This Is the Best Layout Method for an Organized Entryway, According to a Designer

Written by

Blair DonovanSenior Editor of Style
Blair DonovanSenior Editor of Style
As AT’s Senior Style Editor, I cover the latest interior design trends, expert decorating ideas, and must-see home products. Whenever I’m not keeping tabs on the next TikTok “core” or buzzy IKEA collection, I’m most likely reading, online shopping, or looking for the best tacos in New York (recs are encouraged).
published Jan 27, 2025
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Living room with blue sofa, gallery wall around flat screen TV, wall hooks with jackets, coats, purses
Credit: Erin Derby

Apartment Therapy’s January Cure is a free 20-day program that’ll help you refresh your home for the year ahead. Sign up here and get all assignments delivered to your inbox.

No matter the size or layout of your home, it’s always convenient (and just plain practical!) to designate a spot right by the front door for storing keys, shoes, bags, and any other on-the-go essentials. If you don’t have an entryway or mudroom, though, this area might trickle over into your living space or kitchen and quickly start to feel cluttered — not the first impression you want when you come home every day. 

That’s why today’s January Cure task is dedicated to styling what Apartment Therapy has coined a “landing strip.” Think of this like a built-in command center, aka an organized (!) destination for all your coming-and-going necessities. Here’s how to create your own, with tips from a designer.

Day 16: Set up a home landing strip.

A home landing strip will look different for every space, depending on your layout and needs, but make sure it’s stationed near the door you use most often. To get started, you can include any combination of the below items. Know that it’s not necessary to check off everything, unless you have room, but aim to use at least three of the following: 

  • A mirror for out-the-door touch-ups.
  • Wall hooks or a slim pegboard to “provide a chic solution for hanging coats, bags, and keys,” suggests interior designer DuVäl Reynolds.
  • A narrow console table or compact surface. 
  • Small decorative baskets.
  • A bench, shoe rack, or boot tray to hold footwear or baskets, which mimics “the functionality of an entry closet while maintaining a sleek, organized look,” Reynolds adds.
  • A bowl or container for keys and trinkets.
  • A runner or mat to ground the space.

Because you may have incredibly limited room, feel free to think outside the box in terms of placement. Try butting a console table against the back of your sofa in the living room, for example, rather than cramming it into a narrow hallway. Or, preserve floor space and opt for compact shoe racks that can mount on the wall.

PRO TIP: Don’t skimp out on style here, as this will be the first area you see after opening the door — Reynolds especially recommends “utilizing the wall space creatively.” That can mean alternating between various sizes of the same wall hook in a cluster, or even mixing and matching different styles and colors all together. Play around with unique mounting orientations, too, beyond just neatly lining up storage hooks or pegs in a row. Reynolds also suggests adding “decor accents like a mirror or small artwork above the furniture” for a spot that’s practical, but also personalized.

Share how you put together your home landing strip in the community forum.

More ways to participate in the January Cure:

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.

Join the January Cure Community