5 Entryway Errors That Create Chaos, Pro Organizers Say

First impressions matter, which is why your home’s entryway is so important. While this space often doesn’t get much attention, it plays a key role in keeping your home clean and organized. If your home feels stressful and you can’t figure out why, your entryway might be the culprit. The good news? Transforming your entryway from chaotic and cluttered to clean and functional is easier than you think. Here are five common entryway mistakes—and how to fix them.

You’re Using Your Entryway to Store the Wrong Things

According to Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer and founder of Shantaeize Your Space, the entryway should only be used to store what’s absolutely necessary. “The space should really be for the essential items that you need every day to get out of the door, such as everyday shoes, your keys, and your wallet,” she says. “A lot of people use the entryway space to hold junk mail, packages, or just random stuff because maybe they don’t have a dedicated place in the home for these items.”

So, establish a spot for all of those things in your home and keep them out of the entryway. 

There’s Just Too Much Random Stuff

We’ve all left a heavy package, an uncomfortable pair of dress shoes after a late night, or a stray reusable grocery bag by the door. The problem is that this spot ends up becoming a hub for random things, making it more challenging to get in and out of the door. 

“You should be able to walk through your entryway to get into the home and out of the door,” Duckworth says. “If you have stuff everywhere, just think—this is gonna be the first thing that you see as you’re entering and leaving the home. All of that chaos is gonna carry on throughout the day.”

Shoes, Coats, and Mail Don’t Have a Specific Spot

Tony Ditzler, president of Shelf Genie, says an entryway without designated spots for essentials is a fast track to chaos. “Cluttered surfaces often result from a lack of designated spots for items used every day, such as keys, mail, or bags,” he says. “This can lead to problems locating these essentials when in a rush. Likewise, insufficient shoe storage can lead to a pile-up of shoes. A lack of hooks or other hanging solutions for scarves, hats, coats, etc., can make your entryway look even more cluttered and create another pile-up.”

The Area Is Incorrectly Designed

You can find the best shoe rack in the world, but if you don’t measure the space before clicking “add to cart,” your entryway could end up becoming less efficient and more cluttered. “You have to make sure that the storage systems fit the space in question,” says Duckworth. “That way, it looks put together, and you have room to maneuver in and out of the entryway.”

And while you might think the best solution is to simply buy a large entryway bench with storage, that isn’t always the case, reveals Ditzler. “Oversized furniture, like large organizers, cabinets, or big benches, can overwhelm the entryway,” he says.

For smaller entryways, Ditzler recommends opting for a wall-mounted organizer instead. “They can be used with hooks for coats and bags or cubbies for shoes and hats. This helps create the visual effect of more space and less clutter.”

You Don’t Edit Your Entryway

It’s crucial to tidy up your entryway every day—or at least make a plan to do it a few times a week. “Maybe those few items that you just put down in the entryway, thinking you’d get back to putting them in their correct place, don’t get moved,” Duckworth says. “Before you know it, you have more and more stuff out of place within your entryway. You really just have to make sure that the essentials of what you need for daily life stay within this area.”