Organizers Share Their Top 7 Small Entryway Hacks

Don’t let your small entryway stop you from getting organized! Even if your space is cramped, there are plenty of pro-approved organizing hacks you can weave in to keep this clutter-prone area of your home organized. Read on for our experts’ top seven small entryway hacks below.

Add Hooks to the Wall

If your entryway is small, you can still maximize your wall space. Kristina Pinkerton, founder of Organizing Huntsville, suggests hanging hooks on the wall. “They’re perfect for purses, hats, and jackets and help keep surfaces clear,” she says. These days, there are so many aesthetically pleasing decorative hooks on the market; you can shop for some that go beyond the basic and complement your interior style.

Sarah Schier, founder of Beautiful Life Creative Organizing, also praises the benefits of hooks. “It takes two seconds to hang your bag, but the long-term effect is less visual clutter and fewer last-minute scrambles,” she says, suggesting hanging some at both kid and adult height. “It’s a great system to teach kids independence early on.”

Under no circumstances should you bring a standing coat rack into your entryway, cautions C. Lee Cawley, founder of Simplify You. “They get crowded, take up too much space, and are ugly,” she says. 

If you must use a rack of some sort, try an accordion rack on the wall instead, she offers. “The top pegs can be for keys, the mid pegs for umbrellas and tote bags, and the bottom ones for primary outerwear,” Cawley explains.

Add a Narrow Bench

Pinkerton suggests placing a narrow bench in the entryway if space allows—everyone likes to have somewhere to sit and lace up their shoes. If possible, opt for a lidded piece with storage so that you can stash things inside of it.

Use the Backs of Doors

Put the back of your entryway closet door to work! According to Katie Clingman, founder of Settled In Soundly, hanging organizers make it possible to easily corral shoes, slippers, accessories, and much more in a snap.

Contain the Shoes

Every entryway, large or small, will end up cluttered with shoes if you don’t establish a plan ahead of time. There are plenty of routes you can take even when square footage is limited, Pinkerton explains. “This could be a narrow shoe cabinet, a lidded basket, or simple bins that keep things contained,” she says.

Ashley La Fond, founder of Of Space & Mind, notes that there are so many options for slim shoe cabinets these days, adding that some styles even attach to the wall. “They can be styled to look like a console table,” she says. “You can even add a tray for keys!”

Create a Drop Zone

Speaking of keys, you’ll need somewhere convenient to place them, and Clingman recommends setting up a drop zone to stay organized.

“A drop zone is a place where you consistently put your keys, bag, and shoes when you come in the door,” she says, noting that this may involve using hooks, a shelf, or a table. “Having a consistent home for these daily items will make your morning routine smoother.”

Hang a Mirror

Everyone likes to quickly check their reflection before heading out the door, but mirrors serve more than just a functional purpose, La Fond states. “Mirrors are a great way to make a space feel bigger, so work one into your plan if you have a small entryway,” she says. “Either [try] a full length or a decorative mirror above a console table.”

Bonus points if the mirror you select also contains an organization component. “I love recommending mirrors or framed art that pull double-duty with built-in hooks, shelves, or ledges,” Schier says. “These multitasking pieces are perfect for small entryways, because they bring both beauty and function into a space that often gets overlooked.”

Add a Tray for Paper

Don’t let mail and papers from school and work overwhelm your entryway. Schier likes to mount a small wall file or use a tray to keep everything neat. “That way, there’s one spot to contain everything until you’re ready to process it,” she says. “Giving it a designated drop zone keeps it from spreading across every surface.”