Back-to-School: Organizing the Entry or Hall

Do you face morning rush hour before you even leave the house in the morning? Getting the kids out of the house and off to school on-time is a challenge for many parents. One way to ease the stress of your back-to-school morning routine is to provide effective storage solutions just where they’re needed. Imagine if the kids had a convenient, well-organized spot to stash their backpacks, coats, hats, umbrellas or anything else they may need for their school day. They would always know where to find what they need and could quickly grab their belongings as they head out the door. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “A place for everything and everything in its place.” You’ll find putting this into practice will save time and take the stress out of everyone’s morning routine. Here are some suggestions for organizing your entry or hall for back-to-school.

Create a Landing and Launching Pad

Considered a must-have in many new homes and home remodels is the back or side entry with a full-blown mudroom, complete with built-in storage for the kids’ school and sports gear. Many of us who don’t enjoy this luxury still need a space that will serve the same function. We need a landing place where the kids can come in, wipe their feet, sit down, take off their wet or dirty shoes, and hang their coats and backpacks. We need a launching pad with good organization so the kids can easily find whatever they need to grab and head out to school in the morning. Set up this landing and launching pad just inside the door family members use to enter your home, be it side entry, garage or the front door and include these components in your plan:

• Double door mats. Buy a sturdy, outdoor doormat to stop dirt, mud or snow in its tracks. Place another more decorative indoor/outdoor mat just inside the front door to catch any moisture or dirt still left on shoes or the pet’s paws.

• Resilient, easy-care flooring. Vinyl, linoleum, laminate, or slate flooring will make the indoor area easy to clean. Ceramic tile will work well too, if you keep the grout well-sealed. If changing the flooring in the space isn’t an option, look at buying an indoor/outdoor rug. Check out Ballard Designs for a color, pattern and size that will perfectly suit your space and your taste.

• Durable, washable wall surfaces. Durable finishes on the walls, like semigloss paint, varnished wood or bead board panels will make it easy to remove the kids fingerprints and scuffs.

• A place to sit. You’ll need a bench where family members can sit down and remove their shoes. Many models have built-in cubbies perfect for baskets or bins to house smaller items like mittens, hats and scarves. Open, cubbie-style storage works best for kids; assign one basket or bin for each child and add their names with tags or embroidered basket liners (check out Pottery Barn Kids for options on personalizing your kids’ baskets).

• A shoe tray. You’ll need a place for the kids to put wet or dirty shoes. One of the least expensive shoe tray options is a non-stick, cookie sheet with shallow sides. Pop-in a cooling rack so air can circulate and dry the kid’s shoes and boots. If you don’t care for the stainless finish, buy a can of spray paint for metal and color it to match your decor. For a fun embellishment, apply paint to the bottom of an old pair of the kid’s shoes with a brush (sneakers have the most interesting treads), put your hand on the inside of the shoe and press down firmly.

• A coat-rack with pegs or hooks. Install a rack for hanging backbacks, bags and coats. Make sure you have include enough hooks to handle the whole family’s needs. (Don’t forget about a hook for Fido’s leash.)

• Cubbies for extra storage. If your bench seat doesn’t have storage, or you could use some extra space to stash your purse, cell phone and keys, a wall-hung cubbie unit may fill the bill. Some styles include the coat-rack hooks as well…two functions in one.

Now that we’ve identified what functions you need to cover, check out the many options available for seating and storage. There is literally a solution to fit any space and style. At Stacks and Stacks, check out the all-in-one hall tree/storage benches (bench, cubbies and coat hooks in one unit), storage benches, coat-racks with hooks, cubbies with coat hooks, entry organizers (locker-style). Whether your style is contemporary, mission, traditional, country or Santa Fe, there’s an option that will work in your space. Search “Hall Benches” and “Coat Hooks.”

Other Options for the Entry

• A mirror to take one last look before you head out the door

• A key rack

• A basket or bin for incoming mail

• An umbrella stand

Have you run out of the house in a hurry and left something you needed, right there by the door? Frustrating, isn’t it? I’ve often left sticky notes on my purse or the door as a reminder, only to have them fall off before they could do the job. The perfect solution…the Do Not Forget door hanger. Write your note on the pad, hang it on the door and you can’t miss it!  (Find this product at Uncommon Goods for $10).

Now that you’ve set up a family communications center and an organized landing and launching pad, you and the kids can stop running around the house looking for what you need and get to school on time. Getting the kids to do their homework…now that’s a different story! Check back for tips on setting up your child’s homework and study zone.

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