Can we see more photos of the mirror wall? Looking now, get rid of all wall
hooks in tiny entry and get rid of the mirror. Instead, put a long wall of multi- tier hooks where mirror was over an open storage bench for shoes and stuff. Can’t really see stairs but consider a stair basket for things that go up.

Please tell me that mirror is secured to the wall so it doesn’t fall onto someone! Whoever invented that leaning mirror look should be banned from ever giving decorating advice.

The first posters are right. That mirror has no place there. It's just clutter--dangerous clutter if it is not well-secured. You need a mirror to check your teeth for spinach before you step out; that's all.

You have a serious quantity of stuff there that even a large wardrobe would be hard-pressed to contain. And a wardrobe between the stairs and the door will look awkward. I think you'll need to live with everything being exposed, especially with a stroller and carry seat. A hall tree bench would possibly work; it would at least corral the jackets and shoes (if there was a bottom shelf).

Why is everyone coming through the front door? Isn't there another entrance with a mud area?

What bothers you the most? The shoes, the bags, the hats, or the coats?

It looks like your family is well trained to leave shoes off in the house. That means it could be relatively easy to add a new habit.

Often the cure for an over-used area is to sort through its contents quickly and relentlessly every weekend. Extra shoes, jackets and hats go back to bedrooms. With a baby and young child, there will be an abundance of stuff for several years.

What is the low white piece under the window? Will it open to hold shoes? The mirror wall is where you need a mudroom system. Clear out the entry and change the hangers on the two small mirrors that are beside the window so you can hang them in the entrance, above a floating shelf.

following

I understand what you're going through! But we only have to deal with coats for a short amount of time in South Texas.

What is the area around the living room window used for?

I would install two short wardrobes on either side of the window and a bench with shelves under for shoes. It would have to be custom so the height of the wardrobes would come underneath the side square window and be narrow enough to not block the light switches. Instead of a rod inside, you could have hooks for the coats and the doors would hide everything nicely.

Good luck!

(excuse the crude mock up)

Two things: the ikea Hemnes shoe cabinet (or two. Or three.) and discipline. No, seriously. especially with little kids, teach them to put their shoes in their cubby when they come in. If one of them goes to preschool, they have that kind of routine anyway so she should fall into it, especially if you do, too!

IKEA Hemnes

Or, you could have a console table along the wall, even in front of the mirror, and a couple of shoe trays under it.

Now, do as I say, not as I do! For better or worse, my commonest entry is out of sight, so there is a whole Payless of shoes on a row of 3 shoe trays along the wall under our coat hooks. We have no incentive to keep them at bay since we don't see them. But, at least they are in the trays, contained, not scattered on the floor. Somehow, the same mess contained looks tidier than on the floor.

And I know, with little ones it often seems like you come through the door and head right to the bathroom/changing table or meal prep (sorry to use those in the same sentence, but it’s true!). But if you can take the extra 35 seconds, yes, just 35, to take off everyone’s shoes and put them away, keys in the top drawer or in a tray/bowl/basket on top (that will be so much easier than a drawer so that might be your best bet) it will be so tidy.

What kind of bags are you talking about? Tote bags? Your purse? Backpacks? Most can go on hooks hung at the appropriate height for the user. If there’s room in a Hemnes for your purse and extra shopping/tote bags, put them in there.

Also, can the older child reach a hook? We installed two staggered peg-hook strips, one a little lower for when the kids were little but not so low that they aren’t useful by all of us. I think you need hooks in the doorway entry, if only for the kids’ jackets, then yours could go in a wardrobe/cupboard elsewhere, like CD’s idea.

Think about this: you would never take off your coat and leave it on the floor, right? Think the same way about your shoes.

I‘m not sure there is room for a wardrobe between the door and the stairs. So CD’s idea for under the front window is cute, you can probably find something that will work at ikea, even it it isn’t wardrobes. Think kitchen cabinets? Tall uppers, installed on the floor, no shelves?

Establish a coming-in-the-house routine, with the shoes in their cubby, the keys in a bowl, mail in a basket, it will really help Most of all. I remember an interview with the guy who started the Container Store. He said they sell tools, but they don’t work if they aren’t used.

I am not seeing a leaning mirror. It looks like a mirror all around the doorway. I have never seen anything like that.

Your problem is that you are trying to stuff 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag and you have to trek through it all to get in and out of the door. There is just too much stuff that you are expecting to store there.

I agree with other posters who advise that you abandon the idea of hanging all of that outerwear in that space, find some other place for it, or seriously edit what is kept there.

I have a few hooks in a non entry hallway in my house and it is so helpfull all year long to hang things that are in and out of use. It keeps things from being hung from the backs of chairs or piled in a corner. It is so very helpful as a temporary resting place but has to be cleared often. Perhaps, just perhaps, you could find another place in your house to hang outerwear so that there is an easy place to keep it at hand, but, not necessarily right at the door. Who says that you have to put your coat on or off right there in the entry way? And, do you really need that many shoes right there? Edit, edit, edit!!!

My son's family do much this same thing, but, since they are in Florida, there are not coats hanging, just lots of shoes. My SisIL's entry way was always a big pile o' mess with three big boys and lots of boots and heavy coats in the small area. The boys have all grown and the house was sold. That was always a mess!

by all means, if you have a leaning mirror, get rid of it. I don't see it.

Oh, my! Moving a wall is a drastic action to find a place to hang outerwear!

Hi Stella,

Looks like you're a very busy mum with small, active children!

There is stuff everywhere!

Honestly?

I think the entire visual clutter of the whole room is stressing you out, there are no shelves, no toy boxes, strollers, baby seats, pack n plays, shoes, coats, and the albatross of course is all the mirrors that are reflecting all the clutter, making it even worse.

You don't have time for all this, you need everything at your fingertips for quick and easy access.

That huge mirror is where the storage needs to start, agree with the other posters.