Guest post by Lou Manfredini, of Ace Hardware.
Your home’s entry is the next thing people see after they walk up to your home. Think of it as curb appeal… but for the inside.
This is Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” and if you came to my house about six months ago you would have found a pile of shoes, which my four children seem to think belong right by the door. I found that having a place designated to store things gives you a better chance that they will actually get put away. If you have the space, place a bench that has some shoe storage in it so you can create a safe haven for some of the clutter that comes through the front door. These benches come in many sizes and a range of prices; in my opinion, the smallest size for effectiveness is about four feet long. A unit this size allows you to store about six pairs of shoes and also offers you a place to sit when putting them on. We placed a five-foot unit in my home’s entryway and I have actually seen my children put their shoes back in the cubbies! Our unit also has small drawers where gloves and hats (and sometimes loose change) can also be found.
If you can’t find a unit in your price range that fits your needs, get creative: Convert an old bookshelf – or an inexpensive new bookshelf – into an entryway storage unit by adding baskets or colorful totes to help keep backpacks, homework and other items neatly organized and out of sight. Or add bins below a plain bench, install a few hooks overhead to hold coats and keys and you’ve got yourself a custom entryway! A coat rack or coat tree can also keep things organized and neat. Look for one that also has umbrella storage in the center. Any piece you choose should serve multiple purposes, because the last thing you want in an entryway is too much furniture or too many obstructions.
If you are entertaining this holiday season, consider using foldable coat racks that you can place in the living room for guests to hang their coats on. These racks keep guests from going upstairs to lay their coats on your bed, which means one less room to keep clean.
What inexpensive ways can you make your entryway more appealing?
image Ace Hardware