The hallway is the first thing you see when you enter your home. Visually and emotionally, it sets the tone for the rest of your house and how you feel coming back to it.
So, if you're met with cluttered hallway, it's likely you're not going to feel particularly comfortable navigating through the mess — and that first impression counts. I've certainly had far too many fights with coats cascading off overloaded hooks, and I've squashed countless shoes into whatever gap I can find in the storage bench.
What you should declutter from your hallway this New Year
As we head into the New Year, it’s the perfect time to reset this overlooked area
Julian Thomas, Command Brand
I asked two decluttering experts for their advice on clearing out your hallway; Julian Thomas, Command Brand partner and DIY/home lifestyle expert and Kaylie Hill, Scotch-Brite ambassador and cleaning influencer.
Both well-versed in keeping a tidy home, they shared the five things you should get rid of, now, to fix an overcluttered hallway. So, Thomas says, you can set yourself off into the New Year with intention:
"Hallways aren’t just passageways — they’re transition spaces," he says. "If they’re cluttered, they make you feel rushed, scattered, and unprepared. If they’re organized, they instantly make your home feel more intentional from the moment you walk in. So as we head into the New Year, it’s the perfect time to reset this overlooked area with a few strategic edits."
1. Shoe overflow
It might feel really obvious to mention shoes when it comes to a messy hallway, because we're all guilty of letting shoes become a real problem. After all, you don't want to tread them into your house past the hallway, so where else are they going to go?
Thomas's advice? "Keep one or two everyday pairs by the door and relocate the rest to a shoe closet. Less tripping hazard, more breathing room."
And when it comes to what you do with the shoes left in your hallway, Hill suggests: "Place a storage bench, cabinet, or baskets for only a select few to be stores. It's important to leave empty space here, otherwise you run the risk of shoes making their way to a pile on the floor." Guilty.
2. Mail and packages
When mail and packages arrive, it's way too easy to just leave them by the door as a "I'll deal with that when I get a chance" and then slowly (or quite quickly during the holidays), they begin to accumulate. So, what do the experts have to say about how to reduce this clutter?
Hill suggests tackling the mess first and implementing good habits:
"Start by sorting through unopened mail, tossing out junk, and filing away any important documents. Next, open and break down boxes. Immediately put away items from those boxes and designate a box for items to be returned."
And Thomas has an extra step you can take that'll reduce the waste altogether: "Connect with your local post office to remove your name from unsolicited mailing lists. It's a small step that dramatically cuts down the amount of paper clutter you bring into your home in the first place."
Honestly, I can't believe I haven't thought of doing this sooner – like unsubscribing from inbox-clogging emails.
3. Bags and coats
In the same way as shoes, bags and coats are easily collected in the hallway. It seems like the best place for them, right? But when is it considered too many coats and bags? Well, when the hallway looks cluttered and you're wrestling with them every time you want to go out.
As Thomas puts it so succinctly: "Hallways hooks often become a museum of coats, so only keep in-season essentials there. Everything else goes in a bedroom or coat closet." He says by doing so, you might even become inspired to declutter.
And Hill thinks you should take it one step further, if you're feeling like really decluttering: "Implement the one coat – one bag rule for each person in your home," she says. "All other items should be stored in a closet."
"Donate the coats and bags you don't really wear, and place the chosen ones in a hallway closet or on hooks by the door." As long as you've got the closet space nearby, this one seems totally achievable.
4. Excess decor
As a bit of strange space in your home where you're keen to make an impression, it can be tempting to try and bring some life into your hallway with decor. But, your decor could be having the opposite effect.
"If you have decor like vases or benches that disrupt the flow consider removing them," says Hill. "Additionally, if your walls are stacked with artwork, photos, and frames, try to rethink how you can simplify the display to make the hallway feel more calm and inviting."
After all, it's the entryway to your home and should represent how you want to feel when you come inside. Thomas adds that to do this, you should only keep decor that serves a purpose: "Hallways are narrow and anything oversized, wobbly, or nonfunctional creates visual clutter. A single mirror or a small gallery moment works. Focus on pieces that help you get out the door faster."
If someone could tell me what those pieces are that'll get my kids out the door faster, that'd be great.
5. Excessive storage
This might sound contradictory, but sometimes having storage solutions in your hallway is the worst thing you can do. Thomas says: "They take up walking space and collect clutter." And I totally agree.
I used to have a floor bin where I'd put in the miscellaneous items like scarves, hats, gloves for grabbing on the way out the door. But, they'd overflow across the hallway when you'd inevitably go digging to find what you're looking for. So, Thomas suggests instead: "Swap them for minimal, vertical solutions like wall hooks."
And if a storage solution isn't doing the trick at containing your clutter, you could revisit the other four suggestions in this list to reduce the clutter you have in the first place.
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