The Drop Zone Detox: How to Finally Control Entryway Clutter
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Cowritten by Samantha Brown
If there’s one spot in the home that seems to collect chaos faster than anywhere else, it’s the entryway. Keys get dropped “somewhere.” Shoes multiply. Jackets and coats pile up in hours, not days. And before you know it, the place that’s meant to welcome you home starts greeting you with stress instead.
That’s why I teamed up with Sam from Sorted by Sam — because a truly functional drop zone starts with smart systems and stays successful when you create a space that feels calm, inviting, and intentional.
Below, Sam breaks down the organizing foundations that make an entryway run smoothly day after day. Then I’ll share how to elevate the area with thoughtful decorating so the moment you walk through the door, you naturally want to keep it tidy.
Organizing Your Entryway for Maximum Efficiency
Have you ever rushed out the door only to realize you can’t find your keys? Or your wallet, purse, backpack—or even your shoes? The worst time to search for essentials is when you’re already running late and feeling frazzled. Whether this happens to you occasionally or daily, rest assured: even professional organizers misplace things from time to time—though very rarely, of course!
Recently, for perhaps the third time in my life, I misplaced my car keys—and naturally, it happened at the most inconvenient moment. I was already late getting my little one to her music class when I noticed my keys weren’t in their usual spot by the door. I tore through my purse, the diaper bag, the car, and even the home office before finally realizing they were in the pocket of the coat I had worn the day before. It was only two minutes of searching, but it felt like an eternity—especially for someone who hardly ever loses things.
The key to an efficient and well-organized entryway starts the moment you walk through the door. Each essential item should have a designated, consistent home, and you should return it there immediately upon entering. Consider assigning permanent spots for the following items:
Keys - Since your keys are likely already in hand as you enter, place them in their designated spot right away. Wall hooks near the door work well for most people. For others, a bowl or tray on a nearby table is ideal. Whatever you choose, be sure it is highly visible and located close to the entry point.
Wallets - Wallets can be placed in a bowl or tray by the door, or tucked into a nearby drawer if you prefer them out of sight. Just note that keeping them visible increases the odds you’ll grab them on your way out. Many women store their wallets inside their purse, which is perfectly fine—just ensure the purse itself has a consistent home as well.
Purses and Bags - Due to their size, these are best stored in a hallway closet near the door. Lightweight bags can hang from command hooks; heavier bags may need sturdier hooks, over-the-door solutions, or a shelf. This keeps them accessible but out of the way.
Coats and Jackets - Outerwear can be stored neatly on hangers in a coat closet, arranged on a set of entryway hooks, or placed on a freestanding coat rack. Regardless of the location you choose, make it a habit to return coats and jackets to their designated spot as soon as you arrive home. Although it may be tempting to drape a jacket over the nearest chair or railing—especially when your hands are full—taking a few extra seconds to hang it properly will save time and effort in the long run.
Shoes - Shoe organization can be tricky, especially in households with multiple people. Guests should also have an obvious spot to place their shoes. A shoe rack in a nearby closet or garage works well if everyone uses it consistently. Limit everyday shoes to one or two pairs per person and store special-occasion footwear elsewhere. Large baskets, shoe trays, and slim shoe cabinets can also be great solutions. Whatever method you choose, keep it close to the door to encourage consistent use.
Mail - One of the most notorious clutter culprits! Without a system, paperwork begins to pile up quickly and can migrate across multiple surfaces. Choose a single, designated home for incoming mail and place it there immediately. A bin or tray works beautifully, but location is key. You might prefer keeping mail in your home office for weekly sorting, or you may decide to place it in a visible basket on the kitchen counter to process whenever you have a few free minutes. Avoid dropping it in random spots, which almost guarantees something important will get lost. Bonus points if you sort out and recycle junk mail on the way!
One Home for Everything
You may have noticed a common theme here: each item should have exactly one home that is very near to the door so that you can put it away immediately upon entry. The real secret to an efficient entryway is not just having a system—it’s using it consistently. When everything has a home, leaving the house becomes a whole lot smoother, and you become a whole lot happier!
Intentional Entryway Decorating
Now that you know the basics for keeping your entryway organized and efficient, let’s talk design—and why it matters.
I didn’t use my front door and entryway for two entire years when we moved into our new house—we used the side door instead. Why? The side door felt more convenient compared to our blank canvas entryway, because it was closer to the dining room table—which inevitably became our dumping grounds the moment we got home. Keys, wallets, phones, jackets, groceries, water bottles, you name it—on the dining room table it went! After founding Clay & Ivory Interiors, I decided I’d had enough of that; we were going to finally use our entryway.
I began by looking at the space, which was small and didn’t really feel separate from the rest of our living space, and I tried to figure out how to maximize its usage and make it feel like a designated entryway. First, I painted. I chose a soft brown color to match the existing aesthetic in my home but chose a shade that was darker than the rest of the walls. Since the entryway was small but filled with natural light, I felt that it would elevate the look, rather than cramp or darken it too much.
For organization, I decided to purchase a slim shoe storage cabinet to store our everyday shoes, a mirror, and a shelf and hook combo for keys and wallets to keep them out of our kids’ reach. Additionally, I added another hook system on the adjacent wall for hanging our regularly used jackets and handbags, and—in the warmer season when our jackets are stored away—throw blankets. Now our entryway is primed for everything we need from it, plus it feels like its own space.
Designing Your Space
Your entryway is the place where you invite others into your home, where you walk inside from a long day at work, and where you expect to find everything that you need when it’s time to leave the house. Designing it to feel welcoming and useful can be life changing. We are so much more likely to actually use the spaces in our home that we love for their intended purpose. We are also so much more likely to keep these spaces functional and clutter-free if we love the way they look when they’re tidy. Consider this your sign to make it a space you love—so that you can finally stop looking for your keys, wallet, or sunglasses every time you’re trying to get out the door.
The key here is to find what works for your aesthetic and your lifestyle and helps you keep the clutter to a minimum. Carefully consider the space that is your entryway and think about what it is that you need from the space. Your space will most likely look completely different from the next person’s entryway. One person might only need a table and a tray for one wallet and one set of keys, and the next might need the space to store sports gear for three kids and a dog plus everything that the parents need on a daily basis.
Once you’ve identified what you need from your entryway and how you want it to feel, it’s time to choose the pieces that will actually make that vision work day to day.
Functional Decor
Shoe racks - Standard shoe racks can be clunky and unattractive - if your space permits, go for style and function with a slim shoe cabinet. These have just enough space on top to set a small bowl, tray, or basket for other entryway items. If you keep your daily shoes in a nearby closet, consider adding a small wooden bench, stool, or chair to use for putting your shoes on near the door.
Catchalls - Bowls, trays, and baskets are all great options for storing keys, wallets and other everyday items such as lip balm or sunglasses. Small shelf and hook systems work well for these items too. If you have young kids, make sure that your small items get stored out of their reach, that way your efforts aren’t instantly undone by curious little hands.
Mirrors - Mirrors are a seriously underrated decor piece. They can be stylish, elevate a space, and bounce around some additional lighting if needed. Additionally, in an entryway, they can be so useful. It’s super helpful being able to check your teeth and hair before heading out the door without needing to go to a different room or pull out your phone camera to look.
Rugs - Both beautiful and functional, rugs are a fantastic addition to a space, especially an entryway. If the clearance beneath your open front door allows, consider layering rugs for extra functionality. The top rug is where you wipe your shoes, while the rug underneath serves aesthetic purposes. If you only have room for one rug inside, consider putting a functional doormat just outside your front door, to keep most of the dirt outside.
Coat racks - A standalone coat rack can really formalize the entryway space if you have the room for it. In tight spaces, wall mounted hooks or over the door organizers can be incredibly useful and tasteful, if done right. Regardless of the type you use, try not to store all of your outerwear in your entryway—that will just make it feel cluttered. Instead, store the majority of your outerwear in a coat closet or your personal closet, and only keep your gear for that day in your entryway.
Your Entryway, Simplified
A functional entryway doesn’t happen by accident. Creating an entryway you love—and can actually keep tidy—comes down to two things working together: a smart system and a space that feels good to be in. Sam’s method ensures everything has a home, and thoughtful design makes you want to return things there. When your entryway looks intentional, functions seamlessly, and supports the rhythm of your household, it stops being a drop zone and starts becoming a space you enjoy every single day.
For more organizing tips and real-life systems that make your home run smoother, visit Sorted by Sam
