5 Things Making Your Entryway Look Messy—and How to Fix Them Entryway clutter hides in plain sight. Close Credit: Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images Your home’s entryway sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s the first impression guests get when they walk through the door and the last one when they leave. But, alas, this small yet key area has a habit of becoming a magnet for coats, shoes, packages, and the odd knick-knack. It can easily pile up, turning what needs to be streamlined space into a source of stress. We asked a professional organizer how to restore calm to this hardworking zone. As it turns out, you don't need to undertake a total overhaul. A well-ordered entryway isn’t about perfection; it’s about intention. When you recognize what regularly gathers in this busy spot, you can make simple changes that bring ease and beauty back to the space. Start by spotting the everyday things that quietly pile up and can make the space look messier than it really is. Amanda Stuckey Dodson, LCSW, clinical social worker, professional organizer, and author of Tidying the Abyss: A Practical Guide to Cleaning and Organizing While Exhausted and Overwhelmed 7 Entryway Spots to Clean Before Company for the Best First Impression 01 of 05 Out-of-Season Gear Credit: John Keeble / Getty Images Some items simply aren't deserving of long-term spots near your front door. don’t belong there long-term. Professional organizer Amanda Stuckey Dodson, LCSW, says this includes seasonal gear that's currently—you guessed it—out of season. To combat this type of clutter, conduct a quick seasonal sweep. “In the summer, your sub-zero parka and snow boots can be stored in the back of an out-of-the-way closet,” says Dodson. “In the winter, your flip-flops and sun hats can go into an under-the-bed bin.” Add a calendar reminder to rotate items back when the season changes. You’ll thank yourself later. 02 of 05 Loose Change and Pocket Clutter According to Dodson, “general in-and-out-of-the-house detritus” can also accumulate by the door, making the area appear cluttered. This can include everything from business cards to coins to bouncy balls. Her solution is simple: “I keep a tray on my entry table where I can drop these items. I go through it about once a month to decide what's staying, what's going, and where.” This easy ritual turns random clutter into a manageable, contained collection. 03 of 05 Pile of Shoes Credit: Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images Removing shoes at the door is great for your floors, but not so much for the organization of your entryway. "Shoe racks are good in theory, but require effort to manage," Dodson says. If you know you won’t use a shoe rack consistently, try a large basket under your entry table, as Dodson does in her own home. "When the basket gets full, I move some of the shoes back to the shoe rack in my bedroom closet." 04 of 05 Unopened Packages and Shopping Bags Packages and shopping bags are another common clutter culprit. Designate a time each week to open and put away purchases, with scissors and a trash bin nearby to help dispose of packaging on the spot. How to Organize Your Mail—and Keep It That Way 05 of 05 Paper Pileup Credit: Getty Images To organize the mail that lands by the door, set strict limits and make disposal easy. "Your mail caddy should only hold as many papers as you can look at without feeling overwhelmed," Dodson says. Add a small recycling bin right beside it to keep junk mail out of the sorting bin. The Fix: Design a "Drop Zone: That Works With Your Real Life The secret to keeping an entryway (and really, any room) tidy is designing it for the most exhausted version of yourself. Dodson’s approach is refreshingly simple: "Set up a zone in your entryway where you can simply drop your stuff without it becoming chaotic." That might consist of multiple hooks, floating shelves, or a small bench with hidden storage. Keep containers handy for frequently dropped items, like a cup for pens, a bin for mail, and a jar for pocket change. "Plan with your chaotic nature, not against it," says Dodson. "Any container that requires more than a single moment to put something away might be destined to fail." Remember to Remain Realistic Even the best systems need occasional attention. Once a month, take five minutes to clear the shoe basket, rotate out-of-season gear, and re-home stray items. A quick reset can bring your entryway back into balance. “It is the nature of entryways to become cluttered and chaotic,” Dodson says. “If your well-planned space gets out of control, don’t despair. You just need to reset it.” After all, organization doesn’t have to be about perfection; Allow your entryway to be a soft landing at the end of a long day, and give yourself permission to live in your home the way you really do—not the way you wish you did. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Storage & Organization