Before Breakfast Keep shoes by the door
5 snips
Mar 31, 2026 A quick habit to ditch last-minute shoe hunts by keeping footwear by the door. Stories of how a mudroom rule becomes automatic for kids and adults. Practical perks like less dirt tracking and faster departures. Tips to also stash keys, coats, umbrellas and backpacks at the entry. A reminder to favor function over entry aesthetics.
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Keep Everyday Shoes By The Door
- Do keep everyday shoes by the door you use to leave so they are always available when you need to go out.
- Laura Vanderkam keeps family shoes in the mudroom so children automatically remove shoes at entry and the needed pairs are ready for weekday departures.
Family Rule Eliminated Missing Shoe Chaos
- Anecdote: Laura rarely has missing-shoe chaos because her kids remove shoes at the door and leave them in the mudroom by habit.
- She enforces the rule so consistently that her children take shoes off on entering other people's houses too.
Choose Function Over Aesthetics In The Entryway
- Do prioritize function over aesthetics in entryway storage so essential items are accessible even if it looks messy.
- Laura accepts dozens of pairs on her mudroom floor because that visible clutter ensures on-time departures.