I Showed a Pro Organizer My Entryway, and She Got It All Cozy and Ready for Fall

Seasonal transitions are my favorite — especially at home. The end-of-summer ritual of bringing heavy blankets out of storage, dusting off the slow cooker, and sprinkling a few decorative pumpkins around the house always feels delightful. And one spot that benefits the most from a seasonal reset? The entryway.

Because it’s the first impression when you (and your guests) walk through the door, it deserves attention. With fall around the corner, making room for coats and boots is essential. The weather might not be fully chilly yet, but preparation is key — which makes this the perfect moment for an end-of-summer declutter. I chatted with Mindy Godding, founder of Abundance Organizing and former president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, to get her help as I gave my entryway a fall glow-up. Here are her top tips!

The star of my entryway is a shoe cabinet with a small top drawer from Wayfair. While it works beautifully for shoes, the drawer was a total disaster. Godding had me take everything out and sort items into categories. Most of it ended up being trash, but I picked up a couple of small and medium organizers to corral the rest. Now, only the essentials live in the drawer — like an extra mail key and pet supplies — and it actually closes without chaos spilling out.

Here on the East Coast, mornings are already dipping into the 50s. I love taking my dog out for a chilly morning walk, and that means coats are back in the rotation. I’ve long used the small hooks by my door for keys, but jackets always ended up piled there, burying the keys in the process. Godding offered a simple solution: “I would recommend a tray on top of the shoe cabinet for catching sunglasses, keys, and anything else that typically drops on the surface,” she says. Moving the keys freed up the hooks for jackets and cold-weather accessories — no new furniture required.

Even a small entryway can feel welcoming with thoughtful touches. Godding suggests layering in seasonal elements: “You can add a decorative candle, a houseplant, or a floral arrangement with fall vibes.” I gave the top of my shoe cabinet some personality with a decorative pumpkin and a cozy fall candle. The added scent makes the space feel instantly inviting when guests walk in — and it makes me happy every time I come home.

A fall entryway refresh doesn’t require a major overhaul. With just 30 to 45 minutes, a quick declutter, a little reorganizing, and a few seasonal accents, the space can feel brand-new. Now, my entryway is both functional and cozy.