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can achieve and maintain. Here are some realistic goals for this area:
 
Make room for coats currently being worn. Come up with a solution to enable younger children to hang up their coats on their own.
     
Contain shoes left in the entryway.
     
Create a landing place for the mail and newspaper.
     
Assign a convenient place for your keys.
     
Set up a place for family members to hang their backpacks, briefcases, and purses.
     
    Remember to break larger goals down into smaller steps and set deadlines for reaching your goals.
    Green Light
    Now that you know your needs and have set your goals, you can get to work organizing. As you set up your room to make it functional for you, categorize the spaces in it, including the closets, shelves, and open spaces. This entire entryway is premium space because you use it every day (see page 24). Keep only items in this room, or space, that you use regularly. If you do use this area to store other items, be sure you aren't using premium space to do so. Depending on the size of your home's entryway, the following ideas may or may not work for you. You can adjust them to meet your needs and your home's layout. No matter the space, the concepts are the same.
 
Along a wall, place a basket, rug or reed mat for shoes. Removing dirty shoes at the door keeps floors cleaner so there is less upkeep.
     
A small table can hold a basket for keys, cell phones or other items. If there are young children or visitors in and out of this area, I suggest keeping these items out of their reach. Or if your table has a drawer you can put them in there. For safety's sake, make sure this area is secure so these items aren't stolen or carried away to be played with and lost.
     
This is the ideal place to have a cupboard, locker, cubbies, or hooks on the wall to hang coats and backpacks. Assign each family member a hook by placing labels under the hooks. Use a label maker or masking tape to make the labels. These storage items can be purchased at home decorating stores or discount stores.
     
Hang a key rack conveniently in the room. Having one place for keys saves time, energy, and frustration as you don't have to hunt to find your keys. If a key hook won't work for you, place a bowl or basket on a flat surface so you can toss your keys and change in it. Again, be aware of safety issues.
     
Create a hanging file system that is secured on a wall or use one that sits on a flat surface. This is ideal for children to place their paperwork in as they come home from school. Have a slot for you, too. Anything that needs your attention can be placed in your box and you can review it and take action later.
     
Include a garbage can and shredder if you are going to sort mail in this room. Use a basket to hold the mail. How to sort the mail will be discussed in depth in Chapter 11.
     
If this room has closet space, it may be the ideal room to store out-of-season coats, gloves, and scarves. Store small items in a basket or plastic container and keep these containers on the closet shelf. Sports equipment and clothing could be placed in labeled bins and stored in the closet as well.
     
An over-the-door organizer with pockets (typically used for shoes) can be used for keys, sunglasses, gloves, hats, scarves, a camera and other electronic equipment, leashes for dogs, and other miscellaneous items. The pockets can be labeled with family members' names. Reserve the lower rows for younger children. The organizer keeps things contained and convenient to grab and go when leaving the house.
     
    FRONT OR FORMAL ENTRYWAY
    This is the entryway your visitors use. It is where they form their first impression of your home. Creating a warm welcome that is inviting to both you and your guests is important when stepping into this space.
    Searchlight
    Take a look around with the Searchlight and ask yourself what is it you like and what you don't like. Be honest in your evaluation, but don't beat yourself up. As you use your