How to create your own organized landing zone. Is your home a victim of a cluttered landing zone? You know, the place where you drop everything you just carted in the house from the car: your keys, papers, mail, purse, bags, shoes, coats, etc…? Entry ways tend to be the dumping grounds for all sorts of miscellaneous items in one of the most conspicuous areas of your home.
If you’re nodding yes, you can claim back your space. First, determine your needs. What are you dropping in these dump zones and where should these items go? Do you need just one landing zone for small items? Do you need separate confines for landing zone items for other family members?
A Four Step Plan for your organized landing zone
- Determine who needs a landing zone in your household.
- Decide what items need to be addressed for the landing zone.
- Specify how the items will be housed and designate the necessary area(s) for the items.
- Stay with the plan. Put items away that are to be housed in other areas and utilize your landing zone for the items needed.
A landing zone is a neat and orderly way to house the items that come in and go back out each time you do.
Examples of what to do with specific items:
- Coats: Hang up – if you have a closet nearby. If not, maybe you can install wall hooks? Do not throw them over a chair or let them lay around.
- Shoes/Boots: Do you have a place to neatly store your shoes when you come in, such as; a shoe shelf or shoe rack or boot tray during the winter months? If not then you’ll want to assess what you need so shoes are not left in heaps at the door.
- Book bags: Determine what you would like your kids’ to do with their book bags. A wall hook may not be sufficient the heavier the book bags get. Is there room to install a mudroom locker? If not, should they take them to their bedrooms or desk area or where they do their homework?
- Paper & Mail: Designate an area for incoming mail so you know where to put it when you come in as you may not have time to go through the mail upon first returning home. Having a designated location also helps other family members to know where to put incoming mail. This way it will not get lost or clutter the home.
- Smaller Items: such as keys, sunglasses, wallets, etc., you must know where they are at all times, especially when you are ready to leave the house. Sometimes a small tray, decorate plate, or basket is all that’s needed to keep you organized and group these items together in a tidy fashion.
Consider:
Is one landing container sufficient or do you need separate containers for other family members? Do you have an area to place whatever container you choose to house these items? (eg: a foyer table or shelf). Again the idea is to keep these items off of places like your kitchen counters or kitchen table. Otherwise if these items remain loose and strewn about they will be nothing more than unorganized clutter with no real way to find what you are looking for when you need it.
Learning how to create your own organized landing zone will save you countless hours of valuable time. You will no longer spend time searching for items. Using the designated areas needed to organize and store your “in and out the door items” you will keep you from sending out an all-points-bulletin of frantic search for items when you are ready to leave the house. Starting your day organized with less stress is always a good way to start any day!
