When you walk in the door, where does everything land? Coat on a chair (affiliate). Bag on the counter. Shoes (affiliate) kicked off in a pile by the mat. Sound familiar?
This post walks you through entryway organization from start to finish, why it's worth doing, how to find the right layout for your space, and what to actually put in it. I'll also share what's changed since I first wrote this entryway organization post, plus quick answers to the questions I get asked most. Let's get your entryway working for you.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
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Key Takeaways
- Organizing your entryway saves time and money while creating a neat, relaxing home atmosphere.
- Consider landing zones and charging stations to enhance the functionality of your entryway organization.
- Utilize labeled bins, command hooks, and reset baskets to keep your space tidy and organized.
- Measure your space and decide on the right storage units to accommodate the items you want to organize.
- Maintain organization by limiting the number of items and establishing a drop zone for essentials like keys and mail.
Why should I get my entryway organized?
Well, I'm glad you asked. Below are why you should get your foyer organized:
- Organizing this space will save you time in the morning because everything you need is in one area, right near the door.
- You will save money because all your small items, such as your cell phone, hat, glove, etc., will be in one area.
- You will feel more relaxed when you enter your home because it will be neat. You may not realize that the clutter affects you until you clear out the space and have a home for everything.
- You will enjoy entering and going home and not dreading it.
- It will make for a speedy leave and return to your home.
2026 Update: What's New in Entryway Organizing
A few things have changed since I first shared this post, so here's what I'm adding to my own entryway routine (affiliate) this year:
Landing zones over single drop spots. Instead of one hook or one tray, I'm splitting the entryway into small zones - one for outgoing items (mail, returns, library books), one for daily-use items (keys, sunglasses, wallet (affiliate)), and one for seasonal gear. Zones keep the space from turning into one big catch-all pile.
Charging + tech drop. With more of us tracking packages, scanning QR codes, and using phones for everything from car keys to house keys, a small charging tray by the door isn't optional anymore - it's one of the most-used spots in the whole house.
Labeled bins for everyone (kids included). If you've got kids, a labeled bin per person cuts down on the "whose shoe is this" scramble. Even toddlers can match their bin by color.
Command hooks over drilled hardware. If you rent, or just don't want to commit to permanent hardware, heavy-duty adhesive hooks have gotten a lot better and hold real coat weight now - a good swap if you're not ready to drill (affiliate).
A "reset" basket. One small basket that exists for a single purpose: whatever doesn't have a home yet gets tossed in, and you empty it once a week. It sounds small, but it's the difference between a tidy entryway and a pile creeping back in.
How to make this entryway organization process functional and quick?
Now that you know why, here are easy instructions on how to make this process functional and quick.
Walk around your home
First, walk outside with all the items that you would normally take with you in the morning. Then, come back in. Ask yourself this question: Where can I place these items? Then, really look around the room. Look for places that are available. It could be a wall where you could hang a shelf and some hooks. It could be a place to add a table. Any area will work as long as it is close to the door you enter often.
- If you have an area in your foyer, measure the width, depth, and height of the space. This will give you the maximum area (width, height, and depth) to place your storage unit, whatever it may be.
- If you have a closet as well, organize it by answering the questions below.
Decide on the right unit for your entryway
Here's where it gets a little tricky. You need to decide what type of unit or closet you want to use and what you want to store in it. To help with this, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want a table in the foyer for storage?
- Will I use my closet for storage?
- Will I use a table or surface and a closet?
- How many pairs of shoes (affiliate) do I need to have in this area?
- How many jackets/coats/gloves/hats (affiliate) do I need here?
- What other items, like keys, sunglasses, a handbag, water bottles, and reusable shopping bags (affiliate), do I want to store in this area?
- Do I want to hang my purse or sit it on a shelf? Where should it go?
- Do I want a charging station (affiliate) so I can charge my devices? Where are the outlets?
- Do the kids' backpacks (affiliate), coats, and shoes (affiliate) need to be in this area too? If yes, how many of them should be stored here?
- What area would work best for me in my foyer?
- Do I need to store packages or mail that need to go out temporarily in this area?
- Do I have to store my pet's leashes/supplies in this area?
Below is a free printable you can use.
Write down the answers to these questions on this free checklist (affiliate).
By answering these questions, you should have a clear idea of what you are looking for.
Find the right unit for your entryway.
Now, it's time to take action. Below is a console table (affiliate) I found on Amazon (affiliate) for inspiration.
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → (affiliate)
Look for a storage unit with a drawer like the one I found above. It will help hide the clutter.
If you don't have a lot of space, try finding wall-mount units.
While this one above can be used for various things, it may not work for a small or narrow entryway. Below is one I found on Amazon (affiliate) that is better for this purpose.
Floating Cabinet Set of 2, 24" Rustic Wood
Buy Now →
Buy Now → (affiliate)
Create an entryway drop zone in a closet
This is great for a closet. Place it on the floor and add baskets to hold gloves and hats (affiliate).
Shoe Cubby, 9-Cube Stackable Wood Shoe Rack Organizer
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Things to keep organized in an entryway.
There are a handful of things that should be organized in this entryway. Below are some items you can add to this entryway organization, along with tips for each.
Shoes:
Sorting your most frequently used shoes in this area will allow for easy access when you come and go. Limit yourself to at least 2 pairs per person to reduce clutter in this space. Place a shoe tray on the floor as a DIY project. I made one on the blog that was really affordable for a small space.
Visit our other shoe organization (affiliate) posts for ideas!
ORGANIZED SHOE STATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Purse/backpack:
This is a handy area to keep these items. For your protection, try to store them in a cabinet. Visit our post to see how we organize our kids' backpacks.
Coats:
Whichever season it is, coats should be for that season only. Store out-of-season coats in other places. Also, keep in mind that they can easily get cluttered. One coat per person works best on each hook. To limit the number of coats, only keep one sturdy hook per person. Check out how we organized our hallway closet so everyone could find their own jackets.
Coat Hall Tree with Shoe Bench,
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Umbrella:
In the entryway organization, if you are in a rainy area, you may want to have a place to store your umbrellas. This will help keep your area organized as well pretty. Here is one I found on Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate).
Umbrella Stand, Metal Umbrella Holder for Entryway
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Mail Organizers
Having a place to store mail and things that need to go out is super handy. For more ideas, visit my "4 ways to organize mail" post.
Keys
Another area you can organize in this space is your keys. Visit our post about options for key organizing in this area.
FAQs: Entryway organization
Focus on vertical space first, like wall hooks, a slim shelf, or an over-the-door organizer. Limit shoes to two pairs per person and keep only the current season's coats out.
Use a wall-mounted unit with hooks and a small shelf, or a slim console table with a drawer and baskets underneath for shoes.
Two pairs per person is a good limit. Everything else belongs in a closet or bedroom to avoid a pile-up by the door.
Keys, wallet, sunglasses, a charging tray, mail/outgoing items, and a place for shoes and coats currently in season.
Add a "reset" basket for stray items and empty it weekly. For a quick nightly reset, putting shoes and coats back in their spot keeps clutter from building back up.
I hope these entryway organization tips inspire you to organize your entryway. Now it's your turn. Is your entryway organized? What tips can you give? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Visit our other entryway organization posts!
Nancy Haworth says
These are wonderful tips! Your list of questions to ask will really help to make sure people have considered everything when setting up their foyer.
Olive Wagar says
Your list is such a useful tool because it makes people think about their own particular needs. We tend to underestimate what we really use!
Kim says
This is a problem area for so many clients as well as for myself. Most people have small entranceways so it really can pay to be creative. Also, it can mean the difference between a stressful day and a stressfree day for sure. Thanks for the post
Sabrina says
I totally agree, Kim. No one wants to enter their home and be sad because of clutter in their entryway. Thanks for commenting.
Hilda Rodgers says
These are great tips Sabrina! I love the checklist. Those are great product ideas too. I recently added small wooden cubby unit with small baskets in the cubbies and hooks underneath. It's really helped keep our entry less cluttered!
Sabrina says
That's great, Hilda! It always amazes me how small changes, transforms a space. Thanks for commenting.
Jill Robson says
Great questions Sabrina, everyone has different styles of organizing.
Sabrina says
I totally agree, Jill. Thanks for commenting.
Jamie Steele says
This post made me think back to when I was organizing my entry way. We had been in the house for about three years. I couldn't figure out why everything was getting piled on the entry bench and not put in the closet. I finally realized that my child is an every thing out type of person and he could not see past the closed door to put his backpack and coat on the hooks mounted at his level. I Installed some hook on the wall that he can see upon walking in the house and now he hangs his coat and backpack every time. Thanks for the great post!
Sabrina says
Great idea. It's great you understood how your child dealt with his things instead of trying to change him. Thanks for commenting.
Janet Barclay says
I have a very small entryway, but you've given me some ideas as to how I can make better use of the space and make it more inviting. Thank you!
Sabrina says
Glad to hear it, Janet. Thanks for commenting.
Sarah Soboleski says
Love this detailed post, Sabrina! Your checklist of questions is so helpful and comprehensive. Thanks for compiling this!