Whether your entryway is small or large, it's all too easy for the area to become cluttered with unnecessary items. However, it's time that you stop treating the entryway as a catchall. To streamline your space (and your routine), spend some time organizing this part of your home to ensure that it doesn't contain extra items that aren't actually of use.

Here, two professional organizers share six types of things that simply do not belong in the entryway and will only make it appear crowded. You'll be surprised at how much more welcoming your space appears when you say goodbye to the excess.

Off-Season Items

Your entryway should be functional, and with that, you will want to keep only the items you are reaching for daily on hand, not tons of options for every season.

"Heavy coats, boots, or umbrellas in the entryway can quickly make it look cluttered and take up valuable space," Victoria Tran, the founder of Sorted Professional Organizing, says.

Off-season jackets and accessories of this nature should be tucked away out of sight, while pieces you do need frequently can be stored inside your coat closet.

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Unsorted Mail

Even if you try to cut back on paper bills and subscriptions, mail has a way of piling up. It can be unsettling to arrive home after a long day only to be greeted by an overwhelming pile of letters and flyers everywhere—their presence can create a sense of chaos right where you walk in, Tran explains.

Instead, take charge and make an effort to prevent the buildup. Tran recommends keeping a mail organizer in your entryway and using that to keep what's important handy, all the while tossing or recycling pieces of junk mail as it arrives.

Excessive Decor

Although you will want your entryway to look aesthetically pleasing and complement your home's design style, displaying too many decorative objects can create a cluttered appearance, according to Julie Mills, the founder of All Squared Away Professional Organizing.

Mills recommends using your personal design flair, but still keeping it classy and simple. She recommends cutting back on the number of framed photos, art pieces, and trinkets in this portion of the home.

Instead, think practical—select a pretty mirror to hang above your console table so that you can check your reflection on the way out the door, and pick out a cute dish to toss keys in upon arriving home, for example.

Pet Gear

It makes sense to keep your dog's leash and collar in the entryway, but do not let the area turn into a primary solution for all things pet-related, Mills instructs.

Items such as toys, medicine, and beds simply don't belong in the entryway, the organizer notes, and she encourages clients to find another home for these essentials that won't disrupt the flow of traffic.

Coat Racks

Depending on where you live, your coat collection could be quite large. Skip the free-standing coat rack if you crave minimal clutter and maximum efficiency in the entryway.

Mills considers coat racks to be flawed in nature, given that it's all too easy to pile coats on top of one another. This setup then results in digging through everything in search of the jacket you want to wear. Instead, hang all of your outerwear up using hangers in your hall closet.

Benches Without Storage

Many people appreciate having somewhere to sit in the entryway in order to lace up and take off shoes or help children or elderly people get ready for the day. If your entryway has space for a bench, be sure to choose a style that allows for storage underneath or inside, Mills instructs.

Otherwise, there is no point in incorporating a bench in this part of the home, she believes. 

"It may look nice but lacks the functionality of storage, and inevitably, items get stacked up and strewn about," the organizer says.