Clutter challenge - the entryway

Today the Living Well Spending Less blog gave the challenge of de-cluttering the entryway.  Coincidentally, I had started this project a week or two ago on my own, so I had a head start.  Our front door opens into a very small area, with the stairs to the second floor immediately in front of you.  There is no room for a bench or any other furniture.  We are fortunate to have a closet, which I was working on organizing.  (Unfortunately I did not take a before photo, so this before and after is not that impressive!)  Here is what I will call my "in progress" photo:

I try to keep only coats, shoes, cold weather gear and bags/backpacks in this closet.  The top shelf is the area that I started working on last week.  (Just imagine lots of hats and jackets jumbled up together on the shelf.)  I purchased 4 baskets from Target and mini chalkboards, also from Target (in the scrap-booking section) to label them with.

My baskets are labeled bags, hats, rain coats and snow pants and tied to the baskets with ribbon.  (The basket labeled "bags" is to the far left of the shelf, where the closet extends and is not pictured.)  Living in Wisconsin, we have lots of winter gear.  The blue and white polka dot baskets on top of the shoe organizer are labeled with my kids' names and are filled with their scarves, mittens, gloves and hats.  It is easily accessible for them and they are responsible for keeping those items in their baskets.

I was able to get rid of 4 pairs of shoes that were either worn out or outgrown & I reorganized the rest of the shoes.  We still have too many and they are overflowing the organizer!  Here is the after:

This closet needs to be straightened on a daily basis to keep it looking good.  My kids are responsible for putting away their own shoes, coats and backpacks (hooks for these are on the inside right of the closet).

Now I am going to light my favorite candle - Pumpkin Pecan Waffles from Bath & Body Works  - and work on the task of the day from the Overstuffed blog.  She suggested making a list of problem areas and specifically which items do not have a home, then prioritize the list and schedule a time each day to work on it.  I have a small chunk of time between when I leave my part-time office job and when my kids get home from school - that will be my organizing time.  Now to make that list!