“Honey…do you know where my keys are?”
“I can’t find my wallet. Where the heck did I leave my wallet. Has anyone seen my wallet?”
Are you plagued with these same questions every time someone in your household tries to leave the house? Or do you ask yourself the same questions because you’ve misplaced your things and can’t find them? Well, there is one simple solution to this problem…create a “Launching Pad” in your entryway.
A launching pad is simply a place to store and house those essential items you need every time you walk out of your home. Things like your wallet, keys, sunglasses, coat, shoes, etc. By designating and establishing a spot near the entryway to stow all of these essentials, you’ll save yourself and everyone else a ton of time, energy and frustration.
Here are 6 easy steps to create your own launching pad. Let’s count-down to a simple “launch”:
6. Analyze your habits to determine which entryway is the most used spot for entering and exiting the home. This spot may be the front door, back door, garage door, or the mudroom. Whatever the case, look for space on a wall near this entryway to set up your site.
5. Designate a landing strip for your keys, wallet, phones, sunglasses, mail, etc. This can be a flat surface such as a shelf or small console table with a plate, bowl or basket to capture your items. It could also be a door handle hanging pouch or a hanging wall unit like Umbra’s vertical key and wallet organizer (see below).
TIP: You may want to consider locating this landing strip near a power source to plug in your cell phones and other electronics.
4. Designate an area for shoes and boots. A small bench with baskets underneath works great (see top photo). It gives you a place to sit down to put your shoes on as well as a place to store baskets with extra sets of shoes in them underneath it. You should also consider having a separate rubber mat with raised sides to collect dirt and water from muddy or wet shoes and boots.
3. Install a hook for each person in the home so they can hang up their belongings. I recommend getting a double hook so that each person can hang up both a coat and a backpack or purse (again, see photo at top of post). Designating a hook for each person gives them ownership of their space and property….and hopefully a sense of responsibility too.
2. Store hats, scarves, gloves and sunglasses in small bins on a shelf above the coats. Just like the coat hooks, I recommend assigning each person their own basket or bin. That way each person will know exactly which bin to look in for their stuff.
TIP: Consider adding an additional bin or hook for your pets to store things like leashes, toys, treats and plastic bags for cleaning up…you know what ;o)
1. Now…make it a habit to always drop off…hang up…and stow away all of the items mentioned above EVERY time you enter the home. If it will help, put a sticky note on the door to remind you where to put things. With just a little repetition you’ll make it a habit in no time.
That’s it. Are you ready? Three…Two…One…we have blast off! Safe travels!
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