Use Two Separate Baskets For A More Organized Entryway In Winter

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Winter is all about layering. As we transition from freezing temperatures outdoors to cozy spaces warmed by heating, shedding all of those items can make quite the mess. Gloves, scarves, hats, mittens, jackets, sweaters, sunglasses, purses, tote bags, keys — you name it, it ends up tossed on a table or strewn over a hook by your front door, creating clutter instantly. Of course, it's possible to say goodbye to the eyesore of entryway clutter by putting all of your items away in their proper places as soon as you take them off, but who really has time for that?  To give yourself a bit of breathing room without having to bask in the mess, consider using two baskets as drop zones by your front door during the colder months.

Of course, simply throwing a basket on the ground won't completely transform your winter storage routine, but it can go a long way in helping. For the simplest interpretation of this hack, you'll need two baskets: one large and one small. The larger basket can be used for winter accessories that don't typically come out in the warmer months, like hats, gloves, and scarves, while the smaller basket is for more fragile, small, year-round items, like sunglasses. Creating a functional drop zone like this is a great way to keep your entryway clean and organized, but if you have a larger family or want to take advantage of even more storage methods, you can also combine this idea with other items to give everything a home.

Baskets are great for containing mess that might get strewn around, but during the winter, it's also a good idea to invest in storage that will allow you to see and easily access the items you need before you head out the door. A coat rack, for example, is useful year-round for hanging purses, jackets, scarves, and backpacks, and it's a great companion for this basket system. The same goes for a shoe rack, bench, or hanging shoe storage. It's especially beneficial to invest in elevated shoe storage by your door to prevent the hidden damage winter salt can do to your floors. Simple options like this Kitsure Shoe Rack are inexpensive and provide a ton of storage.

After you've set up your system and your baskets are in play, there are two things you have to consider to make them actually functional. First, everything should have a home. Investing in two baskets instead of just one can help with this in the winter, but you likely won't see much difference if you don't consider your family's specific needs. A basket for small and large items is a great starting point, but you could also extend this idea to include a basket for each family member or a basket for items in different categories.

Finally, there's the fact that these baskets need to be cleared regularly. During your weekly clean, go through the items in your drop zone baskets and put them away. While they might be out of sight and out of mind while they're in baskets, this should be a temporary solution.