Now that the new year is upon us, it is time to turn to storage to create an organized home and simply your life. All that this takes is a bit of planning, measuring and taking charge of the execution of this key task.

Starting with the entrance hall, coat closets are essential. Clear out all the out-of-date sports equipment and boots, making room for a coat closet which you and your guests will find useful and attractive. Use reeded brass poles and hooks. Padded hangers, coordinated with the color scheme of your entry, provide a finished look. For a surprise, paint the interior of the closet a bright color that coordinates with your home — a pale turquoise or brilliant coral, for example — taking care to use a high-gloss paint so scrape marks from hangers are repelled. For extra protection, add a clear acrylic top-coat.

Add a colorful ceramic umbrella stand to an entry, whether it’s a mudroom or dressy foyer. This thoughtful addition will prevent wet umbrella drips from marring your floors, and the addition of the color will brighten the space. These useful containers can also house squash racquets and walking sticks. A row of sturdy brass hooks or a vintage hat rack can organize hats and dog leashes in an attractive fashion.

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