These Marie Kondo Organizers Are the Secret to Beating Back-to-School Entryway Clutter – Every Permission Slip Finally Has a Home
Keep everything in one place without piles of clutter with these chic Japanese-inspired organizers
The summer break is winding down, and with it the chaos of having the whole family under one roof all day. But the start of the school year doesn't necessarily mean a return to a clutter-free home.
Before long, shoes, backpacks, permission slips, newsletters, and homework begin piling up on every surface around the house. That's where smart entryway organization can make all the difference.
The Japanese-inspired Marie Kondo collection at The Container Store provides everything you need to keep messy paperwork neat and tame the back-to-school chaos as soon as it comes through the door.
This gorgeous Shoji screen-inspired organizer is the perfect drop zone for papers out of your child's bag, with space on the front for a clear name label if you have several children at home.
Organizing paperwork at home can be a nightmare when children leave things in bags or drop them on any available surface and forget about them.
The key to organizing these important documents is to create entryway drop zones. While these are usually used for bags and shoes, having an easily accessible file system for children to empty any paperwork from their bag as they get in gives everything a clear anchor point. You can then sift through everything at once, taking note of newsletters, ensuring homework is complete, and recycling any junk.
The chic, Shoji-inspired collection from Marie Kondo's collaboration with The Container Store makes it easy to create stylish drop zones, bringing a touch of Japanese minimalism to your entryway. The chic designs blend seamlessly with existing decor, helping you stay organized without disrupting the look and feel of your home, while the open tops make them simple and intuitive for even the youngest child to use, helping to introduce children to chores and routines.
Shop the Collection
Below, I've rounded up my favorite picks from the collection for a clutter-free entryway that lasts the whole school year and beyond.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Keep your child's files, newsletters, and permission slips sorted all in one place in multi-child households by designating each their own cubby to leave notes when they get home from school.
Ideal for everything from school accessories to pantry snacks, these drop zone stacking boxes are ideal for items you child may need to grab and leave with first thing in the morning, streamlining the morning rush.
The school clutter doesn't stop at the front door with backpacks and shoes. This divided hamper helps encourage independence in your children and introduces them to chores by pre-sorting laundry as they take it off. This then makes your job simpler, too.
Drop zones are one of the most effective ways of preventing clutter spreading throughout your home. When you or your children get home, bags, shoes, and outdoor accessories can be tossed into a cubby bin for quick storage, keeping everything together to grab out of the door the next day.
For paperwork you need to hold onto long term, such as newsletters, school reports, and medical documents, consider a file unit. These folders come with handy labels to make locating your essential paperwork quick and easy.
Available in two sizes and suited to stacking to create extra vertical storage space, these simple shoe racks help to teach children to put items back when they get home without the hassle of opening cabinets. They reduce friction by keeping storage accessible and prevent clutter from creeping beyond the entryway.
Looking for more permanent upgrades to minimize clutter in the long term? Consider these back-to-school mudroom upgrades.
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