4 Tips For Organizing Your Drop Zone
We help you give your coming-and-going space a boost.
Your “drop zone” — or the space you store things such as coats, shoes, keys or anything you put on right before heading out the door and take off when you come back in — is a space that craves organization. “When this space is clean and orderly, it sets the tone for the rest of the house,” says Heidi Tsuruta, an interior designer at Matter of Design in Hudson.
“It’s also a place where you can have a lot of fun. I love using lockers, chalkboard paint and other unusual things in this space.”
Tsuruta helps us make sense of that crazy space with four tips to declutter and optimize your drop zone.
Hook It. Hooks might be the most necessary organization tool here. Use hooks for coats, purses, backpacks, lunch bags and more. There’s no limit to the number of hooks you can have, says Tsuruta. “I always tell people to get as many hooks as the space can fit,” she laughs. “They keep things up off the floor and looking organized. Plus, it’s so easy.”
Use Bins. One thing Tsuruta almost always uses in every entryway is bins. Each should have a purpose — think shoe bins and sports bins — and every person should have their own. “I think everything having its own place is key,” she says. “And bins are just an easy way to make sure things stay how you want them — plus it is a good way to teach kids how to pick up and put things where they go.”
Label Everything. Whether you have the space for a full row of lockers, or just a small storage piece, you’ll want to clearly mark where everything goes. “I get creative with labeling. I use a label maker, chalkboard paint and more,” says Tsuruta. “This helps with putting things away, but also when you want to find something — you’ll know exactly where to go.”
Go Vertical. Tsuruta recommends going floor-to-ceiling in this area. The floor should hold items such as shoes, the middle can have things you need at arms-reach such as coats and the top should hold seasonal wear. “Only have out what you need — if it isn’t winter, pack up those parkas and boots,” she says. “I recommend switching out your gear seasonally, but if you need to dig into another season, everything is still right there.”
