Winter is coming, so your entryway closet has to be ready to accommodate a lot, from puffer jackets to woolen mittens. Not sure where to begin? Don’t sweat it. We’ve gathered our top tips for getting your coat closet organized so you and your family can get layered up and out the door.

Stay seasonal

Clear out anything from your closet that you won’t need for the next few months. Think rain jackets, flip flops and the like. Store those items elsewhere and pull together your family’s winter gear. If you know you’ll be adding or replacing anything, take those things into account as you plan your storage.

Cool tip: Donate or sell gently used winter coats from previous years. Some retailers will accept donations in exchange for store credit.

Hang coats by length

Do you have both long and short coats? You’ll want to sort them by their lengths.

If your closet has only one pole and you’re not planning to redesign it, put the longer coats toward the side of the closet and the shorter ones in the middle. This is to allow for easy access to boot and shoe storage that can be placed on the floor in the center of the closet.

If you’re designing a new closet system, include long-hang and double-hang rods and use the double-hang rods for the kids’ outerwear, peacoats and other waist-length coats.

Cool tip: Help the kids become more self-sufficient by storing their coats on the lower rod.

Even a small entryway closet can house a lot of coats when you install long-hang and double-hang rods.

Make room for shoes (and boots)

Remove extraneous items from the floor of the closet. This is the best area for shoes and boots to sit. Use a shoe rack or cube organizer for simple storage. Alternatively, go vertical with a rack that mounts on the back of the door.

A cube organizer can hold several pairs of shoes. Take advantage of the top of it for taller footwear like boots.

Installing a new closet system? Choose one with accessories that include shoe shelving.

Cool tip: If you’re keeping your shoes and boots directly on the floor, lay a sheet of plastic or a rubber tray underneath them to protect the surface from melted snow, mud and salt.

Accommodate accessories

It’s not just coats and shoes that help us stay warm in winter. All those smaller accessories (you know, scarves, gloves, hats…) need a home when we’re indoors.

Take inventory of each item you own before making an organization plan. This will guide you to what kind of storage you require.

Have a lot of mittens, ear muffs and other pieces that could easily get lost? Stow them in a fabric bin, a hanging organizer or a built-in drawer.

A hoarder of scarves and hats? Hooks and door racks work well for these knit accessories.

Shelving can support fabric drawers and bulkier accessories like chunky scarves and cardigan sweaters.

Cool tip: Keep slippers or wooly socks in the coat closet to change into when you come in from a cold day.

With a more efficient coat closet, work and school days will go more smoothly and snow days will be more fun!