It may not feel like spring yet, but it does.
And as the temperature rises, what goes in and out of the house changes. Instead of thick coats and cold-weather boots, you'll need umbrellas, rain boots, and eventually sunglasses and flip-flops.
This means you will also need to change your entryways, including your entryway, mudroom, and the space around the front door.
“These rooms may be dated, but they also make the first impression when you walk through the door,” says Whitney Parkinson, an Indianapolis-based interior designer. “So it has to be functional, but it also has to be beautiful.”
Achieving this balance takes some effort, Parkinson said. “There are a lot of small, subtle ways that can have a big impact while still being very functional.”
Here's how she and other designers do it.
Move your winter gear
No matter how wide your hallway is, storage space is limited.
As the weather warms up, move space-consuming ski jackets and boots to deep storage. The attic, the storage space in your co-op apartment, and even the trash can hidden under your bed.
When designing homes for clients, Mr. Parkinson likes to install upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling in mudrooms or foyers for this purpose. She stores seasonal gear in rooms that are difficult to access without a step stool, but are necessary.
“I only need to access the tall upper storage cabinets when it’s time to take out other items,” she said. “But it’s really nice to be able to keep everything in one place.”
eliminate confusion
When moving seasonal clothing, don't just mindlessly throw everything into storage bins. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of things you don’t really need.
“Try to have some clarity about what you are using and what you are not using,” says Regina Lark, founder of A Clear Path, a professional organizing company in Los Angeles. “We had this fantastic idea, ‘This scarf would look so cute out for brunch,’” she said. Well, don't hang it in your front door. “Keep it in your closet until you’re ready to use it.”
Being a minimalist can make your entryway a more enjoyable experience. It'll make it easier for you to find what you're looking for, and you'll avoid the frustration of discovering you don't have enough space for basic things like making a phone. Customer's coat.
To perform an entryway reset, Dr. Lark recommended clearing everything out and then “carefully placing items in your entryway that you will actually use or that you want to be a topic of conversation when someone walks in.”
Make a place for every little thing
Of course, you'll also need a place to put your shoes and jacket. But you also need to plan where to place small items such as keys, wallet, mail, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
“You want to set yourself up for success,” Dr. Lark said. “I do everything I can think of to increase the likelihood that I can access what I need when I need it and to increase the likelihood that I can easily put things away.”
She suggested that one option would be to use a series of containers for specific items on a credenza or console.
Nathan Turner, an interior designer in Los Angeles, also recommends using a variety of containers. “Everything looks better on a tray, catch hold or bucket,” he said. “You’re trying to organize things in a chic way.”
Look for furniture with drawers to keep small items out of sight.
“I generally like to have a drawer or chest of drawers in the mudroom to store keys, mail, papers, etc.,” says Parkinson. “The goal is to create a drop-off point before entering the home so clutter doesn’t move into the kitchen or other spaces.”
Another great idea: Using an umbrella stand gives you a dedicated space to dry your umbrellas without getting them wet on the floor.
brightly
For many people, lugging boot trays and rolling out thick floor protectors signals the onset of winter. Once you are relatively confident that the last snowstorm has passed, be sure to remove it.
In the spring and summer, “you don’t need such heavy carpets to soak up melted snow,” Turner said. “Then pull out the rug and lighten things up.”
Consider a summer alternative. Instead of a dark synthetic rug with a waterproof backing, go for a flat-weave cotton rug or a rug woven with natural grasses. Instead of plastic boot trays, consider placing your shoes on a sisal mat or wooden shelf.
Easy storage
You may be able to keep your front door neat and tidy in early spring, but it can quickly become messy again if you don't make it easy to store things when you come and go.
That's why many designers like to add built-in wardrobes and benches with storage drawers when designing an entryway from scratch. However, you can increase the storage space in your room even without remodeling.
One easy way is to add hooks or peg rails to the wall. “You need hooks, because they allow you to just grab it and go,” says Tova Kook, founder of TK Design, an interior design firm in Woodmere, New York.
If you don't have a proper entryway or mudroom, you can use peg rails to create space.
Mr. Turner installed the picket just inside the door leading into the dining room of the beachfront home in Malibu, California, that he shared with another designer, Eric Hughes. “It’s a good example of how to create an entrance because we didn’t have one,” he said, adding that he placed large galvanized metal buckets on the floor to hold shoes and slippers.
Lauren Liess, an interior designer in Great Falls, Va., whose book “Beach Life” is scheduled to be published in May, said it's nearly impossible to have too many baskets in the entryway. She stores her accessories in dressers and closed cabinets so she can store them all year round. In the spring and summer, more can be added and placed directly on the ground.
“You will see a pile of baskets.” she said “She definitely dresses up a lot in the warmer months.”
What did she put in it? This includes almost everything, including shoes, toys, laundry, flowers and vegetables from the garden.
Ms. Liess says she's also a fan of upholstered trunks. A piece like this can act as a bench in the entryway and also provide hidden storage space inside.
Style appropriate for the season
If you want to make your entryway more than just a nice walk-in closet, don't forget to include art and accessories. This is similar to coffee table styling. The objects you display should change over time.
“It can go with the seasons,” says Brittany Hakimfar, founder of Philadelphia interior design firm Far Studio. “Put some twigs or flowers in a vase that matches the season,” she says.
It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. “When we do photo shoots, we often go out and literally cut down tree branches in the yard,” she said. “It can really help the space.”
When choosing a few books to display, she considers the personal interests she wants to share with her guests, while also paying attention to the color of the covers. “It would be great if the colors matched the branches I was using,” she said.
She may also come up with new ceramic pieces, sculptural accents that serve as places to store keys, as well as candle holders that can be swapped out depending on your mood.
When done right, “the entryway is one of my favorite design spaces,” Hakimfar said. “Because it really helps welcome people into your home.
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