Tired of entering what looks like a battle zone every time you enter your home? Fed up with not being able to find your cell phone or car keys when you’re already late for an important meeting? If so, you’re probably ready to buy a hallway organizer. So let me give you a few tips about what to look for, as well as information about where you can buy one of my favorites – the Howard Miller Hallway Organizer.

Does the Organizer Organize?

It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? If a product calls itself an organizer, it should keep things in their place, right? But the truth is that not every organizer does the job. If it has only a few drawers and shelves, chances are that within a week those drawers and shelves will be one big jumble and you’ll be back where you began: unable to find those important items you need in a hurry. So when looking for an organizer, look for one that has a smart design.

What I like about the organizer from Howard Miller is that it comes with a charging dock for cell phones, so you’ll naturally want to keep your phones in that place. The drawers for small items like keys and sunglasses are themselves small, so you won’t be tempted to throw piles of junk mail over them. And speaking of mail, there are separate pockets for larger items such as magazines and newspapers. This organizer also has space that you can use to suit your own needs, such as a separate space that can be used for lunch boxes for the kids, so that they can grab them as they rush out the door.