Get This Look: Built-In Drop Zone

The entry to your home is the gateway into your life… and usually has the clutter to go along with it. If you’re not able to have a full mudroom or even a tucked-away space to hide your stuff, you can still have an area to corral your belongings with a built-in drop zone like this one. (image via Better Homes and Gardens)

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6 Tips for a Built-in Drop Zone

1. Give It Some Moulding

The difference between a bland look and simple but stylish look can be as easy as some moulding! The trim around this small window gives it architectural style without drawing too much attention, and the crown molding around the top of the built-in cabinet pulls it all together. Simple, but classic and easy to change colors and styles when you feel like it. Learn how to add crown molding to cabinetry, and then head over to Make It and Love It for a beginner’s guide to adding window frames.

2. Add A Simple Window Covering

When you’ve beefed up your window(s) with some beautiful trim, you don’t need a window covering that draws attention to itself. A simple roman shade is the perfect fit for a trimmed window. Learn how to make a fully operational roman shade from our guest 33 Shades of Green, or make a no-sew version following our tutorial.

3. Build In Shelves and Cubbies

You know that we have a big-time crush on built-ins. They are a fabulous storage solution! Leave them open and store things in baskets, or put doors on them to hide the clutter. And we’ve got all the plans for you to build what fits your space and needs: build a built-in bookshelf, a built-in corner bookshelf, a set of built-in mudroom cubbies, or a built-in closet from existing furniture pieces.

4. Create a Colorful Collection

An open shelving unit can quickly look cluttered instead of curated. Using the shelf to store a collection of useful and pretty dishes and cookbooks helps keep the look cohesive. Use those inherited dishes that you love, or create your own collection in your favorite colors by shopping around at home decor and thrift stores to find pieces that you love. And the black beadboard shelf backing really makes the colors pop! Yellow is my go-to happy accent color, so I love these fun yellow kitchen accents:

yellow kitchen accessories via #Remodelaholic — a: yellow colander
b: yellow teapot
c: yellow leaf motif sugar bowl
d: yellow mixing bowls
e: yellow crock
f: yellow striped pitcher
g: yellow patterned serving bowl set
h: yellow glass footed bowl
i: yellow baking pan

5. Insert Comfort

A padded or upholstered bench with a couple comfy pillow makes for a great seat while you put your shoes on… or for you patient husband while he waits for you to finish getting ready! Keep the color scheme together by coordinating your pillows with your window shade and matching the colors in your open shelving display.

6. Hide Away The Clutter

Hang your coats inside the taller locker-style cabinet to the left, and put other accessories in baskets beneath the bench. See how Julie from Being Home built a fabulous mudroom bench and the rolling shoe drawers to go with it.