Your hallway can be a dumping ground for just about anything because it’s the first place in a home where people see an opportunity to discard their things. Here are a few items you can purge from this area now:
Anything lurking on the tops of your furniture
Out of season coats- There is no point in keeping every coat you own in this area. Only hang the ones that you know you will wear this season. Put the others away for the next time they are needed or if you haven’t worn a coat- donate it now.
Out of season shoes- Again, why do you need heavy snow boots at your front door in the height of summer? Lay out only the shoes you will need for the weather you are expecting and store or give away anything unused.
Mail- Take any mail that’s been dumped and process it. Shred what needs shredding, recycle what can be recycled and file the rest in a safe place. Anything that comes in from this moment on- process it before it reaches a surface in your hall.
Bags- There is often a storage solution for coats and shoes in a hallway setting but not bags. They are generally too bulky- so make sure that any bags stay with the person they belong to. If this means taking them to their rooms- so be it. Any bags that haven’t been used in a while can be given to the charity shop.
Accessories- Hats, gloves and scarves usually land in this area so sift out the ones that you know you will need in the coming weeks and put anything that is too warm/cool away for the next appropriate time of year. As always- if there’s anything that you didn’t wear last season, this is a good way to measure what you like and what you don’t.
Keys- Ok you can’t get rid of your keys- but key rings you can. If your keyring hoard has got out of control, take it down a notch or two and just have the things you need and use on there- nothing more. While you are on- find a storage solution for your keys so they don’t get dumped on the side- a hook can be a means of keeping them out of the way but still within easy reach.
Miscellaneous- If your hallway is big enough to hold a set of drawers or sideboard- try to keep it as clear as possible. If you are greeted by a sea of clutter (consisting of anything from ornaments to pens) every time you enter your home- it will set the wrong tone for your return. On the other hand, if all you see are neat rows of coats and shoes and a clear top, it’s like being welcomed back into your space.
MORE: Paper: Seven things you can declutter now
Tagged in Minimalism Declutter Decluttering