I Tried the "Urgency Zones" Method and Got My Entryway Organized
Earlier this year, I received a shoe cabinet for my entryway that I instantly fell in love with. It keeps our shoes out of sight and away from my curious puppy (who has a penchant for stealing). The cabinet also provided additional storage space, in the form of an extra surface and a drawer. My husband and I didn’t put too much thought into what we wanted to put there, and the drawer very quickly turned to a spot for junk. Shoes started to pile up, especially because it was all hidden, and organizing the cabinet soon became a priority.
Then I stumbled upon this YouTube video, and I thought this would be a great organizational method to use for our shoe cabinet in the entryway. Enter: urgency zones.
What are urgency zones?
In the video by Maurice Moves, he recommends using “urgency zones” to organize your home. Zone one is for items you use most frequently and most urgently (or even daily!), so they should be the most accessible, like placed on top of a surface and not tucked away in a drawer. Zone two is for items conveniently located behind a cabinet or drawer, with relatively easy access. Zone three is for items that you use sporadically that don’t feel urgent, and zone four is for items you seldom use without much frequency.
He stresses that these zones are about urgency, not frequency. You don’t necessarily need to reserve zone two for items you use weekly (although you can!), but rather for items that feel urgent and necessary in the moment you need them. For instance, he stores batteries in zone two, because replacing batteries always feels urgent when a remote control needs a new pair.
How I Organized My Entryway with Urgency Zones
I admit that organizing my shoe cabinet by urgency zones felt a bit confusing at first. Entryways are ideal spaces to organize because their purpose is very clear — everything you need to exit or enter your home should be well within reach. The example in the YouTube video was a very large bookshelf that was used to store all kinds of things, and my shoe cabinet admittedly is small in comparison. Still, I knew I could make it work — even if it was much simpler than the video.
I decided zone one would be the small surface on top of the cabinet, as there are no barriers, and it’s for items we use all the time. In addition to a small lamp, we also have two bowls — a large one for my husband’s watch and wallet and a smaller one for dog treats. My husband sometimes tosses his keys in the large bowl as well (we have a key hook on the opposite wall).
Naturally, zone two became the small drawer at the top of the cabinet. I sorted through the junk that had accumulated since we got the cabinet in the spring, and decided on what I wanted easy access to. The winners? Extra dog poop bags, sunglasses, a measuring tape, and my husband’s deodorant. Perhaps a random assortment of things, but they make complete sense for our little family.
Our entryway is clearly where we get our dog ready for walks outside, so having the bags and the sunglasses within reach is key. My husband likes having a deodorant downstairs (so he doesn’t always need to run up the stairs when he needs to freshen up if need be). And I’m someone who almost always has some sort of home project in mind, so the measuring tape is there because I don’t enjoy digging through the tool kit we keep high up in our coat closet to get it. Perfection.
Moving down the cabinet, zone three (the first drawer) is for walking shoes that are easy to slip on for dog walks, and zone four (the last drawer) is for off-season shoes, like flip flops and winter snow boots. The shoes my husband and I wear the most live in our closet, but it’s nice having shoes we can easily slip on and off in a pinch. Because our closet space is limited, it’s nice having the extra space — especially for the shoes we wear infrequently.
Final Thoughts
All in all, urgency zones are an interesting and fun way to think about organizing a space. It has certainly made our entryway sleek and uniform — especially because I now know where everything is within our shoe cabinet. Instead of a junk drawer and a spot for free-for-all shoe storage, each zone has a specific function.
I can see how this method would work well in a larger space like a closet or tall bookshelf, but I’m glad to say it works in smaller spaces too. And for anyone short on time, it feels important to note that this organization project took about 20 minutes. It was a total breeze! So if you’ve been thinking about organizing your entryway, take this as your sign to go for it this weekend, and give urgency zones a try.
Further Reading
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
