"How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Entry" By Laura Gaskill

18.04.24 01:15 PM By Zack

Tips to Create a Lasting First Impression

In her article, "How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Entry," Laura Gaskill provides insightful advice on transforming one of the most frequently used areas in your home into a welcoming and efficient space. At Valley Habitats we specialize in incorporating these tips into your next project. Ready to enhance your entryway's functionality and aesthetic appeal? Contact us today to start building an inviting space that welcomes both yourself and guests alike!

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As the space that offers visitors their first (hopefully positive!) impression of your home and acts as a way station for all sorts of gear — from small (keys, phone) to bulky (coats, bags, boots) — the entry is easily one of the most visible yet clutter-prone areas of the home. In this series, we’re approaching each room in the house from the perspective of identifying what sparks joy. So far we’ve tackled the bedroom, bath and kitchen. Read on to find ways to create a more functional, beautiful entry, whether you have a spacious foyer or a compact corner.

Envision a Comfortable Landing Zone

How would you like to feel when you walk in the door? Including colors that boost your mood and details that make you smile will set a positive tone as soon as you open the door.

Beyond color and style, consider which creature comforts you’d love to have in this space. From a sturdy rug underfoot to good lighting, these items are as essential as proper storage (which we’ll look at in a moment).
Take action: To begin, pull everything out of your entryway, including all of that old junk mail stuffed in the drawer and the summer sandals squashed beneath the winter boots. Before you put anything back, take a moment to consider if the space needs anything else.
 
For example:
- A rug or boot tray to protect the floor

- Good lighting

- A place to sit while putting on shoes

- A lick of color from paint, artwork or a fun wall clock

Decide What Belongs Here


Because the entry is a zone we pass through many times each day (and often in a hurry), it’s easy to allow items that don’t belong there to stay indefinitely, simply because it seems easier than putting them away.


But when the entry is cluttered with unnecessary items, finding what you need becomes much more difficult. So take a moment to consider what makes sense to store in this space and what needs to find a home elsewhere.

Take action: Most of us have one or two main problem areas when it comes to entryway clutter. Identify your household’s sticking spots, then commit to finding a way to handle them:

- Set some space limits. For example, if shoes are an issue, allow only as many pairs as will comfortably fit on your shoe rack or in a shoe basket at any given time. Each day, carry any extra pairs back to the bedroom closets or wherever your extra shoe storage is.

- Create a new habit. Make an effort to spend two minutes each evening picking up stray items from the entryway and carrying them back to where they belong. After several weeks of maintaining this practice, it should begin to feel like a part of your routine.
Consider the Details

Clutter creep is what happens when little items spread over an entire available surface until you can’t even see said surface. Avoid clutter creep by using small containers to give small items a home.

The more specific you can be about what goes where, the more likely you’ll be to maintain the system. For instance, it’s better to have a cup for change, a dish for keys and a tray for mail than one basket meant to hold all three.

Take action: The next few times you enter or leave your home, pay close attention to what kind of small items you have in your hands (or are looking for). For each, consider whether it already has a dedicated home and whether that place is easy to find and use.


- Before buying anything new, try shopping your house. Teacups, dishes, serving trays and baskets of all sorts can come in handy for entryway organizing.


- Subdivide large drawers and shelves with drawer organizers, baskets, bins or trays.

- If you have a very small entry, aim to make room for just the essentials (keys, phone, bag, coat) and work on the habit of putting everything else away daily.
Rein in Bulky Items

Big, bulky items (think winter coats, boots and backpacks) can take up a ton of room in the entry. They also tend to make an entryway look messier than smaller items do. When possible, keep outerwear and bulky bags in a closet or tucked in a cubby to reduce visual “noise.”

If that’s not possible, try to visually contain these items by grouping them. Place boots on an attractive boot tray filled with river stones, or hang coats from sturdy hooks against a wall painted in a vibrant hue.

Take action: If you have a coat closet in or near your entryway, clear it out to make room for what it’s intended to hold — coats! So often these little closets end up being filled with dry cleaning, sports equipment and other random items, with not an inch of space left over.


- Make a coat closet work harder by installing a shoe rack or boot tray on the floor, a high shelf and wall hooks.


- If your home doesn’t have a coat closet but does have a medium to large entryway, consider adding a closet or cubby system to hold bulky items.
 
- If your entry is compact, seek out a multifunctional, wall-mounted piece (like a shelf with hooks below) and place a boot tray on the floor.


Bring Back the Joy

One special touch can go a long way in the entry. Try a vase of fresh flowers, a special seashell collected on vacation, a framed poster that makes your heart sing. Mark the shift from busy daily life to the comforts of home (and vice versa) by infusing this space with more radiance and joy.

Take action: The key here is to bring in joy without creating additional clutter. Here are a few ideas:


- Place a vase of flowers on the entryway table or credenza.


- If your entry is truly tiny, place a bud vase with a single bloom on a floating shelf.


- Hang inspiring artwork.


- Choose a mirror with a beautiful frame.


- Re-cover a small bench or stool with a colorful textile.


- Choose a special bowl (burl wood, china, art glass) to hold your keys and pocket change.




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Zack

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