Clutter Control: Turning Your Entryway into a Functional Sitting Space

There are often spaces to be found in our homes that have plenty of untapped potential, if only they were not so cluttered and even neglected in some examples.

One of those classic underused spaces is the entryway, where everyone in the family probably has the tendency and habit of dropping their shoes and coats and bags down before heading off to another more well-organised part of the house.

Here is a look at how you can reclaim that space for a better or at least more organised purpose, by exercising some clutter control and making the most of every space that you have available.

More than just somewhere to hang your coat

Many homeowners don’t always see the potential of a hallway entrance that is currently used solely as somewhere to hang your coat when you come into the house.

A good number of these people would like to make their entrance area more inviting and attractive, if it wasn’t for all the clutter that just seems to congregate near to the door. One of the first things that you can look at doing in order to transform the space is get a cabinet or similar piece of storage furniture that could be used to hide all the various items away from sight.

A smart cabinet with a reproduction of an Eames DSW Chair next door to it, together with a small table with a pot plant or fresh flowers on it, will suddenly change the whole look of your entryway and not only look good, but keep everything neat and tidy by hiding it away.

Display cabinet

You could actually help to keep an open feel about the space by using a glass-fronted cabinet, which you could then fill with a selection of books and curiosities at eye level and more functional items lower down.

Many of these cabinets come with adjustable shelves, so you can arrange the height of them to accommodate all your items as well as your clutter in a very aesthetically pleasing way, which instantly turns a neglected space into something much more attractive.

Using the wall space

If you are trying to dress up a hallway or any other area in the house that is currently underused or even almost forgotten about as a useful space, then you should also consider making the most of the wall space available.

You might need something like a coat rack out of sheer practicality but consider using a nice piece of artwork or even some bold lettering with a welcome message for anyone entering the area, which can share some of the wall space but ultimately draw the viewer to that rather than simply viewing a collection of garments.

Neat and tidy

If it is simply not practical to hide everything away from view then at least try to operate a regime of keeping everything as neat and tidy as possible.

If you must leave some items out because you don’t have the storage space to keep them out of sight, then choose items like colourful wellies lined up , which can add to the charm of the area when everything is neatly displayed and provides something about the character and personality of the occupants.

Make it a weekend task to reclaim your lost space and you might even end up with an area that you like spending time in, maybe with a book and a hot drink.

Luke Connor’s successful career as an interior designer has given him a deep love for form and function. When not working with clients, he loves blogging about design ideas and inspirations for today’s modern homes.

Written by Danny