My purses kept cluttering up my entryway until I found this nifty renter-friendly solution – now they’re organized and easy to grab

I used to keep my purses on the stairs in my entryway, which was convenient but caused a tripping hazard. This was a pain until I started using a renter-friendly belt hanger.

A metal rotating belt hanger from Amazon helps me keep all my purses neatly organized and in one place, which makes it easy to find the style I want before I leave the house. Pro organizers agree that this is a clever solution and have shared the pros and cons of using this method.

If you’re looking for entryway storage ideas that will keep all your small bags in check, this is one that I highly recommend.

Belt hangers are renter-friendly and expand storage immediately

I am one of those people who likes to leave the house with everything but the kitchen sink. This means I like having all my purses in my entryway, as this makes it easy to swap my sunglasses, keys, and makeup between my different ones. However, keeping these on my stairs caused me to trip a few times, and it also looked unsightly.

I was scoping out entryway storage ideas that were renter-friendly to try and solve this, and I found this clever umbrella-shaped hanger, which looked just the right shape for hanging on purses.

I’ve been using it for over a month now, and it has been a game-changer. The sleek design adds a contemporary touch to my entryway and the accessible hooks make it a breeze to grab whichever purse I want.

Unlike using a flat hook organizer, this uses a small amount of horizontal space (I do like the Bexikou over-the-door hooks from Walmart, though).

This means I have more room for my coats and jackets that I keep hanging up in the same space. It has eight hooks on it, which is more than enough for all my purses. It’s also made from a sturdy metal, so it can handle plenty of weight without straining.

I’m just using one for purses in my entryway, but you can also use the hooks for scarves, jewelry, and drying clothing indoors. I’m going to try using one for the latter, as I think it would hook onto an airer perfectly.

Pros of using belt hangers as purse storage

Want to give this a try? There are so many reasons why this is one of my top small entryway storage ideas:

• Cost-effectiveness: ‘Belt hangers are compact, inexpensive, and a great way to get your purses off the floor or out of a pile,’ says Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer and the founder of Shantae-ize Your Space.
• Ideal size: ‘They work especially well for smaller bags, clutches, or crossbodies with thinner straps,’ Shantae continues.
• Space-saving: ‘If you’re short on closet space, hanging your bags vertically like this can really open things up,’ Shantae adds.

Cons of using belt hangers as purse storage

Even though I love this idea and it's worked brilliantly in my rented home, there are a few reasons why it might not be suitable for everyone:

• Bag size limitation: ‘Heavier bags or ones with wide straps might slide off or put too much pressure on the hanger,’ Shantae says.
• Closet space usage: ‘Using this type of storage for large bags in a smaller closet can take up a chunk of the closet usually needed for clothes,’ explains Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc.
• Material care: ‘If you're not careful, hanging too many bags can lead to creasing or distortion, especially for softer materials,’ Shantae adds.

Top tips for using belt hangers as purse storage

I recommend adjusting the straps of your bags if you have ones that are a similar size. This will make sure that the bags don’t squash each other, so they don’t get misshapen or damaged.

If you want to give your bags more stability, Shanae recommends adding shower hooks or S-hooks to the hanger. ‘This will also help avoid squishing straps,’ she adds. I haven’t done this yet, but I’ve added the highly-rated Evob hooks from Amazon to my basket to give this a go.

As well as this, she suggests rotating your bags. ‘Do this every so often so they don’t sit in the same position for too long!’ I change my bags depending on my outfit so this isn’t much of an issue, but if you know your bags are going to be out of use for weeks at a time, this is worth trying.

Entryway essentials

Meet the experts

Shantae Duckworth

Shantae is a passionate professional organizer and the founder of Shantae-ize Your Space. She helps clients declutter and transform their homes into functional, peaceful sanctuaries. Plus, she specializes in decluttering and repurposing items.

Barbara Brock

Barbara is the founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., which is a professional organizing and staging company. She was also previously the president of the US National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. She loves trying different storage methods.

I’m thrilled that I now have all my purses in one place, which makes leaving the house so much less stressful.

Want to carry on sprucing up your entryway? Finding out the things people with organized entryways always do and the golden rules for an organized entryway will also come in useful.