First Impressions Don't Stop at the Door

You know all about curb appeal, and you’ve spent time in your garden and front porch area sprucing it up, trimming it out, and adding colorful plants. The door now sports a bright new “pop” of color that all the home and garden shows demand. But something still isn’t right. Your entryway is entirely dysfunctional, so once they step into the house, all your hard work seems for naught.

The problem is that your front door is the door the family uses. The kids come home after school and march right in the front door. The entry becomes the collector of backpacks, rainboots, jackets. Your partner comes in from a workout at the gym and down plops the sports bag full of sweaty workout clothes and sports shoes.

You dream of that pristine rear-entry mudroom that you see in full glossy pins, but the only way to get that is to find a new house. Meanwhile, the current one can’t even be shown to buyers because they’ll trip over a random baseball bat or soccer cleat coming in the door.

Never fear. Your home isn’t the only one where the front entry is an obstacle course. Try these organizational tips to help out.

Use the coat closet

Since most homes have a coat closet, this is a logical place to start. Clear out all storage from the closet so that it is useful for coats and outerwear. Then place a basket along one side of the closet floor for casual boots and shoes. On the other side or along the back, put a shelf for sports equipment. Instead of using the hanger bar, line the sides and back with sturdy hooks so that your kids can hang jackets, backpacks, and larger sports equipment. Add a hook to the inside of the door, higher up, for longer coats, and one lower down for handbags.

Add a bench

When there isn’t enough room in the closet, add a storage bench or long, narrow ottoman that opens to the entryway. The deeper the storage area, the better. Place backpacks on one side and shoes or boots on the other in a waterproof bin inside the bench.

If you have several children, use several smaller square ottomans, one for each. That way, each child has a place for boots, backpack, jackets, and other miscellaneous detritus that comes in the door with them.

If none of these work out for you, it’s probably time for a chat with your professional realtor staging ideas or quick pick-up bins for when they show your home.