: How have you embraced the mess in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
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Tel us: How have you embraced the mess in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
More
Organizing Secrets: It’s the Little Things
8 Kitchen Organizing Ideas for Messy Cooks