What you need in an excellent back-to-school drop zone
Back-to-school season is here! I remember those first days of school as a kid—packing up my crisp new supplies, laying out my outfit the night before, and snapping that first-day-of-school picture with my siblings before heading off to the bus stop. Getting kids off to school on the right foot establishes the mood for their whole day—and let’s be honest, it makes our day easier too.
I recently read that the moments right after a child gets home from school or daycare are some of the most important of their day. It made me think about how I feel when I come home after a long day. That moment when I step through the door sets the tone for my evening: Will I feel calm and relaxed, or agitated and stressed?
Though entryways, foyers, and mudrooms may not see much action throughout the day, these transition spaces are key to how we start and end our days. A well-organized drop zone can make all the difference between chaotic mornings and smooth, stress-free starts. It also helps ease the transition from the hustle of the workday to peaceful downtime with family.
After all, organizing is for people who are too lazy to look for things 😆—so when everything has its place, getting out the door on time is much simpler, and everyone gets to start the day off right. Here’s what you need to create the perfect back-to-school drop zone in your mudroom or entry.
1. Location, location, location!
Most modern homes have a “mudroom” which is the natural choice for this type of transitional space. But there is nothing saying your drop zone needs to be an entire room, or needs to be hidden away. Determine which door your family uses most frequently and THAT is where your drop zone should be. As soon as family members have to travel to unload from the day, the space loses functionality. A drop zone is only effective if it exists as the first place you step into. Non-traditional ideas could be a spot in your garage, a hallway with hooks and vertical storage, a reconfigured broom closet, or a staircase landing. The smallest space can be a workhorse with the right organization and storage infrastructure!
2. Accessible Space for Outerwear
One of the biggest clutter culprits in an entryway is outerwear (especially in Minnesota). Coats, hats, mittens, and scarves can easily pile up. To avoid this, create an assigned area in your drop zone where outerwear can be easily stored by all family members.
Hooks should be placed at heights that everyone can reach, from adults to the youngest kids. This way, there’s no excuse for coats and snow pants ending up on the floor or slung over furniture. If you have limited wall space, a sturdy coat rack could work well.
For hats, mittens, and scarves, baskets or bins are a perfect solution. Label each bin with the person’s name or use color-coded baskets for easy identification. These bins can be placed on a shelf, inside a bench, or in a cubby, ensuring that everything has its place and is easy to grab on the way out.
The secret to both of these is to choose the number and size of hooks and baskets that you’re willing to maintain. Once those are full, it’s time to purge the excess.
3. The Right Amount of Shoe Storage
Shoe storage is another essential element of an effective drop zone. Without proper organization, shoes can quickly take over the entryway, causing clutter and frustration when you can’t find that matching pair.
Start by determining how many pairs of shoes each person actually needs in this area. And be real. While it might be tempting to store every pair here, consider limiting it to the most frequently worn shoes—perhaps one or two pairs per person. For small children, bins are an excellent option, as they allow little hands to easily put away and retrieve shoes.
Because nothing should live on the floor, I love these type of slim cabinets for small space shoe storage. Low mounted hooks are also a great way to keep wet shoes off the floor. Just like with outerwear, once all the show spots are full, don’t let extras leak onto the floor - instead take a minute to downsize or find a new home for less frequently worn pairs.
4. A Backpack Staging Spot
A place for backpacks is important, especially during the school year. Backpacks tend to be bulky, so giving them a dedicated spot helps keep them from cluttering up other areas of the house.
Set up a backpack staging spot where each child’s backpack can live when they’re not in use. Ideally, this spot should also serve as a place to hold everything that needs to go back to school—whether it’s a lunchbox, water bottle, or school project. Each child should have a hook, cubby, or shelf to store their backpack, making it easy to grab and go each morning.
The backpack staging spot can also be a place where children unload their bags at the end of the day. Encouraging them to empty their backpacks and place everything in its rightful home—whether it’s the bin for homework (see “paper station” below) or the laundry room for dirty clothes—helps build good habits and keeps your drop zone from becoming a dumping ground.
5. A Paper Solution
One of the biggest challenges of the school year is managing the constant flow of papers—projects, permission slips, homework, and information. A paper station in your drop zone can help you stay on top of things and ensure that nothing important gets lost in the shuffle.
For younger children, most of the papers that come home are artwork and projects. A bulletin board or photo rail is a great way to display these pieces right near where the backpacks get unloaded. This creates a fun and personal display space for your child’s creations while keeping them from cluttering up the rest of the house. Once the display area is full, encourage your child to decide which pieces to replace. This helps teach them decision-making skills while keeping the space organized.
As children get older, the types of papers that come home change—homework assignments, permission slips, and important information start to take over. For these items, create a system where papers are prominently displayed until they’ve been addressed. You could use a file sorter, clipboards, or a wall-mounted organizer to keep everything visible and easy to access. Once a paper has been handled, recycle it immediately to prevent pileups.
5. A Spot for Keys, Sunglasses, and Wallets
We’ve all experienced that frantic last-minute search for keys, sunglasses, or wallets. To avoid this morning stress, set up a specific spot in your drop zone for these essential items. A small tray, a wall-mounted organizer, or a drawer can work perfectly for this purpose.
The key here (no pun intended😉) is to make this space easy to access but limited in size. By keeping it small, you avoid the temptation to overfill it with non-essential items. The goal is for this spot to serve as the one and only place where these items live. When everyone knows where their keys, sunglasses, and wallets belong, you eliminate the need for hectic searches as you head out the door.
Extra credit for Drop Zone Success:
Every family’s routine is different, so your drop zone should be customized to fit your specific needs. Think about what items tend to clutter your entryway and design solutions around those. Spare change piling up? Add a change jar to coral it. Papers getting overwhelming? Place a recycling bin at the door to immediately drop junk mail and other unnecessary papers before they even hit the countertop.
Whether it's adding a space for sports equipment, musical instruments, or even pet supplies, tailoring your drop zone to your family’s lifestyle will make it more effective.
The perfect back-to-school drop zone is all about functionality and simplicity. By creating designated spaces for outerwear, shoes, backpacks, papers, and everyday essentials, you can keep your home organized and make your mornings smoother. Remember, the key to a successful drop zone is accessibility—make sure everyone in the family can easily use it. With a well-thought-out drop zone, you can turn the chaos of the back-to-school season into a manageable and even enjoyable experience.