I cleaned out our entryway this week and tried to pretty it up a little. Then I realized I never really shared the full space after my dad built a bench in October 2011.
When we purchased the house, I was mildly obsessed with this entry. We didn’t have any sort of an entry in the old house, so this seemed like a true luxury.
Here’s the before of the space.
Since it’s at the front of our house, the hooks don’t really store most of our day-to-day stuff (purses, bags, coats), but I put other stuff there that doesn’t get used every day.
The bench is used for storage of all of our boots and extra stuff that doesn’t have a home.
I finally added some little baskets to the cubbies. I’m really loving the size of them. They are from Target.
The other side of the entry was the perfect size for an IKEA Hemnes shoe cabinet. I seriously love this cabinet so much. It holds all of our shoes (outside of a few pairs at the back door). It looks so nice. It’s super close to the wall so it fits in tiny spaces.
The drawer is handy for some hand tools that we use often. (I like to have a hammer, tape measure, tiny level and finishing nails in every area of the house for easy access.)
A few things you should know about the Hemnes shoe cabinet. It is a serious paint to put together. A SERIOUS PAIN. Okay. I guess that’s only one thing. But, it’s worth it because it looks so awesome. This is a hard-working piece of furniture.
Above the shoe cabinet, we put in 2 IKEA floating shelves that lived in the office of our old house. Don’t they look like they were made for the space? The width was so perfect we may have scraped the walls putting them in. At some point, I may do something pretty with them. For now, they hold stuff that didn’t have a home. And that awesome copper sign that I picked up in my home town. Also, those baskets are begging me for some spray paint. Ala these baskets in the nursery.
What? Don’t your baskets talk to you?
Ooo… and here’s my Ballard Designs light fixture. Which I love love love. This fixture, along with many of the other fixtures in the house, are coming with us when we move.
And that, my friends, is the entryway. I hope it’s a welcoming little space for our friends and family who visit.
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erin says
Approximately how many pairs of shoes does the Ikea cabinet hold? I’m looking at it but we don’t have a store nearby so my in-laws would have to pick it up for me.
Amanda Sevall says
Love, love, LOVE how your entry way turned out!! And we have one of those Hemnes shoe holders. Love the finished product, HATED putting it together. It holds the #1 spot for worst piece yet to put together from IKEA!!! I totally agree with you 🙂
Amy Marshall says
This looks so cute and so functional! I’m exploring my options to add something like this to my laundry room. Thanks for the inspiration!
Stephanie says
Cute and incredibly functional!! Great job!
Donna says
I have been begging my husband to take down the doors to our entry closet. It looks wonderful. I really like the hex tiles, too. Great space.
Leigh Powell Hines (Hines-Sight Blog) says
That looks great.
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog says
We have a very similar entry- it’s probably my favorite part of our house. I like how you converted the closet area into a bench/ storage space. Too cute!
Jennifer @ In the Shadow of Grace says
i love your entry way! We’re in the process of updating ours with new benches my dad built for us. I hope it turns out half as cute as yours!
Laura says
What a great space Kim! I need to read back through your archives now that we have a little old house of our own. You’ve done such a great job renovating and decorating!
Amanda says
Every space you design is so warm and inviting! I honestly love every room in this house and your last house!!
The Atwoods says
I love the baskets and the “Live Well” sign…so cute!!!!
Erin {Home Everyday} says
This is adorable! I absolutely love how functional and yet beautiful it is. Well done. I just tackled our entry, but I’m getting some more ideas looking at your space as well.
Erin @ DomesticAdventure.com says
It came out great, Kim! The space is so functional despite being small–I love that! And I love that you told me that the shoe cabinet is hard to put together. I totally want one someday, and it is just good to know what to expect!
Liz @ It's Great To Be Home says
I looooove it!!! It’s so charming, and you made a great use of it.
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
So cute! I love this space! I’m definitely going to have to look into one of those shoe cubbies!
Kristi says
Love, love, love! How fun that you have turned your tiny little entryway into such a great looking storage area!
I have that shoe holder on my list for my next IKEA trip. The hubby isn’t so sure, but I will win him over yet!
Kelly @ Corner of Main says
What a pretty little entryway. We desperately need to redo our entry. I would love some sort of bench or seating. We used to have a similar IKEA shoe holder in the entry to our condo, and I really miss it. It was so handy and took up no space!
Oonafey says
Fancy! I love how made such a tiny, potentially useless space so functional and pretty!
Vel Criste says
I love your new entry!!!!It’s functional and still oh-so cute! only one suggestion before you go grabbing your spray paint, don’t you think bigger baskets should go on the cubbies? I understand they might end up heavier, but I’m thinking they might overflow with stuff at some point. Anyway, they look cute like that, but just a suggestion though – the basket doesn’t have to fill the whole cubby, just a tad bit bigger than the one you have now. 🙂
I also just re-did my entry and posted it a couple of weeks back here…
http://buhayatbahay.blogspot.com/2012/07/creating-welcoming-entry.html
Check it out if you have the time. 🙂
Emily says
I love your entryway, the cubbies look great.
Jane Doe says
I love your hexagon tile floor in your entry! That’s good stuff right there! Everything looks great; you definitely have a knack for decorating.
Mrs. Chic says
I love that you made a small space so functional!!I’m like you when we move most of the lighting will move with us 🙂 lol
Meredith says
Love it! We don’t really have an entry way either, so I totally get the luxury of that…especially since the front entry is basically our ONLY entry!
Jo says
It looks really nice, I would love a nice entry, my front door opens right into my lounge.
Mandi @ Southern Gnome says
I am in love. Especially with the floor. And I am jealous you have this dedicated little entryway space.
Cindy @The Flipping Couple says
I love it! You’re making me think about getting one of the shoe cabinets. Our shoes tend to pop up all over the house and then I trip over them in the middle of the night. It’s a pretty great system. I love your entryway and am crazy jealous that you have one! Someday…
Jordan@the2seasons says
Wow you have made good use of your space. Ours is so small but it needs something. Love the floor.
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
I love it! I love the bench, the baskets, the shoe cabinet, everything! And, okay, I am also jealous of your entry. We don’t have one!
daisy says
What a sweet lil’ welcoming nook. I love that you’ve got TONS of storage in such a small space! Good on ya!
diytheory says
Love it! Looks so open and inviting (and well organized). That shoe cabinet is on my list for the next time I make a trip to Ikea (sadly, nearest one is 6 hours, so they are a yearly pilgrimage :-)). Can’t wait to see the baskets with a new color.
Biz says
It’s a lovely space!
I want one of those shoe dressers so badly, but since we don’t own our home (being military) I don’t feel comfortable drilling holes to secure it and then refilling them again.
Your space is great though!
kreativekam says
Your entryway is fabulous, I’m so jealous we don’t have such a luxury in our house. I keep telling myself next house it’s a must have. Also love love love the tile.