Seven Ways to Transform Your Entryway Into a More Functional Space
If you’re like most people, you use your mudroom to hang a few coats, put away a messy pile of shoes, and leave your keys and mail there when you walk in. If you have the space, you can use it as a full mudroom—a place to take off wet coats, shoes, and umbrellas before you enter the house.
But your entryway can be much more than that, especially if you live in a small space and need to use every inch of space. Just because it’s a space you and your guests pass through on their way somewhere else doesn’t mean you can’t use it for other purposes. And you can improve the guest area by turning a transitional room no one remembers into a multifunctional space. Here are seven ways to get more out of your entryway.
Use it as an office space.
If you’ve ever worked from home or just needed a place to work on home paperwork or catch up on your hobby, your entryway can easily be transformed into a tiny office . A folding desk that collapses into a discreet wall unit when not in use, paired with an adjustable stool or other mobile seating that can be used for putting on and taking off shoes when you’re not working, is all you need. If you have the wall space, add extra shelves or a narrow filing cabinet (or a combination piece like a filing cabinet/printer stand/shelving unit ) for maximum office storage in a minimal footprint. When you’re not working, you can fold everything up and instantly have a clear entryway again.
Turn it into a library
Need a place to store books and create a cozy reading nook? The entryway can be such a place. A row of shelves (or other book storage ) along one wall, a small but comfortable chair (with a slim console table for cups of tea or literary cocktails), and a floor lamp that’s great for reading, and you’re all set. When not in use, this area can also create a warm, comfortable atmosphere for visitors.
Put together a gallery exhibition
If you have a lot of art, collectibles, or memorabilia to display, your entryway is the perfect place to display it all. Hanging art or installing floating shelves to display your items not only decorates the space, giving it a cohesive and personal style, but it also makes it much more inviting to guests. Instead of walking through a chaotic or sterile space that makes them want to kick off their shoes and get into the main part of the house as quickly as possible, your entryway can become a place where people want to linger.
Create a conversation corner
If your home doesn’t have a place to sit and socialize without distractions, your mudroom may be the perfect spot. If you have room for a shallow sofa like this one or a couple of small accent chairs like these , you can create a space where you can meet with guests. Having this space in your mudroom also makes it the perfect place for casual encounters with neighbors—instead of awkwardly standing in the doorway for fifteen minutes, invite them in to sit.
Add storage
If you’re short on storage space, consider the unused space on the walls and floors of your entryway. After all, you can store whatever you want there—it doesn’t have to be related to the entryway, and no one will ever know what’s in those drawers and cabinets unless you tell them. Even a small foyer can be transformed into a storage haven with a few shelves, a shallow cabinet or dresser , or a dual-purpose storage bench .
Use it as a bar.
Want to host sophisticated social gatherings fueled by social lubricants, but your bar is currently also your kitchen counter? Take a look at your entryway. A narrow bar along one wall may be the answer. If you want to make this a space where people will linger after they’ve picked up their cocktails, add some floating shelves at counter height (usually 36-48 inches high) to hold glasses. To really nail it down, a slim beverage refrigerator for beer, wine, and mixers next to the bar is a great addition.
Turn it into your family information center
Your entryway can be the place where everyone in the house knows to look for daily information. A cork board or chalkboard (or a combination of the two) set up in the entryway makes it easy for everyone coming and going to check the day’s schedule , look for reminders, or pick up and leave things for later use. This may be a better option than the kitchen because it will be the last and first place people see when leaving or entering the house, increasing the likelihood that you’ll actually remember what you remind each other of. (When you have guests, it’s also a great place to write down things like your Wi-Fi password or important phone numbers.)