Decorating Ideas | A Mail Sorter Mudroom Organizer

Now that we’ve finished renovating a house and are in the process of decorating it, I’m finding that, like many New Englanders, my favorite finds are those that come from off-the-beaten-track sources: flea markets, Etsy, and Craigslist. This piece wins for being both unexpected and incredibly useful: It’s a 1970s mail sorter from the Natick, Massachusetts Post Office, purchased on the cheap via Craigslist from a young guy who was using it to store wine bottles. For us, it’s the perfect organizer for hats, scarves, and mittens, many of which haven’t yet been unpacked. But when I get around to it, I know we’ll at least be able to stay organized. Since buying this piece, I’ve seen larger units for sale at various antique and home stores, including one of my favorites: Bowerbird and Friends in Peterborough, New Hampshire.