Entryway Clutter - Solution

My project this past weekend was to figure out a solution to all the clutter in our entryway.  I was tired of walking into chaos when I came home. I'm not sure if I have the complete solution yet, but I was able to make some progress on the mess.

After researching some online, I was able to come up with a new storage bench for the entryway. This meant a trip to IKEA.  I had to tell myself before going into the store that I was only going in for the supplies for the bench, NOTHING MORE!  Otherwise, I could have come home with plenty more!

I purchased a Kallax shelf in black/brown.  I have a two tiered shelf exactly like this that I use for our tv stand in the living room so I wanted to get the same color so eventually when we move into our "someday" house they would be able to be used in the same room and match.  I also purchased a set of Capita legs so that when I put the shelf on its side I could add a little height to the bench.  They are usually used for the kitchen cabinets at IKEA but I figured they should work for the shelf too.  I thought about getting baskets for the shelves but wasn't sure how the baskets would hold up so I instead got two drawer inserts and two door inserts for the openings.

After clearing out the entryway completed, I set out to put everything together.  That's the bad thing about IKEA, assembly required.  I was able to put together the shelf completely by myself but when it came to the drawers and doors, I required help from the hubby.  A few hours of cleaning and assembly but now its complete.  Eventually I would like to add a cushion to the top but in the meantime I just added a blanket and a basket for our keys.

I recruited the girls to help me fill the drawers and doors, hoping that would help with them taking ownership of it and wanting to keep it organized.  They each picked a drawer to store their hats and gloves in and picked drawers for mom and dad too.  The two shelves with the doors are reserved for the girls' shoes.  

Putting these things into the bench opened up more space in the small closet in the entryway, so all of the hubby's shoes fit in there along with all the snow boots.  I keep all of my shoes in an over-the-door shoe organizer in our bedroom.

When I cleared out the space, I was also able to clean out all the spring coats and sweatshirts that had accumulated in the entryway over time. I put the coats in storage and the sweatshirts back where they belong.

Two days into the new space and its still clutter free.  We'll have to see if that is still the case a week from now!  Here's hoping!

Entryway Clutter

Now that the cold weather has started to show up…so has more clutter in our entryway!  Winter coats, snow pants, boots, gloves, scarves, etc.  Along with all of that there are still some fall jackets, sweatshirts, rain boots and tons of shoes.  It never seems like this area of the house can stay clean for more than a day or two.  Some mornings it’s a struggle to find shoes or that hat that I know my daughter wore home yesterday from school and is now nowhere to be found!  Other times you are tripping your way over multiple shoes that have stacked up during the week.  It’s frustrating when you walk into your house and the first thing you see is chaos and clutter!

One small corner of our clutter...

My project for over the Thanksgiving weekend is to figure out ways to improve this area.  Maybe you can help?  What tips, tricks or furniture do you use in your entryway/mudroom to keep it organized?  Comment here or on my Facebook post!

Basement Disaster II - Update

I promised an update on my basement project at the end of October. I’m a little late, but better late than never right?

I am definitely glad that I shared what I wanted to get accomplished in the basement because without doing that, I don't think I would have been motivated to do it on my own.  Sharing certainly motivates me to get results. 

So the last few weeks of October consisted of:

•           a half full dumpster,
•           two car loads full of donations,
•           six new Rubbermaid totes, filled and organized,
•           a clear floor,
•           a clear ping pong table (not sure the last time we were able to say that),
•           and an organized sewing area.

The one thing that still needs to get figured out… how/where to store the new totes.  Unfortunately they don’t fit in our existing shelves so I’m going to have to get creative.  But for the most part it is done! 

What were you able to accomplish this month?