Storing These 18 Items In Your Entryway Closet Just Makes Sense

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An entryway is an often overlooked opportunity for storage. While console tables can certainly help you store items with style, an entryway closet arguably offers even more options. Not only are there ways to customize these spaces to accentuate the area, but designers are also constantly coming up with new ideas to maximize viable storage. Before you get lost in all the storage possibilities, it's helpful to make a list of which items you should place in your foyer closet. Ideally, you'll store items that you might need to grab on your way out the door, or those that you need to deposit at the end of a long day without cluttering your home.

When deciding what to put there, consider some of the items you use on a daily basis first, such as keys and handbags. There's even an entryway closet hack that adds a built-in look while hiding shoes. From there, you can add different items you might need in a hurry, based on where you live as well as your household needs. For example, while some people need to store winter coats or dog-walking items, these don't apply to people who live in balmy southern climates or who don't have pets. You also may not be able to realistically store every single item on the list, especially if the storage area is small, but you can prioritize the things you use the most and make sure they stay in your entryway closet for when you need them.

If you're like many people, you don't leave the house without your purse or handbag to carry your essentials. When you come back home, though, you might lack a dedicated area to store your bag until your next outing. A wall purse hanger isn't always a viable solution, and this can make your home look cluttered. Instead, an entryway closet offers an alternative for purse and handbag storage hangers that will keep these items safe, out of the way, and away from sun that could fade them.

Handbags and purses can be challenging to find homes for, but backpacks are arguably even more cumbersome. Before these bulky bags end up on your furniture (or as a tripping hazard in the middle of the floor), consider keeping them in the entryway closet, too. Not only does this prevent backpacks from becoming eyesores around your home, but it also helps to prevent early morning panicking in case of misplacement. Add a lower shelf or hangers to give the backpacks a dedicated spot within the closet.

Keys and vehicle remotes are arguably some of the most commonly misplaced items in a household. Not everyone wants to keep keys on a kitchen counter, and hanging them up on a wall-mounted key holder isn't the most aesthetic option. If you're looking for a safe spot for keys that's also out of sight, consider storing them inside the entryway closet. Add a key hook or shelf with a small tray to keep the keys secure. Once you get in the habit, you might never lose your keys again.

While you might have an umbrella stored in your office or vehicle, these will do little good if you need some shelter from a rainstorm as soon as you step outside your front door. Storing an extra umbrella in your entryway closet near a door is one way you can keep yourself dry. For extra assurance, consider keeping it in a prominent spot by your keys so you won't forget it.

Alternatively, if you know there's rain in the weather forecast frequently, it's smart to have a rain jacket ready. This will help keep you dry without the fuss of an umbrella, particularly if it's also windy outside. Keep your rain jackets in an entryway closet so you can quickly put one on as you're leaving the house.

An entryway closet is also generally an ideal spot to store winter coats. Wardrobe closets in bedrooms aren't suitable for winter coats due to their often bulky nature, as these can take up a lot of space. Plus, you're more likely to put your coats on and off as you're exiting or entering your home, making a wardrobe closet an illogical place to hang them. The naturally cool and dry locale of an entryway closet also helps to keep your winter coat in good shape during the off-season.

While a winter coat is usually easy to locate, some of your fall and winter accessories can go missing if you don't store them properly. If you're going to store jackets and coats in your entryway closet, it only makes sense that you place your hats, gloves, scarves and other accessories here, too. This also reduces the stress of having to find misplaced items when you need to quickly venture out in the cold. Grab a basket, bin, or over-the-door organizer to keep your winter gloves and hats together.

Whether it's rainy, snowy, or just plain cold, there are certainly times when wearing a boots is more practical than your go-to pair of sneakers. Boots won't do you any good if they're hidden somewhere in your bedroom closet, though. While you don't need to keep every pair of boots you might own in your entryway closet, consider storing a reliable waterproof pair you can quickly put on as needed.

Similar to boots, running and walking shoes are good to have on hand when you're in a hurry and need to head out the door fast. Aside from accessibility, there's some hygienic reasons you should be storing these types of shoes in your entryway, too. When you wear outdoor shoes inside your home, you might track in a variety of germs, allergens, and heavy metals. Storing these shoes in your entryway closet can protect your home and also reduce piles of footwear near your door.

If you use commercial shoe cleaning spray or wipes, it can be helpful to keep these in your entryway closet. These can be especially useful for quick touchups as you're leaving home. You can also keep cleaners and brushes here for weekly or seasonal deep cleaning of your shoes. This way, the shoe cleaner doesn't get lost somewhere in your bathroom or bedroom closet, and it's close to the shoes you'll be using it on.

It's easy to toss your mail to the side to peruse at a later time once you get inside the door at the end of the day. Unfortunately, these bills, ads, and occasionally useful letters can pile up and quickly turn into an eyesore. Having a dedicated spot in your home for mail drop-off can be helpful. If you currently lack a designated area, try placing the mail in a basket or holder inside your entryway closet to keep your letters organized. (Just be sure you actually go through it regularly, though!)

Whether you're taking your dog on a walk, for a quick potty break, or need to exit your home during an emergency, it's crucial that their leash is accessible. As a rule of thumb, it's best to have your dog's leash in a predictable spot so anyone in your household can find it immediately. This is where an entryway closet can come in handy. Not only does this reduce the risk of misplacing your dog's leash, but any location near a main exit is considered best for overall convenience.

Before you let Fido drag you out the door on your next walk, you want to bring along doggie waste bags for quick cleanups. Ideally, these should also be kept in an accessible space, like your entryway closet, so that you don't forget them. For extra assurance, consider keeping them right next to your dog's leash, or even attached to the leash directly. If you don't have an attachable bag holder, consider this Dog Poop Pickup Bags Holder and Dispenser.

Reusable shopping bags offer a number of benefits, and some places even require that customers have them. It's easy to forget these bags at home, though. If you store your purse and keys in your entryway closet, consider keeping reusable shopping bags tucked away here, too. This won't help solve the problem of forgetting the bags in your vehicle, but it's a good start in the right direction if your goal is more sustainable shopping. The more you use the bags, the more sustainable they become.

By now, you likely understand the importance of wearing sunscreen in protecting your skin from burns, premature aging, and cancer. If you only have sunscreen in your bathroom or beach bag, though, chances are you'll forget it for other outdoor activities that expose your skin to UV rays. Accessibility is key to ensuring you always have sunscreen on hand. Keeping a bottle in your entryway closet is an important sun safety reminder when you're on the go, and it's easy to slather the kids up before they go outside to play.

If you're like many people, you might not realize you've forgotten your sunglasses until you're faced with blaring sunlight. Not only can the sun make things uncomfortable, but constant unprotected UV exposure is damaging to your eyes. This can lead to short-term problems, like sunburn around the eyelids, as well as long-term vision issues and cancers. Having a pair of sunglasses next to other go-to items in your entryway closet can ensure you don't leave the house without them. Hang them on a rack inside the closet to keep them safe.

Whether you use a commercial chemical-based insect repellent or one that uses oil of lemon-eucalyptus, this is another item you should consider keeping in your entryway closet. Like sunscreen, bug spray tends to be kept in bags or bathrooms. Leaving the product at home does you no good if you're in the middle of a swarm of mosquitoes. Your entryway closet is a good spot to have an extra bottle for easy access. Plus, the space is cool and dry enough so that the repellent won't heat and spoil.

Occasional injuries are an inevitable part of life. A first aid kit is one of the emergency supplies that every house should have stocked, and the entryway closet is a good place to store it. This will certainly address the need of constantly tracking down those elusive bandages, but it also makes for a good base for your family to easily access in case of minor emergencies. It's also easily accessible when kids are playing outside and get injured. Be sure to check your kit and replenish items as needed.