The simple outdoor stuff solution that might work for your family.
There are certain things in a home that just…migrate.
Socks. Shoes. They’re always all over. And, if you have sporty kids, it’s sports equipment.
No matter how many times you ask (or remind, or step over it yourself), the basketball, the ripstick, the pair of roller blades to be put away, they all end up right by the front door. If you don’t have a garage right in front of your house, it’s even worse. There’s no “quick toss” spot, so everything just lives where it lands.
This usually means you’re dodging a ball and almost tripping when you try to walk through the front door with your groceries. You almost trip and try to regain your balance, then put away the offending item while thinking: this will NEVER happen again…until it does!
This is how I fixed that issue once and for all without yelling at my kids: I acquired an outdoor storage box.
It’s not complicated. It’s not fancy. It’s just a simple, weatherproof box that sits right outside and gives all those homeless items a place to go.
Basketballs? Inside.
Ripsticks? Those fit too.
Random outdoor clutter? Throw it in.
And suddenly, the entryway feels… calmer, clearer, and safer, honestly.
What I love about it (and what I always tell my clients) is this:
Kids have stuff. Kids don’t care as much as we do about keeping our homes tidy but if we give them a good place to keep their things most of them (most of the time) will be happy to comply.
This box works because it meets real life where it happens, right before your kids walk into the house and drop everything. They’re not necessarily going to put this away here and that there when they might be running out to play again in a few moments. But if it’s easy for them, they will drop their stuff straight in, and walk in without the paraphernalia. It’s one of those small, practical solutions that quietly changes how your home functions.
Bonus: it doubles as a bench.
Organizing isn’t about perfection. It’s about noticing the little friction points in your day and solving them in a way that actually works for your family. Even if it’s just… a box outside your front door.
Thank You! This is great for the smaller outdoor paraphernalia!
Any ideas for bike storage for basement tenants? Maybe something that utilizes vertical space?