Disclosure: For this post I received gifted product from Open Spaces. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.
Listen, I am always the first to be a bit leery of what people call “Instagram brands.” Ya know, the ones that seemingly come out of nowhere, but suddenly are everywhere on Instagram and have that clean, modern, sure-to-impress-Millennials look. And yes, I am a Millennial… but I am here to tell you that not only is Open Spaces legit, I am obsessed. As part of our recent living room overhaul, they sent over storage and organization products to review and try out for our entryway — you know the one that is definitely NOT a mudroom, despite my fervent hopes and dreams.
Open Spaces Review + Entryway Essentials To Create a Mudroom (even if you don’t have one!)
Do you have an entryway or a mudroom? Just know that if you have the latter, I am incredibly jealous! It’s one of the major features of our cabin that I wanted and didn’t get during our buying process. A mudroom, especially here in the mountains, is so key to keeping a tidy and clean home. Especially since we’re a shoe-free household! We also have 3 dogs, so having an organized entryway helps to keep their stuff all together instead of strewn about the house. Here are key areas we focused on:
Shoe storage
I am so obsessed with the look of this shoe rack. We’ve probably all had those janky dorm room shoe organizers in the past and I am so glad that there is finally a stylish, more grown up alternative! This one is made of steel and sturdy. Plus, it comes in a few really fun colors. I love the way the cream pops against our green entryway closet.
I put the shoe rack in the closet as opposed to next to it because I love being able to close the door and not see shoes. It all comes down to visual noise to me and when everything is put away, I am so much happier. And the rack isn’t just for shoes. As you can see, I used a wire metal basket to organized folded shopping totes. That way, when I put my shoes on to go to the store, the bags are right there waiting to remind me to take them, too.
Sturdy hangers
Speaking of the closet, we were in desperate need of extra hangers. Open Spaces sent over these really adorable metal hangers and I love them. The set of 10 comes with 5 felted wool covers that are really great for hanging slippery things. For example, I have one coat that has a silk liner and it constantly falls off the hanger, landing on the floor, and getting covered in cat hair. The felt pads actually work and keep it in place! And again, they are so cute against the green in our closet.
Bins and baskets
At the top of our closet, I’ve used two large felt bins with lids to corral tons of outdoor apparel like scarves. The one on the left also holds Sean’s motorcycle stuff like gloves. I like that they add a different texture to the closet, visually.
To the left of our closet are a few funny little shelves… that are a perfect fit for the medium wire baskets from Open Spaces! When I measured before placing my order, I actually whooped aloud in celebration over the perfect fit. We used this multi-purpose baskets to hold (from the top down) spare hats and gloves, items we use every day like my fave winter hat and bear spray, and then bags of dog treats.
Bins for dog toys and accessories
A place to sit is a big necessity for a functional entryway so you can easily put your shoes on. So we repurposed the bench that used to be our coffee table in the bungalow and put it by the front door. It’s the perfect fit. Then I added two more of the large felt bins to house alllllll of the dogs’ stuff. The one on the left holds a plethora of dog toys and bones, while the one on the right is for their clothing, leashes, and collars. I love that the lids keep the chaos hidden away!
Trays and dishes to gather small stuff
I feel like Sean always has tiny stuff in his pockets that he then empties and scatters around the house. It drives me nuts. These nesting trays have helped contain the clutter for the most part. I also like knowing that my house keys will always be there! It’s definitely removed the dance of “where are my keys” when I’m trying to get out the door.
Shop the post:
In terms of the overall quality of the Open Spaces product, I could not be more pleased. It’s so sturdy and well-made! I know that they gave me product for this post to review and try out, but I definitely plan on making purchases in the future independent of a brand partnership. If you are ready to get serious about organizing your home, I could not recommend these pieces more, especially the incredibly sturdy and well-made wire baskets.
So what do you think of our entryway and my review of Open Spaces? Have you tried this brand before? I’d love know your thoughts + any other suggestions you have for making our entryway even more functional!
