In most households, getting out of the door is never as straightforward as we like it to be, with vital items going missing: That coat you were going to wear is nowhere to be found, and a pile of clutter has sat itself on top of your now hidden keys.
That’s why one professional cleaner swears setting up ‘Launch Pads’ by the front door is the instant fix that will help you get out of the door more easily than ever before, with zero stress.
It’s an entryway organizing tip that is especially useful for busy households, large families, those with children or grandchildren to usher in and out of the house, as well as those living in compact spaces where storage doesn’t always exist where we would like, or becomes crammed regularly.
What is the Launch Pad Organzing Method?
Miguel Olivera, a Bark professional cleaner from Advanced Eco Cleaning Concepts, says adding a Launch Pad to your entryway is a simple setup that will banish the daily household scramble for keys and coats.
He says, ‘Think of your entryway as mission control. A well-designed Launch Pad means everyone knows exactly where their essentials live, ending that frantic where-are-my-keys dance each morning.’
Many homes have one coat closet by the front door that’s crammed and that quickly becomes useless, Miguel explains. ‘I recommend installing wall-mounted hooks to create an overflow space system.’
Our cleaning and organizing pro pinpoints the smart storage ideas to use in your Launch Pad, including a key organizer with individual hooks for each family member. ‘Label everything,’ Miguel explains. ‘Even adults benefit from visual cues. Use different colored hooks or labels to cut down on confusion.’
He recommends the stylish, minimalist, and very handy magnetic, wall-mounted organizer from Yamazaki Home, especially if you have loose keys you don’t want to lose, as well as the Juvale Messageboard and key hook from Target, which comes with a chalkboard for noting reminders of things to remember in the morning rush.
‘It's not just about organization,’ Miguel adds. ‘It's about cutting decision fatigue and morning stress. I know families that have adopted this system and now save on average 20 minutes every morning. That’s a saving in time and stress too.’
And it’s not just about the clever organizing products themselves, but the height at which you place them.
‘Install some at the right height for your kids and the adults in the home,' Miguel says. 'If your five-year-old can't reach the hook, know that their jacket will end up on the floor.’
Whilst some professional organizers swear by allocated baskets in the entryway to reduce visual clutter, Miguel urges you to skip the shoe basket.
‘It can and will turn into a chaos bin,’ he says. ‘Go for individual cubbies or a shoe cabinet to keep pairs together and off the floor. I always tell my clients: One pair out, one pair away. The trick is to remember that your Launch Pad is only for items in daily rotation.’
Storing out-of-season clothes somewhere else, such as inside your underbed storage, or in lidded plastic bins in the garage or basement, will mean fewer pairs clogging up your entryway, allowing your Launch Pad to stay functional and streamlined throughout the winter.
Miguel loves the Oceanrack 2-Tier bamboo shoe rack from Walmart, and a cubed SONGMICS shoe storage cabinet. We particularly like the stackable and easily customized Aveya 72-pair cube organizer from Wayfair, which comes in black or white.
Don't Forget a Drop Zone
If you add a drop zone in your entryway or mudroom, space allowing, that will capture other clutter and give you somewhere targeted to search when you need a ‘leaving the house’ item, as well as keeping the space visually clear for you and guests.
‘Large bags that are dumped on the floor when you get inside your home create instant visual clutter, which adds stress,’ Miguel explains. ‘I recommend creating a drop zone for each family member for school backpacks, work bags, and gym bags, so nothing piles up.
The final element to consider is a pretty small tray or dish for items like wallets, sunglasses, or the garage door opener. I personally use a small wicker tray from Amazon that looks decorative and encourages biophilic decluttering, and is always holding the same items.
Building these habits and having set homes for key items will banish that mad rush in the morning because nothing is in the spot you thought it was.
Miguel adds, ‘Size matters. Make it too big and it’ll become a junk magnet. Too small, and things will spill over.’
Golden Rules For Setting Up and Maintaining Your Launch Pads
- Location: Miguel reminds us that location is everything. ‘Place your Launch Pad near the exit you use the most – the garage, side door, or front door, you know your own home the best!
- Simplicity: ‘Whatever happens, keep your Launch Pad simple. If the organizing system you choose requires a PhD to understand, it won't last. The easier the routine, the more likely the whole family will get involved and follow it.’
- Inclusion: Avoiding age-appropriate tasks for children is one thing people with tidy homes never do. That’s why it’s important to keep your Launch Pad elements simple to understand and maintain, and within reach.
- Adaptability: Finally, Miguel says, ‘As the season changes, think about updating what’s needed in your Launch Pad. Swap out the winter gloves and ice scrapers for a handy tray of sunscreen and pool passes.’
What to shop
This is exactly the type of wicker tray that will serve you so well in your Launch Pad space. Shallow for easy visibility and compact to avoid it become a dumping ground.
What's not to love? Miguel's pick has a chalkboard and whiteboard area to make quick notes, as well as space to hold your keys and mail.
Having a finite space for shoes forces you to keep only the items in use on display in your launch pad. Store the surplus, or sell/donate any items you haven't worn in the last year.
Adapting your organizing systems over time is one of the key ways to ensure your time and effort do not go to waste. If your entryway constantly has a pile in the corner, work with it, not against it, and consider the desire path decluttering method, where you place a storage solution in the area that always accumulates ‘stuff’.
For more smart methods, delve into our tried and tested Decluttering Library.
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