When winter hits, home entryways can become a catch-all for coats, hats, scarves, boots, and other winter accessories. To ensure your mudroom doesn’t become a problem area during the colder months, it’s important to prioritize winter entryway organization and create a solid closet storage plan. A winter entryway refresh is also a great way to declutter before the holidays and upgrade your home for the New Year. Here are some tips for keeping your mudroom or coat closet functional and clutter-free all season long!

Declutter Your Entryway

When it comes to how to organize an entryway coat closet or mudroom for the colder months, your first step should be to declutter before winter arrives. Remove everything from your closet or entryway so you can take stock of all the winter accessories you have, then decide what items you want to keep and what you can let go of. This way, you can get rid of winter gear that’s worn out and determine what actually belongs in your mudroom storage space—or would be better stored in your bedroom closet, storage room, or other area. Use decluttering methods like the 20/20 Rule or Box & Banish Method, and consider donating any items in good condition to help those in need of quality coats, scarves, hats, and other winter gear.

Protect Your Entryway from Moisture

Between snow, salt, gravel, and water, your entryway can experience some wear and tear during winter. Laying down a durable, waterproof rug is a great way to protect your floors, catching all the slush that you’d otherwise be mopping up. If you’re up for a project, another top winter entryway idea is to invest in waterproof flooring to help prevent damage from moisture—plus, it’s a great way to improve your home on a budget. Consider waterproofing the bottom of cabinets and shelves in case they catch any moisture from damp winter coats or boots. Additionally, ensure you have winter entryway storage options with good airflow. For example, having space to hang wet winter clothes outside of the closet and utilizing winter boot racks can help items dry faster and prevent moisture damage.

Prioritize the Winter Gear You Use Most

To figure out how to organize winter clothes in your closet, start by thinking about which items you’ll use most often. Keep those items—which could be your favorite coat, gloves, scarves, or hats—in the front or most accessible area of the closet. Organizing winter gear in this way makes it easier for you to get ready to go outside without having to dig deep into your closet and create a mess to find what you need. To save space, consider storing holiday items—or anything else you reach for less frequently—in vacuum-sealed bags.

Install Hooks in Your Mudroom

Trying to organize a small coat closet but don’t have enough room for all your thick sweaters, heavy flannels, and puffy coats? Installing hooks is one of the smartest and easiest coat storage ideas for your entryway or mudroom! Sturdy hooks are perfect for your bulkiest coats and can help them dry out faster than they would if they were closed in a closet or packed in with other winter accessories. Another reason hooks are one of the best ways to store winter coats is that they make them more accessible for your kids—helping you avoid a pile of soggy coats in your front entryway. Not to mention, you’ll be able to quickly grab your coat on the way out the door if you’re in a rush!

Use Storage Bins for Winter Accessories

Using storage bins is one of the best ways to organize a hall closet or entryway. This winter entryway organization idea allows you to designate separate bins to different accessories—like hats, scarves, and more—to keep everything sorted. Alternatively, you can organize your coat closet into specified areas for different family members so everyone knows exactly where their items can be found and should be put back. Place the most-used winter gear in baskets out in the open for easy accessibility, then store the rest in your coat closet in clear, labeled bins to keep things organized.

Take Advantage of Vertical Coat Closet Storage

Working with a small winter coat closet? One of the best tips for organizing a small area is to utilize vertical space—in fact, maximizing space is an essential part of cleaning any closet! Hang organizers or baskets on your clothing rod to create winter gear storage for smaller items like gloves and hats. Make more space for purses, backpacks, or winter coat storage by hanging hooks on the back of the door or side walls of the closet. Or if you need extra space for other accessories, opt for an over-the-door organizer that can house scarves, earmuffs, and more—keeping everything sorted, dry, and off the floor!

Organize the Coat Closet Floor

The floor has potential to become a major source of clutter in your coat closet organization. If your family keeps shoes and bags on the closet floor, you may quickly run out of space and find yourself struggling to keep shoes paired and bags dry. As you would with the floor of your entryway, line your coat closet with rubber mats for winter boots and wet shoes to keep the mess contained and off your flooring. Install shelving on the back walls or place freestanding shelves on the floor to create better storage for winter boots. Or if you already have good shoe storage elsewhere, consider organizing your coat closet floor by placing bins or baskets on the ground to organize winter accessories.

Keep the Upper Closet Shelf Clean

Nearly every front entryway closet has an upper shelf. Since this shelf often sits well above head height and can be fairly deep, it can be easy for small winter items to fall to the back—out of sight and out of reach. As a solution, use clear storage bins or baskets with labels so you can see exactly what’s stored up high—and ensure they have handles so you can easily pull them down when needed. Prioritize placing items you won’t use daily—like spare hats or pairs of gloves—on your upper closet shelf to cut down on the number of times you have to access the area.

Consider Built-In Storage

One of the best winter entryway or coat closet organization ideas is to include built-in storage wherever you can. This can keep large amounts of winter items contained while clearing the space for foot traffic. Some coat closets come with built-in shelving or cubbies that are perfect for storage bins and winter boot storage. You can also find or create a storage bench with cubbies or drawers for organizing your winter gear—also a great place to sit while putting on boots. If you’re feeling particularly crafty, consider adding your own built-in shelves in a closet or building cubbies or shelves in your front entryway!

Invest in Sturdy Hangers for Winter Clothes

The types of hangers you use for winter gear may seem like a small part of coat closet organization, but they can greatly impact the overall appearance. Plus, many winter coats are heavier than average, and you don’t want to end up with bent or broken hangers that litter your coat closet and look messy. The best hangers for winter coats are usually sturdy wood or thick plastic. For great coat closet organization, consider using matching hanger sets so everything looks uniform, and avoid thin plastic or metal options that can break and bend. Be sure you have several extras on hand for any new coats you buy throughout the season as well!

Get Self Storage If Needed

If you organize your coat closet or mudroom and still find yourself with too many winter items for the space, consider renting seasonal self storage to keep everything organized. This is an especially good winter gear organization idea for anything you use less often, like recreational items or holiday decorations. Using self storage during winter allows you to safeguard your belongings from cold winter temperatures through climate-controlled or heated storage, and indoor storage solutions can help you stay warm when you visit your unit. Just be sure to keep everything organized with a storage unit inventory so you know where your winter accessories are when you need them!

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