Creating Entryway Bliss ~ Begin at the Door.

Consider your entryway as setting the tone for how you want to feel when you step inside your home.  Whether you're leaving for the day or walking into the house after a long day, embrace your entryway. Make it "entrancing" regardless of the size, allowing you to pause and reflect on the day you are beginning or ending. Bring into that space organization, function, simplicity and most important incorporate objects you love. Here are some ways to get started with examples from my own entryway.

When you walk into my home you are immediately faced with our coat closet, within a small entryway. This beautiful wooden plaque above the closet was given to us by friends when my husband and I returned from our honeymoon. I couldn't think of a better place to display it. Think in terms of objects that are inspiring and uplifting when deciding which pieces will function well in the entrance. Consider quotes you love or messages that will inspire you throughout your day. As you enter our living room just around the corner, which is to be considered the more personal space, I have a collage of my favorite photos. Note the importance of simplicity and clearing away clutter within your entryway.

Making this small entryway functional and clutter free was as simple as getting it down to only the necessities. The leather storage ottoman below the lamp holds my husband's shoes, and doubles as a seat. Inside our closet I added the storage bins and labeled them his and hers. During the winter months hats and gloves are stored away in the bins. If you have a large family creating a bin for each family member is a great way to keep items from becoming lost, or consider an over the door organizer to personalize. If you have limited space it's always best to change out the closet through the seasons which will help curb clutter.

Hanging your keys from a key holder is one of the best ways to avoid losing them and will save you time when running out the door. This can be placed near the entrance or within an entryway closet.













An entryway that is cluttered and blocked will cause psychological blocking. Start with your entrance to unblock yourself mentally and begin your day feeling refreshed and ready. Allow yourself and others to feel good when walking into your home and allow that energy to flow throughout the whole house.

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Inspiration to Create a Perfectly Organized Closet

Consider this a photo recap of just a few of my projects from 2012, with the intention to allow you to become inspired within your own homes beginning with the closet. Always remember your space is a part of your life and journey, meant to tell a story about yourself and those you share your home with. Every piece counts. Creating simplicity, organization and getting creative with incorporating the things you love into that space is so important! Maybe you are considering installing new shelving systems, similar to those pictured on the left. Maybe you're just starting the purging process or strolling through stores looking into options for becoming better organized. Regardless of the inspiration you find keep one thing in mind- keep it simple and take it one step at a time! 

Uniform hangers will make a world of difference in your closets as well as the right baskets, bins and shoe organizers. Before heading to stores EVALUATE what you have and what you will be letting go of to determine what is needed in terms of storage. It can be overwhelming to see so many different ways to store items, however having a clear vision for your closet space depends on the time put into maximizing the space!  

Utilize space saving uniform hangers and colorize your denim as well as tops and bottoms! This is a time saver when getting dressed. 

The hanger difference! Before and after!

Before

After

Items I used to give the shelving a little boost and incorporate organization- basket and bin from Target and my favorite Martha Stewart labels from Avery.  Take the initiative to work through those sweaters, tank tops and t-shirts that are taking up shelving space!                                                                 Store them, colorized, in baskets to save yourself time. Use labels to identify the contents!
                         

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Yes you can use shelving for shoes! The shelving units shown here, in the top right photo, are from Ikea. Perfect solutions to display heels! Once the shoe boxes were gone I was able to maximize the space by using over the door shoe organizers as well as pant hangers to hang the boots. Keep it colorized and like with like to easily grab and go. 

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