IS YOUR
ENTRYWAY WINTER-READY?
Winter
boots, coats, hats and mittens can create chaos when you first walk through the
door, but with the right design plan, this area can be clutter-free. Not only
will the space look tidy, you will save time and reduce stress when everything
is dry and at your fingertips.
Less water
inside starts outside: Leave a rough mat outside to brush off snow and
another mat inside where boots can dry.
Air
circulation: While it's tempting to create storage with doors to hide
bulky coats, you need air flow to dry garments and boots. Hooks are much more
effective than cramming coats into a closet.
Well-designed
and sturdy hardware: Heavy coats that stay up the first time require a
good hook. Since hooks are relatively inexpensive, don't worry about saving a
few dollars.
A place
for everything: No matter the size of your space, everything should fit
neatly. If you have children in your family, assign each person a space. Extra
winter gear can be passed along or donated.
Protect
your floors: It's inevitable that even the best mat will leak or overflow.
If you are putting in new flooring, you might want to consider waterproof
materials such as tiles. Another option is to use a large rug that covers most
of the space and fits nicely under the mat.