If your hallway resembles a parking lot, wall-mounted bins, racks, and hooks will get the traffic moving.

The Kantra hat rack has a shelf for newspapers and a row of hooks for jackets and windbreakers ($50, Ikea, see www.ikea-usa.com for store locations).

Everyone should be assigned his or her own Design Ideas mesh postmaster bin ($11 each, Cocoon, www.cocoononline.com) for mail or school papers. Consider it an in box and an out box for the home.

Jakt shoe racks ($10 each, also available in dark green, Ikea, see www.ikea-usa.com for store locations) stack to save floor space, and the vented plastic shelves allow wet shoes to dry.

The Benjamin stool ($20 each, Ikea, www.ikea-usa.com) is a place to sit while wrestling shoes on or off. Bins for each family member's gloves and hats fit underneath (small Locker Bins, $19 each, PBteen, www.pbteen.com).

A yellow umbrella stand ($126, Kartell, www.unicahome.com) adds a splash of color — especially welcome on a rainy day.

Blecka metal clothes hooks ($4 for a four-pack of large or small hooks, Ikea, see www.ikea-usa.com for store locations) are J-shaped and can be installed at kid level for backpacks or higher for keys to the car.