Reader Space: Nicole's Entry Takeover!

Winter is upon us.  I have received some questions regarding boots and jackets and honestly, I am in the same boat as many of you. 

Here is a little inspiration in the form of a Reader Space, in which Nicole took over her entryway to ensure it was functioning to it's fullest.  And the best part, the biggest impact she made was done for free, just by saying, "Just because this shelf was built this way and installed here, doesn't mean it has to stay here, we can do better!"

Want to know more?  Nicole wrote:

Hi Jen!

I had asked you for your advice on how to redo our entryway in a split level home.  My challenge was that in such a small space I wanted it to be functional and cute at the same time.  After assessing the situation, as you can see in the before pictures, the shelf in the closet was a bit low so the coats hung low to the ground which enabled our messy pile of shoes!

Also, the shelf became another place for us to just pile things.

The opposite wall with the mirror was just plain boring and our kids couldn't hang up their own stuff and always ended up dumping their coats and bags on floor.

My plan included raising the shelf, putting in a shoe rack to keep shoes organized, adding an additional basket above the shelf, taking down the mirror and adding a piece of art, and hanging hooks at the kids level.  Plan accomplished today!  I included pictures of before, during (yikes), and after!  I now love my new entryway!  Thanks for all of your inspiration!

Here's a run down on costs too!

Raising the shelf- free

Additional basket - used one I already had- free

Shoe shelf - $13.00

Framed art - $90.00

Hooks - $8.00

Plastic hooks for umbrellas - $3.00

For a grand total of $114.00.  Totally worth it for a space that is used everyday and greets our guests!

Nicole

I love that Nicole included a piece of art in her budget, because I am always preaching that beauty and organization go hand in hand.  When you give your spaces some personality, bling, style love, however you want to word it, it gives you a sense of profoundness and a great overall feeling that will give you that little extra push to keep it neat and orderly.  

When you look at the cost of JUST the organizational portion of this makeover, it came in at $24!!  And wait til you see what that investment did for her space!!

But first, one of my favorite pictures.  How the entry looked while Nicole worked her magic:

I love this because it's a true picture of things getting worse before they get better.  This is very typical for any organizational task.  In fact, this is how I work.  I remove everything from the space and make a pile.  Then I really think about everything I am putting back into the space.  

But now for the fun part.  Here are the after pictures from Nicole's project:

By raising the shelf in which her coats are hung {FREE!}, she was able to add a shoe rack to corral the fam's footwear!  Love what a little brainstorming can do!

Adding a second basket to the top shelf corralled all the goods that had no place to call home previously!

Using some inexpensive Command Hooks allowed for Nicole to hang her umbrella's within an easy to find arm's reach!

Installing new individual hooks at a level the little ones can reach, ensures that they are able to help with keeping the landing neat and orderly!  Super smart!  And the artwork is the icing on the cake!

Organizing is all about assessing what is NOT working in a particular area and problem solving it.  Like raising a shelf to create shoe storage under jackets!  Or lowering hooks so the kids can reach.  Such simple solutions to create orderly long term benefits!  And that my friends, is why IHeart Organizing oh so much!

Thank you Nicole for sharing your inspiring entryway takeover! 

Who else is making modifications around the home to gain insane amounts of organization impact?  What tips and tricks do you have for all us cold weather folks, to stay organized through the winter with all the things that come with it.... boots... jackets... hats.... mittens.... ?

 
P.S.  Have an awesome story to share?  How about some organizing tips and tricks?  Maybe a project completed from an inspiration found?  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!