13 Small Entryway Ideas You Can DIY

Whether your front door opens into a grand, classical entryway (dreams!) or right onto the dark corner of the kitchen (reality), the entryway will be the first place your guests see in your home. It will also be the first spot that greets you after work in the evening. To make the most of even the smallest of entryways, designers generally advise incorporating a functional furniture piece into the mix. “We always encourage clients to have at least one piece with storage in an entryway, particularly if it’s the primary access to the house,” explains designer Zoe Feldman of Zoe Feldman Design in Washington, DC. However, there are plenty of ways to think outside the box a bit should your entryway majorly lack square footage. Discover 13 small entryway ideas that will make a great first impression, even if all you have is a blank wall by the door. 

Look to the ceiling 

For this immediately eye-catching entryway, black accents take the eye upward. “In order to make a dramatic, high-impact first impression, we designed this entryway with an asymmetrical wall and ceiling detail made from flat stock and stained in a deep ebony. The end result is a perfectly balanced, interesting, and welcoming entry into the home,” says Morgan Bratcher, lead designer at Design West.

Find a mail sorter

One of the biggest entryway pains has to be the ever-expanding pile of mail you’re confronted with, which is why a handy-dandy sorter is such a good idea. Feldman selected a vintage piece from Chairish “to provide quick access to keys, gloves, and mail without cluttering the space,” she explains. “It looks like it was made for that room. The slim legs keep it from feeling too heavy.”

Define the space using a rug

Especially if you’re dealing with a foyer that’s really just the wall of another room, setting down a rug in that area will make it feel like a unified, separate entryway. Why not introduce a one-of-a-kind option into your space by going the vintage route? Designers share tips on how to source a winning piece.

Hang a floating shelf

A floating shelf is perfect for dropping your keys and stacking mail without taking up any floor space at all. Make like designer Jennifer Acito of Ridgewood, New Jersey’s Dama&Wood and install a custom piece. Acito purchased hers via Etsy. “My family loves having a small catchall by the front door and I love having a good styling moment during the four seasons,” she explains.

Say yes to a statement lighting fixture

Why settle for bland entryway lighting when you can go big and hang a piece that has some personality? As designer Phillip Thomas once told us, “A large light fixture can make a room feel larger and taller.” An updated flush mount in a funky shape or modern chandelier also makes a memorable—and bright—first impression.

Pull up a small chair or bench

Even a wee bench pressed up against the wall by the door will suffice. Los Angeles content creator Katie Falbo of Highboy LA thrifted her midcentury-inspired wood bench and originally used it as a plant stand before it made its way to the entryway. “We wanted a place to sit down when putting on our shoes,” Falbo shares. “It’s super helpful in getting out the door faster or to use as an additional surface for groceries, packages, etc.” 

Mount wall hooks

Having a hook for your guests’ outerwear—and, okay, your own sopping-wet raincoat—will make them feel as if you’ve actually designed the space with their arrival in mind. Just take the time to find the stud before mounting them; you don’t want these falling off the wall when you pile on the coats! “Hooks are ideal in every entry in my opinion, but an absolute must in a smaller space,” says Megan Hopp of Megan Hopp Design in Alexandria, Virginia. “The great thing about hooks is that they fill a space with a nice little dose of dimension and as such have visual value, whether or not they are in use.” 

Paint the door a bold color

It’s time to give your interior doors some love. “Don’t ignore your doors,” urges content creator Meg Baker of Baker Blooms. “They can make such a huge impact, especially in a small space.” Baker, who’s based in Cumming, Georgia, painted the interior facing side of her own front door with Glidden Shebang. “Using an unexpected color adds interest and draws the eye which can help make a space cozier and more inviting,” she says. “Green is such an inviting, hopeful color, and I love how it completely transformed this usually boring space into a pretty focal point.” 

Add a small console table

Consider placing a petite table or chest in the entry. Bonus points if you have a cute nook to utilize. “A stairwell is a perfect place to squeeze in a sweet desk or console so someone can tuck under to write a quick email or a little love note,” notes designer Caitlin Kah of Caitlin Kah Interiors in Palm Beach, Florida.  

Bring in extra storage

Perhaps the most practical of our small entryway ideas: If you find the floor near your front door cluttered with shoes, bags, and umbrellas, reclaim the space with furniture specifically suited to holding those items. Content creator Medina Grillo of Grillo Designs in England transformed an IKEA Ivar cabinet into an entryway storage solution and jazzed it up with cane webbing and additional baskets below. “Adding this Ivar sideboard with baskets has made this narrow entrance feel a lot more functional to us as a family,” Grillo shares. 

Try a wall covering

If you’re like content creator Cassie Bustamante and are unable to fit much furniture in your entryway, why not design the walls to make an impression instead? “The walls provide a great opportunity to make a statement while having fun,” Bustamante comments. Using a star stencil and some paint—Sherwin Williams Greenblack, to be exact—she went to town to customize the entryway of her home in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Black and white accents are consistent throughout my home, so this little entry sets the tone with a dash of magic while being cohesive with the rest of the house,” Bustamante shares. “I’ve always admired high contrast and appreciate lightness because of darkness. I also love anything to do with the stars—I am a sun sign, after all.” 

Hang a mirror

A mirror by the front door isn’t just for checking your outfit on your way out the door. It can also help make the space feel bigger and brighter, which is especially helpful if your entrance is far from natural light. Craft a piece that perfectly suits your style; these six projects are sure to inspire. 

Bring in plant friends

Add some life to your entry with a plant or two (or three! or four!). “I wanted to include plants in the entryway because I think the plants make our entryway feel cozy, homey, and comforting,” says LeeAnne Mullins, the Halifax, Nova Scotia, content creator behind Life With LeeAnne. “When people enter our home, I want them to feel as though this is a welcoming place filled with life and good energy.” Plus, Mullins says, she never forgets to take care of her green friends now that they’re located in such a central spot. “I am typically a bad plant parent, but seeing them by the door every time I come home reminds me to water them! It’s a win-win.”