Story supplied by New Homes Magazine, The West Australian.

What’s the first thing you do when you come home? You dump your stuff — handbag, briefcase, car keys, phone, the mail, your coat, the kids’ school bags. Somewhere.

Often these things get in the way of a streamlined home life, cluttering up the kitchen benchtop, the coffee table — even the floor. But these days, a growing trend is to design a handy, designated space for shedding all those bits and pieces. And it’s called the drop zone.

Dale Alcock Homes executive general manager, Dean O’Rourke, said the drop zone had become an increasingly popular feature.

“People lead such busy lives and it’s frustrating to have to plough through lots of clutter to grab what you need so you can get going, ” he said. “Often placed near the front door or in the kitchen, this nifty little addition to the modern home helps to reduce clutter and promotes good organisation. It’s a great way of also illustrating the motto ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’.”

Interior decorator Alana Willis, of Alana Willis Style, agreed that a dedicated drop zone was a sought-after addition. “It keeps things tidy and it can be made to be a feature as well, ” she said. “At my place I have a chunky basket for umbrellas and a bench seat for bags and putting on shoes. You can also add a console table with drawers for keeping mail sorted and handy.”

Ms Willis said investing in a few pieces could increase a drop zone’s functionality and attractiveness. “It always looks neater to have bits and pieces off the floor so pretty wall hooks are great for bags and using either a basket, trunk or crate looks cute for umbrellas and shoes, ” she said. “It adds luxury to have a lovely chair and you can’t go past an entrance table for the keys, pens and mail sorting. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just whatever helps to make the space work better for the home and its occupants. “Don’t forget that if it’s the entry to a home, it pays to put some thought into the aesthetic aspect.”

Mr O’Rourke said Dale Alcock Homes had introduced the drop zone to clients a couple of years ago and it could now be seen in several display homes, including the Casablanca in Southern River, the Eden in Aveley, the Goulburn in Brabham, the Long Island in South Yunderup, the Marrakech in Butler and the Vespa in Clarkson. “The drop zones showcased in our display homes have inspired people to think more carefully about home organisation, ” he said.

Mr O’Rourke said you could make a drop zone as subtle or as “designer” as you liked. “It can be as simple as an extra section of benchtop off the kitchen or as individual as a built-in piece of furniture complete with drawers and cupboards and a chalkboard for shopping lists and reminders, ” he said. “Some clients add a discreet drop zone in the entry hallway or between the laundry and the door from the house to the garage. Others like to make a feature of a drop zone in the kitchen, creating a mini office.”

Maya Anderson writes the homes and design blog House Nerd at house-nerd.com

Pic credit: Dale Alcock Homes