What is a Drop Zone in a House?

I remember the first time I heard of a drop zone. I asked my sister where I could find my daily Diet Coke, and she told me it was in a box in the drop zone. To me, this sounded vaguely militaristic, like someone had airdropped supplies into our house from a helicopter. So I asked, what is a drop zone in a house? And since when do we have one? 

She explained that the drop zone was where she and the rest of my siblings came in from school, and dropped their backpacks, shoes, the dog’s leash, and any other stuff they wanted to ditch there. It meant there was no daily lunch box, binder, and in our case, Diet Coke mess cluttering the front doorway or the hallway. It’s a dedicated and organized space for managing messes of all kinds from the day. 

Is a Drop Zone the Same as a Mudroom?

A drop zone is a similar concept to a mudroom, but not quite exactly the same. Mudrooms are usually designed as a place to take off muddy boots and wet coats before entering the rest of the house. 

Drop Zones can be used for this too, but they also function as a dedicated place for things that might not be muddy but instead just need some organization like keys, water bottles, masks, and mail. (Source: Millennial Home Owner)

Where is a Drop Zone Located?

The best place for a drop zone is anywhere your family enters the home most frequently. In our home, it was a space off of the garage where the kids came in from school every day.

In your home, it could be the kitchen, hallway, entryway, mudroom, or anywhere else that makes sense for your space. It just needs to be a dedicated area for your stuff to live when you come home at the end of the day. 

How to Create a Drop Zone

There are tons of different ways to create a dedicated drop zone in your house, depending on your space and your needs. Below are several product suggestions that would work great in an organized drop zone. By no means do you need all of these items, but a few of these things could work in your space to build an awesome drop zone.

It’s also possible to get some or all of these drop zone organizers second-hand if you’re on a budget. Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor are great places to look for second-hand pieces, and there are always garage sales too!

Console Table or Desk

A good, solid table is a great addition to any drop zone. It’s a place to put a bowl for keys, a place for mail, and a place to set down purses or sunglasses when you come in the door. Mine also currently has a package of refrigerator magnets I need to return, so it’s a good place to leave anything you need to remember to deal with. 

A table or desk is also a great place to put an organizer, to really maximize that space. 

Lockers or Cubbies

These cubbies look exactly like the ones my brothers and sisters use when they get home from school. They have hooks for backpacks or jackets, and cubbies underneath for shoes or stacks of assignments and artwork. This kind of locker or cubby situation requires a lot of space, but worth it for the aesthetic organization they provide. 

Coat Hanger

A classic coat rack is a great alternative if lockers are too big for your space. These hangers can serve as a place for jackets, scarves, and hats so they don’t end up balled up in a closet or on the floor. 

Bench or Chair

A place to sit to take off shoes or put them back on is an excellent addition to any drop zone. This bench doubles as shoe storage, but any place to sit will do. Benches are great if you have multiple people coming and going at the same time. A simple chair is a great option as well.

Easy Shoe Storage

These shoe baskets make for an easy and relatively inexpensive way to store shoes in your drop zone. Shoe baskets work for kids and adults moving too quickly to bother placing shoes on a shelf. I know that in my house, our shoe shelves often get ignored in favor of just kicking shoes off in the general direction of the shelf. If you notice the same habits developing in your family members, shoe baskets are the solution.

Wall-Mounted Organizer

This wall-mounted organizer is a great multi-purpose addition to a drop zone. It serves as a place for wallets, sunglasses, and a place to hang keys. It’s also a great space saver, providing a good amount of storage up on a wall where it’s out of the way. 

Family Calendar

A monthly wall calendar is really helpful to have in a common space so everyone can see what’s coming up that month. It’s especially helpful for kids to know when the next soccer practice is and what day that birthday party is going to be. A household calendar really helps keep everyone on the same page, and the drop zone is the perfect place for one. 

Organizational Decor

Baskets, bowls, and catchalls – each with a specific job to do – can really make life easier in your space. In mine, I have a bowl for keys, a basket for all things dog-related (leashes, harnesses, and bags), as well as a basket for everything else that comes out of our pockets like sunglasses and headphones.