March (and let’s be honest, April) are transition months up here in New England. The snow starts to melt, the snowy days become rainy or icy days, and you get a few warm(ish) days which can mean actual mud and chaos when it comes to outerwear.
Empty
Clean it out. Match up mittens and shoes and socks. Ditch singles that have no hope of reuniting with their other half, and trash or textile recycle any items that are worn out. Make a donation bag for outgrown or unused coats, shoes and accessories. Entry / exit points in homes tend to gather clutter, so you will likely find items that don’t belong there at all. Use a bin or laundry basket to collect those and plan to put them in the right spots later.
Assess
What is your space like? You may not have a true mudroom, but most homes have an entry zone, spot in the garage or a coat closet that acts as one. Think about how you use the space currently and also how the spot can work harder for you. Do the coats hang high, leaving space along the bottom for a low shelf and baskets? Is there a spot in or near the closet where coat hooks could be installed?
Arrange
As you restock the area, try to keep it to 2/3 full. By storing occasionally-used shoes and out-of-season items elsewhere, you leave breathing room in the space. If you don’t have a backup storage area, keep the frequent-use items front and center, relegating the rest to harder to reach spots.
Cubbies and shelves can be workhorses in mudroom areas, housing shoes or corralling smaller items. Assigning each member of the family a spot works well. And having a drop zone within the mudroom for keys, wallets, sunglasses and the like will help you get out the door faster (and it cuts down on the risk of lost keys!).
Bins and baskets are great for that top shelf of the closet or to use in cubbies. They corral seasonal accessories (hats, gloves), activity supplies (shin guards, goggles, ballet shoes) or anything else that you might need to grab quickly on your way out. Add labels to the bins so everyone knows what’s where. Pro tip: keep a stash of socks by the shoes. Especially for kids, having them there will save lots of runs back upstairs to grab a pair.
Even if you have a closet and hanging bar, hooks are often helpful for the most-grabbed items like your everyday handbag or kids’ backpacks. If you add hooks for kids, make them reachable so they can take responsibility for their own things as they grow. You can always start with Command hooks before committing to drilling into the wall.
Last but not least, don’t forget a boot tray for those muddy, wet shoes!
Let’s work together to streamline your home. Contact us for home organizing help if you’d like a partner to get you going.