This Minimalist Japanese Entry Bench Solves Winter Gear Overload – Even in Small, Cluttered Entryways

Winter gear has a way of overwhelming even the most organized entryway. Bulky boots, large bags, and knitted accessories pile up quickly, making the space feel chaotic the moment you walk through the door.

This Yamazaki Home Storage Bench, available at Amazon, is the smart solution. With built-in storage and a slim, streamlined profile, it provides a dedicated place for winter essentials without sacrificing style or visual calm – even when organizing small entryways.

Better still, it doesn't make quick access tricky, maintaining efficiency when you're rushing out the door.

The Yamazaki Home Entryway Storage Rack

One of the golden rules of a clutter-free entryway is to add as much storage as you can without the storage itself becoming clutter. Bags and shoes littering the floor instantly make an entryway look cluttered, after all, but closed-off cabinet storage and crate-style storage benches can make quick access tricky, especially when sharing the entry with the rest of your family in a morning rush.

Add in a host of additional winter gear, such as extra coats, bigger boots, umbrellas, hats, and gloves for every member of your household, and the whole space becomes that much more chaotic.

Cathy Orr, professional home organizer and co-founder of The Uncluttered Life says, 'A beautiful console table or artwork placed at the front door is welcoming. A tripping hazard of shoes and boxes is not.'

The key is to find small entryway storage solutions that balance accessibility with tidiness. The Yamazaki Home Shoe Storage Bench, also from Wayfair, strikes the perfect balance. It offers hidden storage to reduce visual clutter in an entryway without making access more difficult.

The open sides allow you to quickly tuck away everyday essentials like shoes, gloves, or small bags, helping you break the common habit of tossing things on the floor. Meanwhile, the sleek closed front helps you reduce visual clutter in an entryway, instantly calming the space.

With thoughtful additions like this, even the busiest household can maintain an entryway that is both functional and visually appealing.

Cathy finds benches like these to be one of the best solutions for entryways. 'There are plenty of storage ideas for shoes at the front door. These include shoe racks, both open and closed, a storage bench, and even a basket [such as the large woven crate baskets from Target]. The shoes at the front door need to be contained so that the entry is clear at all times.'

She emphasizes that the key is not just storage, but intentional storage. For example, this storage bench can serve multiple purposes: It provides a place to sit while putting on shoes, keeps gear out of sight, and makes the clear floor policy easier to maintain.

It's a simple win that delivers time and time again, no matter the season.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

Cathy Orr

Cathy is a cofounder of The Uncluttered Life and the Declutter Deck. She is also a certified master in the KonMari method.

With the clutter taken care of, make your entryway more relaxing with some practical decor.