7 small entryway ideas for a great first impression

Styling your entryway is an excellent way to give your home extra flair. The entryway is the first thing you see when entering your home or apartment, so it should be beautiful. It’s also the last thing you see when you’re headed out, so it also needs to be practical. No matter the size of the space you’re working with, you have plenty of options to design an entrance that’s both stylish and sensible.

In this guide, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite small entryway ideas to help you design a unique space. Creating an Insta-worthy entryway isn’t about the size of the area by your front door. It’s about creativity and styling.

Small space interior design 

With the size of houses and apartments shrinking by the year, small space interior design is a topic on everyone’s minds. And designers are always searching for new ways to make the most of any space with limited square footage, from the dining room to the living room to the entryway. 

Here are nine small space interior design tips to make your job easier: 

1. Take advantage of the wall space
2. Use wall mirrors to make the room look bigger
3. Brighten the room with good lighting 
4. Look for multipurpose furniture 
5. Use bookcases and cabinets for storage when possible
6. Keep the floor space and surfaces clear of clutter
7. Experiment with bold designs 
8. Think like a minimalist 
9. Follow a color scheme 

Small spaces often call for creativity and thinking outside the box. You want your design ideas to look intentional, your storage solutions to be genius, and your home to feel inviting. Keep these tips in mind while browsing our home decor ideas for your small entryway. 

Small entryway ideas: 7 ways to add instant flair to your space

Small entryways can be a bit tricky to decorate. But if you think about your needs and how you want the space to look, you’ll have an easier time narrowing in on the best decorating ideas. Try planning your whole area before you start buying home decor, as the right multipurpose furniture could solve several issues at once. 

We recommend making a list of what you need and want in your small entry. This approach helps you search for multipurpose storage benches and other small space furniture as you go. Here are some easy small entryway ideas to transform your space without a ton of effort or money.

1. Hooks and racks 

Even a tiny entryway has room for wall hooks or racks to hang your keys, outerwear, hats, and bags. A standing coat rack might take up too much floor space, but what about a mounted coat rack? If you don’t have the wall space, you might have room on the front door. 

Decorating small spaces is all about creative storage solutions, especially when you’re working with the entryway. If your entrance has an awkward shape, you might even consider building a DIY coat rack to fit it. 

2. Floating shelves 

If you have a tiny space, you might not have room for a console table or accent cabinet (though it’s worth checking), but you’ll still want a catch-all spot. That’s where a floating shelf comes in. Floating shelves are perfect for tiny spaces because they don’t demand any square footage.

Pick a floating shelf that’s large enough to be your catch-all. This shelving will be where you set your mail, water bottle, hand sanitizer, and anything else you’re carrying when you walk in the door. It’s also where you place things you’ll want to grab on the way out. Alternatively, you might repurpose an old coffee table that fits or choose a narrow console table that the space can accommodate.

3. Wall mirror

Mirrors are recommended in small spaces because they create the illusion of increased square footage. Whether you’re working with a tiny mudroom or a cramped apartment hallway, a wall mirror can make a world of difference, especially if it features a shelf underneath it. (Multifunctional furniture for the win!)

Wall mirrors work well for checking your appearance before you leave the house or bring guests in, helping you make an excellent first impression. They also reflect your entryway decor, enhancing it while making your entryway feel more spacious. A small or mid-sided mirror will do just fine if you’re working with limited wall space. 

4. Good lighting 

Whether you can let in natural light or not, good lighting is essential to a welcoming entryway. It adds an element of warmth that makes you feel more at home after a long day. Making your small entry warm and welcoming, especially with warm-toned lights, can enhance even the tiniest of spaces. 

A chandelier can make a dramatic statement in a small entryway if you have the vertical space for it. It’s out of the way while still being elegant and functional, which is why hanging ceiling lights are among the most popular entryway lighting solutions. Sconces work well, too, as they take advantage of wall space. 

5. Storage bench 

If you have room for a bench in your entryway, do it. A bench is one of those genius storage ideas we mentioned and it can make your guests feel more at home. Think about the type of bench and amount of storage you need in your small entryway. 

For example, you might choose a bench with a shoe rack or shoe cubbies underneath (more on shoe racks soon). You might pick one that opens up to reveal a chest for additional entryway storage inside. Or you might select a hall tree with a bench and shoe rack. 

6. Shoe rack 

A shoe rack is essential for a small entryway. Unless you pick an entryway bench or coat rack with a shoe rack, you’ll need one. Remember the fifth small space interior design tip? “Keep the floor space and surfaces clear of clutter.” Shoes turn into clutter quickly, even if you live alone.

A shoe rack is an excellent solution to this clutter, and it’s a worthy trade-off for floor space. Pick a shoe rack that won’t take up too much square footage, but make sure it’s tall enough to hold all the shoes you want by the door. You might consider a shoe rack paired with a coat rack to solve two problems with one piece of furniture. Of course, the ideal choice will vary based on your household and lifestyle. 

7. Wall art, color, and decor 

Your entryway should be both beautiful and practical, which means you’ll need home decor in addition to storage space. Wall art, gallery walls, a DIY accent wall, sconces, and mirrors are all fun options to spruce up your small entryway, depending on your space and tastes. 

This is another area where you need to look at what you have and work with it. For example, if you have a window in your entryway, you can use curtains to add color. If you choose a coffee or console table for extra entryway storage, you could display a vase of seasonal foliage. If you’re an amateur photographer, why not showcase your work on the walls? 

The key is to make sure your entryway has (and follows) a color scheme. Most color palettes consist of five to six colors, including neutrals like white and tan. For example, the room in the image above features a tan, grey, green, brown, and black color scheme. It’s hard to go wrong if you pick artwork, paint, textiles, plants, and other home decor that match the style and colors you’ve selected for your entryway. 

Give your entryway the makeover it deserves 

We hope our small entryway ideas have inspired you to give your space a makeover. Redecorating your entryway is a chance to change the first impression your space makes on guests. But more than that, you deserve to see something beautiful every time you leave or come home, and your entryway can make that happen. 

Be sure to browse Coaster Furniture’s entryway and mudroom furniture for hundreds of options to find the best pieces for your small entryway. And check our store locator when you’re ready to buy.

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