Many organizing issues begin the moment people step inside their homes or offices, because there's no designated spot for the keys, the sunglasses, the wallet, the incoming mail, etc. Some people will also need a place for outgoing mail so they remember to grab it on the way out the door.
For those who have a switch plate near the door, the Walhub from Upwell Design could solve the problem; just replace the existing switch plates with Walhubs. This design will appeal to people who want an extremely simple installation (or who aren't allowed to create new holes in the walls) and those who have extremely limited space to work with.
People with limited space who don't need a mail storage solution may like the Strikey from Objeti (designed with 2nd Shift Studios, which has the Keyplate). Installation is simple; the current strike plate is replaced with this new one. And it certainly keeps the keys and such as close to the door as possible. However, not all homes or offices will have enough space to the side of the door to accommodate the Strikey; my home is one of those that doesn't.
The Doorganizer goes over the doorknob, so it keeps things right where they're needed. The not-very-handy will appreciate that it needs no installation at all. It isn't the product for those dealing with large pieces of mail–but it's a good fit for users who just need a place for outgoing letters, shopping lists and such. However, some users noted that small items can get lost in the pockets and can be hard to pull out.
The Do Not Disturb hangers from Officina41 (in collaboration with Officina del Design) look like hotel room door hangers, but they're actually wall hooks with metal shelves—providing a place for keys, mail and more. They won't handle large pieces of mail, but with the hooks and the two shelves (front and rear) they seem quite well designed for holding numerous other things.
The Hook-up Strip Mail Holder and Hooks from Three by Three uses three rare earth magnets to ensure smaller items don't get lost. One caution: Those tiny magnets might be difficult for users with arthritis to handle, and users will want to be sure to keep the magnets away from small children and pets.
This mail holder from Pig and Fish allows users to divide the incoming mail between multiple people. The four pockets could also be used to distinguish between types of mail (bills, catalogs, etc.) or between incoming and outgoing. I'm also glad to see that this mail holder accommodates the oversized envelopes that many other products don't.
Chris Fairchild of In Order created a range of mail organizers with pockets of varying sizes; they also have hooks for the user's keys. The pockets are 3 inches deep, so they hold a lot of mail; some of the pockets are tall enough for the many magazines and catalogs some users get. The board and pockets are covered in chalkboard paint; this means the pockets can be easily labeled, and the organizer can also be used for other notes. Another nice touch: The edges are all routed to be rounded and smooth. These mail organizers are larger than many others—this one is 36 inches wide and 24 inches high, and it's one of Fairchild's smaller products—so they will only work for those with plenty of wall space.
The Butler from Micklish would work well for digitally focused users—there's no place for mail, but there is a place for a smart phone. (The Butler fits many phones, but users would want to confirm the dimensions, including any cases they use.) There's also a place for the user's wallet and keys on the top sleeve, and things like sunglasses can go on the slide-out walnut piece. There's a concealed space for the phone's charging cord. There's also space on the backside for an extension cord if The Butler isn't near an outlet.
A console table is another obvious answer to the entryway storage issue, but the Ryder entryway table from Piet Houtenbos seems especially well designed for this purpose. The slots on the tabletop keep papers in place and allow for in/out or person1/person2 sorting. The drawer could be used for fragile items or for things the user wants to keep more private. The table is only 12 inches deep.
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Comments
These are by far, some of the best ideas I have seen lately on the market, regarding decoration of an entrway. I am working as a small furniture blogger here in Slovenia for community of app. 40 joiners, furniture manufacturers and interior designers and haven't seen in all those years one to present such a thing. Easy, useful, affordable. What else would one need? To be honest; just don't know exactly how a mail organizer on a picture above works (one with wooden stick throug a box). Regards, Matija
p.s. if it is allowed, I would laso like to present that idea on our blog here in Slovenia, of course, with all credits back to you blog. Looking forward to hear from you. Our blog here: http://www.mizarstvo.si/predsobe/