With the new school year just around the corner, I decided it was time to reorganize our home’s entryway. I know it’s not typically associated with back to school preparations, but the foyer actually sees the most traffic and chaos: masks are thrown, shoes are kicked off and lunch bags stay nestled in backpacks (often with leftover food inside – my biggest pet peeve)!
To set up my kids for success, I stopped by Kitchen Stuff Plus and grabbed stylish, affordable accessories to help organize the space. I can’t believe such small changes made such a big impact! Here are my top tips and product recos:
1. Start with large, high quality indoor mat. Especially over the winter months when slush finds its way in the home, you’ll want to ensure that kids know to keep their shoes and boots planted firmly on the doormat. I found this sleek, Harman Textaline ‘Trace’ Vinyl Indoor-Outdoor Mat. Available in an array of designs and sizes, its non-slip backing prevents shifting and skidding, and the mat cleans easily by simply wiping with a damp cloth.
2. Keep it simple: use a coat rack. We have a gorgeous, spacious, mirrored closet adjacent to our foyer… but somehow, my kids haven’t mastered the trick of opening the closet and hanging their coats. (Okay, they’re just lazy. We know this.) After years of nagging I finally decided to simply their lives (and mine) by purchasing this gorgeous, sleek KSP Spoke Metal Coat Rack. A simple and modern design helps tidy up outerwear, and I love that it suits any décor! A wide metal base keeps the coat rack secure.
3. Save space with a shoe rack or cabinet. Stop tripping over runaway sneakers! Make it part of your child’s routine to place their shoes on a shoe rack or in a shoe cabinet. Kitchen Stuff Plus has many stylish options to choose from! I selected a basic wood rack – the ITY Shoe Hub ‘2-Tier’ Shoe Rack – because it nestles perfectly in my foyer and stacks easily. I love the shade of grey, but if it’s not a match with your décor, don’t be afraid to give the shoe rack a light sanding and a little spray paint!
4. Keep lunch supplies organized. There’s nothing I detest more than lunch bags that remain in backpacks (especially if there’s leftover food inside). This year, we’re breaking the cycle in stylish and ergonomic way! I love these KSP Collapsible ‘Polka Dot’ Non-Woven Storage Bins in Gold. Can we say “Kate Spade” vibes for only $7.99? YES! They are minimalist and gorgeous and most importantly, are the space where I’ve instructed my kids to place their lunch bags and water bottles. No more stowaways!
5. Mask on/ mask off with a mask station. We know that face masks will once again be a part of the in-school experience. This Umbra Tesora Jewelry Stand was all the inspo I needed to create a mask station in my entryway. With posts to hang used masks upon entering the home, a storage bin to drop off water bottles and a selection of extra hand sanitizers, this space is a streamlined way to ensure kids are safe at school. Bonus: when masking is a thing of the past (fingers crossed), this jewelry stand will fit perfectly on my bedroom dresser!
I hope I’ve inspired you to update your entryway with these stylish and affordable pieces from Kitchen Stuff Plus! Now… are there any volunteers to come and make my kids’ lunches every day? (Okay, okay, it was worth a shot!)
For more back to school essentials, visit www.kitchenstuffplus.com.
This post was sponsored by Kitchen Stuff Plus. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
We come in and out through the garage, but we set up a backpack station. Last year, I added a cute basket with the clean masks (dirty went straight into a mesh laundry bag daily) so my boys could easily grab them. This year, thankfully, our district is giving the option of masks, so we don’t have that basket there anymore. But, having everything organized for school to make the mornings easier has been so beneficial to my family!
We need to do something like this in our home. The shoes and masks are everywhere.
So organised! I love it. We have a similar set up but I will admit I struggle to keep it organised.
This looks so neat, we have a small porch way and I have a little storage unit for shoes. Then hooks for coats but my kids tend to throw their coats on the chair instead.
These are great ideas. We have a cupboard to put shoes so they are hidden away and make the space look tidy.
Wow, thank you. I honestly never thought of setting up our entryway in such a way that is super organized. Great ideas you got there.
Great tips to stay organized and sanitized for the upcoming school year. So important and great tips!
Love all these tips! Yesterday was our first day of school and it’s obvious we need to get organized.
I love the little mask station! We don’t really have an entryway as such, there’s a small space for a shoe cabinet and not much else so most of our coats and bags end up inside the main part of the house which isn’t ideal but it’s all we can do x
So simple, yet SO important. I love your mask holder. Wishing your kids a safe and productive school year!
Organizing the entryway is such a brilliant idea for back to school! These are some fab ideas and tips for all those sending their kids back to school.
This is a great way to get organized. Love your entryway and how organized you are!
That mask station is very clever! Plus factor how neat and organized it was put up together.
These are great tips! Can’t believe it’s back to school already.
Look at how organised your home is! I love the mask holder – such a useful idea.
Organization is key. If you teach them young they will have these habits for life.
Everyone has their own preferences. We would never want to use an entry way for those purposes.
Looks so good, organized is the key for sure. I wish I had an entrance so I could have stands for shoes and coats.