5 Design Ideas To Manage Winter Gear

Winter is here in Chicagoland! And with the frozen days and snowy weather comes a lot of outdoor gear, most of it ready to bring mud, ice, slush, salt, and snow into your home. But before you resign yourself to months of soggy entryways and dripping, bulky coat racks, there are a number of ways to keep even the harshest outdoors weather where it belongs — out of your home. Check out a few design ideas that will help you manage the worst that a Chicagoland winter can throw at you, while still looking stylish and functional come springtime.

1. Create A Designated "Landing Space"

Let's face it, wet outdoor gear is coming inside whether we like it or not. Creating a landing area for that gear can help offer a gentle reminder to shed winter gear before tracking it through the house. If there is space, a bench provides an easy place to remove boots. Adding a tile floor to the mudroom or entryway can provide a visual reminder that outdoor gear should stay confined to one area.

Adding storage below the bench can provide a way to keep wet, muddy boots from sitting in your entryway. Shelves or wire baskets can keep shoes off the floor and provide safe storage. If you are plagued by wet footwear, a boot dryer can be a great addition to your entryway, allowing shoes and boots to be dried overnight. If you'd prefer not to add a dryer, boot pegs that allow you to store your boots and shoes upside down can be a great way to promote drying. Adding an abrasive mat or brush outside can also help members of your household to remove accumulated dirt, snow, and salt from shoes before stepping in the door.

2. Heavy Duty Gear Needs Heavy Duty Hooks

Adding hooks for heavy winter coats, backpacks, and other winter gear can keep wet gear from piling up on the floor, and can help keep coats and sweaters warm and dry. In addition, adding hooks to the wall can be a visual reminder that encourages children or visitors to hang their items up upon returning home. To avoid dripping water damaging your walls, place a corkboard surface behind the hooks. 

When choosing hooks, make sure they are sturdy enough to hold heavy backpacks or waterlogged coats. Properly anchor hooks into your walls using drywall anchors can prevent damage to your walls or valuables.

3. Air Circulation Is Key

To properly dry out your winter gear, air circulation is essential. Winter gear that is crumpled or stuffed into a drawer won't dry out, and can cause mold or mildew. Any mudroom or entryway planning should account for the need for proper air circulation for wet items.

For shoes, a wire rack or wire drawers set over a plastic drip tray can keep your floors from becoming damaged by wet boots, while allowing items to dry completely. For scarves, mittens, gloves, and hats, wire or wicker baskets can keep things organized and clutter free while allowing all of your items to thoroughly dry. 

4. Set Up Garage Storage For Winter Sports Equipment 

Winter in Chicagoland is a great time to encourage outdoor play. But sleds, skis, snowboards, and hockey gear can take over your garage if you're not careful. Keeping sports and outdoor equipment properly stored makes sure it is easy to find and doesn't get damaged. Hanging or wall-mounted storage can keep skis and snowboards off the floor and out of the way. If mounting or hanging equipment isn't possible, freestanding storage racks can provide a convenient way to safely organize your gear.

For winter sports, wire storage racks and bins are a great option to keep equipment organized and easy-to-find without taking up too much space. As with all cold weather gear, ensuring that air can properly circulate through equipment will help keep your things dry and in good condition. 

5. Customizable Options Can Keep Winter Items Organized

If you're trying to keep track of scarves, hats, gloves, and coats for multiple members of the household, baskets labeled for each member of the household, an upcycled mail organizer, or a repurposed hanging shoe rack can help to combat clutter and keep items easy to find. Giving each member of the family their own designated area to store items makes it more likely that they'll stay organized. 

When Home Means More, You Need a Team With More to Offer

Ready to find the home that will give you the space to store all your winter items with ease? Your local Baird & Warner agent is here to help make the journey easier from beginning to end.

Home is about so much more than just four walls. Buying or selling a home is a big deal, and with everything we experienced in the last year, our homes have never been more important. That's why your local Baird & Warner agent is with you at every step of the way, with the tools and support you need to make your real estate journey easier — including in-house connections with local experts in mortgage and title. 

So whether you're looking for your starter home or you're ready to move on to one with more space to live out your home design dream, your Baird & Warner agent can help you through every part of the buying and selling process.