Even if you love snow, we can all agree bitter cold temperatures, scraping windshields, shoveling, and bulky winter clothing can discourage even the most die-hard snow lover.
With bulky winter clothes and other winter accessories comes the responsibility of storing them all. If you’re looking for a few ideas to help de-clutter your home from the winter mess, check out these 6 ideas.
First, start by getting rid of all the winter gear you or your family members don’t use. There are plenty of people who would love to have a pair of mittens or coat. So if you’re not using it, donate it to a charity who will give it to someone who will.
Nothing solves entryway clutter more efficiently than hanging up coats and hats. Instead of having a huge pile of coats sitting around, or worse, a stuffed closet with no room for anything else to go in it, add a few hooks to the wall.
Give each family member their own designated hook, so they know where to hang their coat every time they walk through the door.
A behind the door shoe organizer is a great place for you and your family members to store their hats and gloves. It hangs on the back of a standard size door and you can use whatever spaces are left for out-of-season shoes. Not everyone has a closet door right nearby. If that’s the case, consider a few of the alternative options.
In addition to adding hooks, if you have the space, you can add some shelves or cubbies for each person in your family. The hooks would allow your family to hang their coats, then you could add a shelf for their other winter gear, backpacks, and more. Plus, everyone would know where all of their things are because they’ll put them in the same place every day.
Benches are great for two reasons. First, they give people a place to sit while putting on their shoes. Second, they are great for putting stuff in or under.
If you like the idea of boots, gloves, scarves, and more being hidden completely then try a storage bench or a bench with cubbies and baskets. If you use it for boots, make sure you put in a boot tray to keep the moisture off the bottom.
If you don’t mind your winter gear being exposed and just want your space to be organized, a standard bench will do. You can place a boot tray under the bench to place boots, and if you have extra space on either side, add a simple basket as a catch all for the winter clothing.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate additional shelves or hooks by the bench for additional storage space.
Finally, the solution which requires the least amount of effort is placing a row of baskets on the floor. You can assign one bin to each person, or designate the baskets by type of clothing. However you want to do it, the basket solution is definitely better than nothing.
Before you decide which solution or solutions will work best for you and your family, take the time to really evaluate the way your family members enter and exit the house. Do they use the front entrance, or do they come into the house through the garage, laundry room, or mudroom? Figuring out where they come in, and how much space you have in that area of the house will allow you to choose the best storage option for you.
How do you keep your entryway organized during winter?