Start Fresh: 10 Essentials for an Organized Entryway

When you walk in with groceries, packages, or a week's worth of laundry, you may be inclined to just drop it inside the door. The ledge of an entryway console can lighten your load just when you need it most. Plus, it offers a permanent home to all the items you'll need before dashing out the door: keys, wallet, pocket change, you name it. At 16.3" deep, this modern beaut can slide into any narrow hallway to offer the dependable catchall of your dreams. Available on Amazon; $289.

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If floor space is at a premium in your entryway, a traditional coat stand won't fit the bill. But a wall-mounted solution like this floating shelf and coat rack gives you room to breathe. Not only is it a marriage of clever design and a smart use of space, it helps check clutter at the door. Available at Plow & Hearth; $59.99.

Related:  Hang On - 9 Designs for a DIY Coat Rack

An organized entryway means there's a spot to stash everything—including rain-soaked umbrellas. With a sturdy umbrella stand like this one, you'll never need to worry about dripping water creating a slippery mess on your entryway floor. The wood slats allow ventilation into the stand, while a cast iron drip pan catches moisture. Available on Amazon; $49.99.

Here's an small but mighty organizer that tidies unruly mail and adds instant cheer! Keep the mason jar portion of this hanging mail station filled with fresh flowers, and you'll maintain a smile even when it's all bills and no postcards in your inbox that day. Available on Amazon; $30.

A shoes off policy in the house helps protect hardwood floors and cuts down on household dust—but where do you check your shoes upon entry? This simple storage bench offers an answer. Take a seat while you pull off your shoes, then stow them in one of the twelve shoe compartments, and leave smaller items like keys and sunglasses in one of the wicker baskets. Available at Plow & Hearth ; $299.95.

Related:  8 Smart Shoe Racks You Can Make Today

Money-saving, time-saving—and yes, sometimes even life-saving—the latest and greatest smart home technologies span from self-programming thermostats to voice-activated TV controls to video doorbells and beyond. Raise your home's IQ!