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A cluttered entryway can cause frustration, embarrassment, and wasted time. Learn how to declutter your entryway with this free checklist!
Don’t you wish you could get out the door on time each morning, with everything you need within arm’s reach? And wouldn’t it be amazing if you walked into a crisp, uncluttered space where you had room to drop your stuff after a long day at work?
If you answered yes to those questions, it might be time to declutter your entryway.
The Benefits of a Decluttered Entryway
A cluttered entryway, foyer, or mudroom might not seem like a big deal. However, there are plenty of reasons why learning how to declutter your entryway will make your life easier.
Less Embarrassment
First, a cluttered entryway can be a source of embarrassment. Welcoming friends, family, and neighbors into a cluttered space can cause your face to sear with the heat of humiliation. A decluttered entryway, mudroom, or foyer will be much more inviting to guests (and to you!).
Less Wasted Time
When your entryway is cluttered, you probably spend extra time on your morning routine. Rooting around for the shoes, bag, and outerwear you need might make you late for work! A decluttered entryway makes it easier for you to find what you need quickly, so you can get out the door in less time.
Less Frustration
A cluttered entryway can also lead to frustration and a poor start to the day. It’s annoying when you can’t find what you need amid a sea of random stuff, just before you need to leave for the day. You might also feel frustrated by all the extra things your family leaves in your entryway. Decluttering is the perfect solution to an entryway overflowing with stuff!
For me, a tidy, decluttered entryway makes it easier and less stressful to get out the door and off to work in the morning. I can find what I need, I’m not faced with a mess on the way out, and if I’m running late, my entryway doesn’t cause me to waste precious time.
Are you convinced yet that you need to learn how to declutter your entryway? Let’s do it!
Get Ready to Declutter
Before I walk you through how to declutter your entryway, let’s talk about preparing to declutter.
Don’t be afraid to part with belongings that you don’t use. This is true even if you spent a substantial amount of money on the item. If you don’t use it, it’s clutter and it probably needs to go.
Prepare to Sort Items
As you declutter your entryway, you’ll sort items into different categories based on what you plan to do with each item. You’ll probably need a box or trash bag for each category.
- Trash (and/or recycle) – Actual trash, plus items that are unusable and unrepairable.
- Keep/Relocate – Items you don’t plan to get rid of, but that don’t belong in the room where you found them.
- Donate – Items you no longer use, need, or love, and that are still in good condition.
- Put Away – Put away the items you’re keeping.
- Give to Someone Else (Optional) – Items you no longer use, need, or love that you know someone else would like to have
- Repair (Optional) – Items you want to keep that need repair, and that you’ll actually repair
How to Declutter Your Entryway
This checklist is designed to move methodically around your entryway, mudroom, or foyer. You can skip anything that doesn’t apply to your home. Okay, here’s a checklist of how to declutter your entryway!
- Mail, flyers, other paperwork
- Out-of-season décor
- Excessive or unwanted hats, gloves, scarves
- Gloves without a mate
- Unwanted outerwear
- Outerwear that doesn’t fit
- Out-of-season outerwear (Store in basement, attic, closet, under bed, etc)
- Extra hangers
- Out-of-season accessories, such as pool bags, sunscreen, hand warmers, bug spray (Store in basement, attic, closet, under bed, etc)
- Expired products, such as sunscreen, bug spray
- Personal belongings other than out-the-door essentials (Essentials might be a backpack, purse, laptop case, etc; avoid storing multiple purses/backpacks per person unless you switch them out very frequently)
- Excessive pairs of shoes (allow each family member to store the 1-2 pairs of shoes they use most)
- Broken/excessive umbrellas
Once you’re done decluttering, you might want to use your cleaning supplies to clean your newly-decluttered space. If you’re ready for a deep clean, you should check out my entryway deep cleaning checklist.
You should also ensure that everything you need to get out the door in the morning has its own place in your entryway or mudroom.
How to Declutter Your Entryway: Conclusion
A clutter-free entryway will save you time, frustration, and embarrassment. Although you can declutter your entryway, mudroom, or foyer throughout the year, you might want to declutter it in the spring and fall. You’ll be ready for big seasonal changes as a result. I hope you found this post on how to declutter your entryway helpful!
If you’re interested in decluttering other areas of your home, you might want to check out some of my other decluttering guides:
How to Declutter Your House Super Fast
Clearing Clutter: A Step-By-Step How-To
How to Declutter and Organize Your Nightstand
How to Declutter Your Bathroom
Do’s and Don’ts for a Clutter-Free Home
How to Declutter Sentimental Items
How to Declutter Your House in One Day
A Super Easy Way to Reduce Paper Clutter
How to Declutter Your Living Room Effectively
How to Reduce Clutter During the Holidays
Want free printable copies of my decluttering checklists? Join the ShowMe Suburban community and get access to my cleaning and organizing resource library! You’ll also receive my free weekly emails, where you’ll learn simple habits and routines to keep your home clean and organized, so you can relax away from work without feeling the stress of a messy home. Sign up here!