The 10-Second Rule: How a Sorted Entry Sets Up a Well-Run Home
What you do in the first 10 seconds of entering your house can set the tone for how organised your family is at home
Your front door or the entrance to your home, although potentially humble, can be one of the most important areas to determine whether your home is organised or disorganised. An organised entrance leads to no more lost keys or sunglasses, and means when you need to quickly run out of the house, you can do so without leaving anything behind.
I love a beautiful, functional and organised entrance in a home. The simple habits you can set up to do in the first 10 seconds after you enter your house will go a long way to helping you become an organised household. Using otherwise dead space intentionally will help you save time (you’ll never lose your wallet at home again) and reduce frustration over how long it takes to leave the house.
Drop your shoes
In many cultures it’s expected that you remove your shoes before entering the home. This has many purposes: comfort, reduction of mess and respect.
We personally take off our shoes when we enter our home, and have a designated area where shoes are kept at the front door.
In many cultures it’s expected that you remove your shoes before entering the home. This has many purposes: comfort, reduction of mess and respect.
We personally take off our shoes when we enter our home, and have a designated area where shoes are kept at the front door.
By keeping the most-worn pairs of shoes at the door we always know where our shoes are and can easily grab them when we’re leaving the house. Having a drawer at the door as well as a seat if possible (as in this photo) means shoes will always end up where they belong.
Find a storage designer and professional organiser near you on Houzz to whip your home into shape
Find a storage designer and professional organiser near you on Houzz to whip your home into shape
Dry your umbrella
A dedicated place to keep umbrellas is often overlooked when people are setting up their entrance area. If you can create a space where both wet and dry umbrellas can live, as in this photo, you will always be able to grab one on the way out when you see it’s raining.
A dedicated place to keep umbrellas is often overlooked when people are setting up their entrance area. If you can create a space where both wet and dry umbrellas can live, as in this photo, you will always be able to grab one on the way out when you see it’s raining.
Remember your keys
It’s estimated that people spend up to six minutes a day looking for their keys. Where did you leave them last? Are they in a jacket pocket or at the bottom of your handbag?
Having a designated spot, such as the hooks here, where you always put your keys when you walk in, will save you time and stress each time you plan to leave the house.
It’s estimated that people spend up to six minutes a day looking for their keys. Where did you leave them last? Are they in a jacket pocket or at the bottom of your handbag?
Having a designated spot, such as the hooks here, where you always put your keys when you walk in, will save you time and stress each time you plan to leave the house.
Hang your bag
I’m always amazed at how many homes don’t have anywhere specific for bags to hang. You’ll never search the house for your handbag or kids’ school bags again when you have some hooks placed in your entrance where they can always live. Failing that, dedicated shelves can do a similar job to bag hooks.
See more inspiring entrances from around the country
I’m always amazed at how many homes don’t have anywhere specific for bags to hang. You’ll never search the house for your handbag or kids’ school bags again when you have some hooks placed in your entrance where they can always live. Failing that, dedicated shelves can do a similar job to bag hooks.
See more inspiring entrances from around the country
Slip, slop, slap
For about six months of the year in Australia, when you leave the house you need to grab a hat, some sunglasses and put on sunscreen. If you’ve got kids or pets you’ll know that grabbing these simple items before taking the dog for a walk or going to the park can take a good 10 minutes… or more.
Save yourself time by keeping a hat for each person as well as everyone’s sunglasses in your entrance area. If you’ve got drawers or a shelf, keeping sunscreen close by for easy application will save you time and save your skin as well.
For about six months of the year in Australia, when you leave the house you need to grab a hat, some sunglasses and put on sunscreen. If you’ve got kids or pets you’ll know that grabbing these simple items before taking the dog for a walk or going to the park can take a good 10 minutes… or more.
Save yourself time by keeping a hat for each person as well as everyone’s sunglasses in your entrance area. If you’ve got drawers or a shelf, keeping sunscreen close by for easy application will save you time and save your skin as well.
Lost and found
One of the greatest inventions I have implemented not only in my house, but in countless clients’ homes, is to create a lost-and-found box near the entrance of each house. This container is simply where you pop things that people have left behind after a visit. A toy, platter or jumper left can quickly be popped into the lost-and-found box until you see them next.
It’s also a great place to put items to return to friends and family. If you’ve got to return a book or dish, these go in the box too so you know where they are.
One of the greatest inventions I have implemented not only in my house, but in countless clients’ homes, is to create a lost-and-found box near the entrance of each house. This container is simply where you pop things that people have left behind after a visit. A toy, platter or jumper left can quickly be popped into the lost-and-found box until you see them next.
It’s also a great place to put items to return to friends and family. If you’ve got to return a book or dish, these go in the box too so you know where they are.
Get into the habit of checking your lost-and-found box before you leave to visit friends and family and you’ll find you’re returning things much quicker, and not worrying that you’ll lose items people have lent you or left in your home.
Remember extra storage
If you have the space, having entrance storage that has many drawers or cupboards will enable you to keep other items you need to access quickly at the front door. For instance, as seen here, you have room to keep spare change, season passes for the zoo and spare keys, while still having a beautiful statement piece welcoming you home each day.
If you have the space, having entrance storage that has many drawers or cupboards will enable you to keep other items you need to access quickly at the front door. For instance, as seen here, you have room to keep spare change, season passes for the zoo and spare keys, while still having a beautiful statement piece welcoming you home each day.
If your storage is built-in or in a larger area, you could also keep your picnic blanket, bike helmets, dog leads, scarves and gloves here for easy access when you’re walking out the door.
If your main family entrance to your home is through your garage, and your front door is mainly used for guests, you can keep your more functional storage spaces out of sight at your garage entrance, and have a beautiful space at the front door to greet your visitors.
Your turn
If you found this story helpful, like it, save the photos for inspiration and tell us how you keep your home and entrance organised in the Comments below. Join the conversation.
More
Need more practical know-how to revitalise and organise your interior? Read these 6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
If you found this story helpful, like it, save the photos for inspiration and tell us how you keep your home and entrance organised in the Comments below. Join the conversation.
More
Need more practical know-how to revitalise and organise your interior? Read these 6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home