Here’s How to Wrangle Winter Gear to Reach Organizational Bliss

Corral clutter with a ready-made closet unit. Choose a piece that fits with your home’s vibe. This hall cabinet from Wayfair suits a farmhouse-styled space, and has a snazzy built-in look. Hooks offer hanging opportunities, while deep lower drawers are handy. When shopping, look for a piece that has closed storage compartments, or spots to place baskets. That way you can mask some of the clutter.

IKEA’s STÄLL cabinet is the perennial favourite when it comes to shoes — and everything else. It’s shown to dazzling effect here via The DIY Mommy. These is actually two four-compartment storage cabinets put together. The slim profile fits in the smallest of spaces, and because it’s mounted, it keeps everything visually open and airy. Label the bins for hats, mittens and scarves. And style around it — add a mirror, a vase, plants, a pretty dish — and you’re on your way to hallway nirvana. For a custom look, hack the cabinet with a sliver of marble or wood, or change up the pulls.

This smarty-pants ideas comes from Colleen of The Lemon Thistle, and is an ingenious way to create storage in a cramped split-level entryway: built-in drawers! Since the drawers are low, even Littles can learn to neatly put away their winter boots. Here’s Colleen’s tutorial on how to create the drawers.

Calgary-based photographer Amy Highton did a fantastic job renovating her small cottage. It’s amazing! Check out the video tour, too! Amy’s foyer needed to be hardworking. She and her husband have a dog and two boys. And so they clad it in plywood (the material can really take a beating) creating storage for shoes, backpacks, coats — even skateboards!

Got a roomy mudroom? Then follow Jillian Harris’ lead. In this revamp, The Love It Or List It designer provided multiple spots to stow away winter gear. Baskets, boxes, hooks (including some for skis) and a hanging rod means nothing ends up on the floor.

Utilitarian mudrooms are great and everything, but if you want to keep it slick AND storage-filled, then pull a Sarah Baeumler. The HGTV Canada host and designer used the power of paint to create this dramatic space that’s also hardworking. Hooks, top cubbies, shelves and a bench for removing and putting on footwear makes this one mean mudroom.

Style guru Danielle Moss calls her IKEA Pax unit “a mini coat closet meets mudroom.” We call it gorgeous. The unit beautifully hides coats, mitts and everything in between. There’s also display room for baskets (perfect for keys and mail), photos and pottery. You’ve got to check out the perfectly organized interior. Those lower baskets are amazing!

Hello, lovers of minimalism — we’ve got you covered, too. If your home is not populated by a gaggle of people, then copy this sparse hallway. Two baskets, cute iron hooks and a simple mat are clean yet punchy (that architectural panelling is perfection) in this turn-of-the-century home.

With their charming nicks and patina, vintage furniture always brings character to a space. Sara Davis of Sincerely, Sara D. knows this all too well. She cleverly transformed an antique mail sorter into shoe storage. Here’s how to build a DIY version, in case such pieces are scarce where you live.

Step right up! Here’s a super smart idea idea by California Closets. The Margarido Staircase sits atop a staircase, and has an intriguing zig-zag profile. The unit optimizes unused space, which is key in a small setting! Ahem, we bet it wouldn’t be that hard to build your very own version.

With its black-white-checkered floor and gorgeously muddy green panelling, this eclectic mudroom just makes us happy. Ariel of PMQ for Two created a casual, storage-packed space for her brood. There’s boot hooks, wall hacks, baskets and a handy bench for pulling on footwear.