Headline: Drop zone areas for those bits and bobs

Journalist: Madelin Hayes

Source: The West Australian New Homes pg 4, Saturday 2 December 2023

Practical for busy households, drop zones ensure you will never be left searching for your keys or your wallet while in a mad dash out the door.

Plunkett Homes Design Team Leader Adam Kelly said drop zones were a conveniently located nook designed for the placement and storage of all the bits and bobs we took with us whenever we left the house.

“Drop zones are a great way to keep the day-to-day ritual of coming and going from the home efficient and easy to manage, especially when a large family is involved and they need to be directed out of the door in an orderly fashion,” he said.

“Car keys, wallets, sunglasses and remotes for the garage door are the most commonplace.

“However, depending on the inhabitants of the home, and the size and layout of the drop zone, this can extend to shoes, school bags, jackets, hats, scarves and dog leads – the list can be as individual as the drop zone itself.”

The area also isn’t just relegated to an entryway; it can be placed elsewhere in the home to promote organisation.

“A drop zone is best located along the main thoroughfare you take every day when leaving and arriving at the home,” Mr Kelly said.

“If kept tidy, it can be an attractive feature in an entry hall.

“Otherwise, it can be hidden away in a shoppers entrance through a scullery or the laundry.”

Mr Kelly said it was also possible to have multiple drop zones within a home.

“Some people opt to have one located on the way to the master bedroom or retreat and another in the hallway or activity space towards the minor bedrooms,” he said.

When deciding on the inclusions for your drop zone, handy hooks, built-in storage and shelves can promote better organisation.

“The simplest form a drop zone can take is a tidy, furnishable nook in which a side table can later be placed,” Mr Kelly said. “But the features can also be built-in during the construction of the home.

“A simple benchtop is a great start, but this can be added to with shelves, drawers, cabinetry, wall hooks, shoe racks and even a mirror.”

To achieve optimum functionality, Mr Kelly said to consider what you would use the drop zone for now and in years to come.

“Built-in cabinets can look very stylish and sleek but consider if you will want changeability in the future – something that later furnishings will allow for more easily,” he said.

“At the very least, a clear area of bench will provide ample room for not only the odds and ends but a selection of decorations, family pictures and other decor that can be adjusted over the years to keep it feeling fresh.”

In the Malibu by Plunkett Homes, Mr Kelly said the drop zone was positioned in the most common and popular location – immediately outside the garage.

“This allows it to double as a drop zone and an entry feature recess,” he said.

“It was kept relatively simple in regard to its construction, with some decorative hooks added for bags, hats and coats.

“The later addition of furniture can double as a key drop and bench seat, but as it’s not built-in, this can be adjusted to suit the family’s adapting needs over the years.”