How to Keep Kids’ Clutter Concealed Without a Mudroom

If you don’t have a mudroom in your home, you may be wondering how exactly to store away all of the items that are associated with having children: shoes, school supplies, sports equipment, and much more.

Fortunately, professional organizers say that with a little creativity, it’s easy to keep all of these things out of site and easy to grab as needed without having to totally revamp your home.

Below, pros share a few simple tips for keeping kids’ clutter at bay by making use of the front entryway, bedrooms, and garage.

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Make Use of Baskets

With kids come many different pairs of shoes for various activities. While ordinarily these may be laid out in a mudroom, they can most definitely be stored elsewhere with a bit of creativity.

“A couple of baskets slid underneath a bench in or near the entryway is a great way to corral shoes that get kicked off when kids walk in the door,” says Ashley Barber, the founder of Simply Maven Organizing.

Choose baskets that complement your general design aesthetic for a seamless look.

“By incorporating organizing products that mesh well with the style of your home, this space can function well, look cohesive with the design of your home, and conceal kid clutter that can end up in a heap by the front door,” says Lisa Greene Smith, professional organizer at Simplify Studio.

There are easy ways to make using baskets more fun for kids, too.

“Add a label with their name or favorite color, so they know their items live there when not in use,” says Lindsay Melvin, professional organizer at Orchid Organizing.

Install Entryway Hooks

Backpacks are another item that you’ll need to sort through and store at the end of each school day. If you don’t have a mudroom, install hooks in the entryway if space allows or hang some in a hall closet, Barber suggests.

An alternative option, she says, is to install a hook on the back of each child’s bedroom door or on the wall and designate that as a backpack spot.

Store Sports Gear in Bags

If your children play sports, you may be wondering where exactly all of their various pieces of equipment should live if you do not have a mudroom. When it comes to sports that are in-season, Barber recommends keeping all necessary items in a large tote bag for easy accessibility.

“For example, a soccer tote might have the uniform, spare socks, shin guards, and sunscreen, or a swim bag would have goggles, a pool towel, and swimsuit,” Barber says. Hang this tote in a hall closet or kid’s room. The more totes, the merrier.

“If your kids are involved in a lot of activities, it’s helpful to have a tote for each one,” Barber says. Off-season items can be kept folded in a tote once they’ve been cleaned or tucked away under a bed or in a closet, she explains.

When storing general toys and sports equipment that’s used in the backyard, Barber suggests grabbing a basket for balls, baseball gloves, and like, and stashing baseball bats and other long items in decorative umbrella stand or a repurposed trash bin. 

Make Use of the Garage

If your home has a garage, you can get creative and turn this area into a makeshift mudroom.

“Chances are, you and the kiddos usually come into the house from the garage,” says Candi Ruppert, Certified Professional Organizer at Sage Organizing.

Ruppert suggests setting up a shoe tray, some hooks, and bins to store away all of the essentials as soon as you get out of the car. “Now all the clutter is out of sight, but still has a dedicated space,” Ruppert says.

Last but not least, the key to ensuring your home will remain nice and organized is to encourage your young ones to play a part in keeping clutter at bay so that you aren’t darting around the house picking up odds and ends once everyone has gone to bed.

“Involve kids in keeping the space neat and tidy and put them in charge of properly storing their belongings in designated spots when coming and going from home,” Smith advises.

Soon, doing so will become habit.