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One of my favorite tips for small entryway ideas is to add a little personality to your entryway. It’s like a quick little intro to you and your home. For that reason, you’ll want to make it as inviting as possible, and the ideas in this post will give you that spark of inspiration!
This goes for both homes and apartments alike – if you have a front door, you have an entryway.
1. Unique Console Tables Add Personality
Personality! Nothing screams “welcome to MY home” like a unique console table that is undoubtedly you.
And the best thing about console tables? They come in all shapes and sizes, so if you opt for a console table in your entryway, it doesn’t matter how small of a space you’re working with, you’re pretty guaranteed to find something that will fit your space.
This is my entryway and I struggled for the longest time to find a console table that fits this tiny wall. I wanted it to be unique, warm, and inviting. After weeks of research, I finally stumbled upon this console table from Target with a weave-like pattern. I LOVE this piece, and I’m so happy this is the first thing that greets my guests when walking in the door!
2. Rugs Cozy Up the Entryway
This one is for welcoming entryway ideas – if you’re truly wanting to capture the homey vibe, an entryway rug is essential! Rugs tend to cozy up any space, no matter how small it is! Rugs also come in all shapes and sizes, there are so many beautiful options out there. This could also be another way to show off some personality! Just make sure it goes with the rest of the entryway.
3. Turn Your Garage Into Your Entryway
This might be more for you than your guests, but a lot of homeowners have attached garages. Have you ever thought about turning the space around your garage door to your home into a beautiful entryway? Well, now I’m sure you are! Your garage doesn’t have to be a boring place for just your cars and outdoor supplies. You can make it welcoming too, which makes this an amazing small entryway idea!
4. Paint with Neutral (and Slightly Warmer) Colors
One very important thing to think about is the color of your walls. If you’re dealing with a small space, then you will want to stay away from dark paint colors. Why? Dark paint colors tend to make a small space feel even smaller – and that’s the opposite of why you’re here!
My recommendation is to paint your entryway neutral, or even slightly warmer neutral colors. That includes off-whites or light grays. That’s not to say you can’t create a mood with darker-colored accents in your entryway, but for the walls, you’ll want to keep it light and airy.
My favorite off-white paint color that adds a slightly warmer, creamy tone is Toque White by Sherwin Williams!
5. Lamps are Very Inviting
Nothing warms up a space like good lighting! A dimly lit entryway will only make it look smaller, whereas a bright entryway full of light will help elevate your space. Plus, let’s say you’re having guests over at night – you’re not going to want them to walk into your dark home!
You’ll want to shed some light on the subject and make your entryway feel inviting, no matter the time of day.
6. Storage Will Keep Your Space Organized and Clean
A welcoming entryway idea PLUS storage? Sign me up! Storage in an entryway is a great way to keep things out of sight, in turn creating more space for you to introduce guests to your home.
7. Mirrors Make a Small Space Feel Bigger
How do you make a small entryway look bigger? Use a mirror! This is one of the best ideas to make a small entryway feel larger. Mirrors give off the illusion that you have more room than you actually do – trust me, I use mirrors wherever I can. Whether it’s bedrooms or bathrooms, mirrors are the answer to small spaces.
Plus there’s nothing more inviting than your guest seeing themselves in the mirror lol jk. But in all seriousness, mirrors in the entryway just make sense because you can get your looks on point one last time before leaving the house. And your guests can do the same upon entering your house!
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8. Benches Say “Have a Seat and Stay a While”
Small space entryway ideas with a bench is one of the most popular ways to style an entryway. With that being said, we are still talking about small space entryways so this one is going to solely rely on how your space is laid out.
If you have a long hallway, maybe a bench could look good on either side. Not working with your layout? Try an even smaller bench. Something just big enough for you or your guests to sit on to put on their shoes!
9. Hooks Are An Elegant Way to Store Coats in the Open
A lot of entryways may be lacking a coat closet or a place for you or guests to store their purses or any other extra items they may have brought over with them. Depending on your entryway design, a couple of hooks mounted to the wall could be the look for you!
Hooks are perfect for the small entryway without a lot of space. This is a very trendy look right now!
10. Board and Batten Elevates An Entryway
If you know me, chances are you know I LOVE a good board and batten accent wall. Board and batten walls bring elegance and excitement to your space. My husband and I DIY-ed one for our room right off the foyer entryway.
But a board and batten that’s actually in your foyer? Now that would take any front entryway from 0-100 real quick.
RELATED POST: Easy DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall (Step-by-Step Guide)
11. Candles are Super Homey and Warm (Literally)
Looking for ways to decorate your entryway? A must-have for your entryway is a candle. You can go one of two ways with this idea. Obviously, one way is buying a candle that smells heavenly so your guests are immediately comforted by the fresh scent.
But you can also get a candle that is solely decor that you never use – you can splurge a little bit here to get one that looks stunning but you’ll have for a very long time!
12. Plant Walls Make Any Space Cute
A plant wall is one of the best small space entryway ideas because not only is it up on the wall and out of the way, but it’s a really cute thing to see upon entering a home. It also shows that you take good care of your home – because someone showcasing healthy plants right away is someone that surely takes care of the rest of their space.
Or you could get fake plants – I won’t tell anyone! 😉
13. Shoe Storage Just Makes Sense
One of the first things you do when you enter someone’s home is take off your shoes. And you being the homeowner might have a couple of pairs by the door ready for any random occasion. This is a super common thing for entryways!
And who said shoe storage had to be boring? Because check out this idea! Such a cute way to store shoes and an IKEA hack is always welcomed here.
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14. Big Art Makes a Space Feel BIG
Large art plus a small entryway? You know the drill! Whether it’s propped up on an entryway table, or it’s hung on the first wall you see coming in, big art is a must! Paired with a small space will do exactly what you’d think – it enlarges the space with it!
It doesn’t matter if you have an open floor plan or a wall directly across from the front door. Large art can be hung on the nearest wall immediately upon entering your house.
15. Adding Baskets Just Looks Good
This small space entryway idea is best paired with an entryway table. A really popular look for entryways currently is a tall table that allows for 2-3 baskets underneath. Make sure all baskets match, this way you have a nice, uniform look to your entryway.
Oh and baskets also act as storage if you’re trying to incorporate more of that into your entryway!
16. Accent Your Space With Pops of Color
Earlier I said not to use dark colors when painting your walls. But this is where I want you to think about accenting your small entryway with dark colors, or any other pop of color you desire! Pops of color allow for contrast and make a space more interesting. This is perfect for modern small space entryway ideas!
17. Floor Lamps Create Height and Light
If you want to add both height and light to your small space entryway, a floor lamp might be your best bet. Anything that visually adds height to a room will make the room feel taller and bigger. The light is just an added bonus for the cozy warmth that a well-lit space creates!
18. Add Shelving For Your Favorite Things
Aside from a unique console table and a rug bringing personality, why not do it with shelving in the entryway? Turn an awkward corner into a space for you to further display your personality through decor and pictures.
You might not have a corner exactly like this, and that’s okay because you can install shelving on any wall in your entryway!
19. Wallpaper Creates a BIG Impact
When thinking about how to decorate a small entryway, you might not immediately think of wallpaper. But let me tell you, wallpaper is coming back baby! Wallpaper is perfect for small space entryway ideas because you don’t need a lot of it to create a huge impact.
Create a focal point with one accent wall full of super cute wallpaper. I’d actually recommend only sticking to one wall, that way it will look intentional and won’t overpower your entryway!
20. Wreaths Are a Simple, Yet Adorable Touch
Okay, so wreaths are one of the perfect decor ideas for tiny entrance ways! Any type of decor that can hang on the wall is a must for small entryways because it’s out of the way, while still adding that bit of homeyness to your space!
In this look, you can see it paired with the half board and batten wall, hooks, and mirror! Now that’s a great use of design in a small entryway.
21. Elevate Your Entryway With a Gallery Wall
Even if you have the smallest of entryways, you can pull off some form of a gallery wall! Where there’s a wall, there’s an opportunity for a good-looking gallery wall.
Gallery walls are great for showing off you and your favorite people – and they will love it too when they enter your home. It’s one of my favorite small entryway ideas!
22. Sconces Add Elegance to An Entryway
Sconces obviously fall in line with lighting, but if you want to make a big impact with your small space entryway, a sconce will immediately elevate any room it’s in. Now I know what you’re thinking, you want small entryway ideas that are cheap – and running electricity might not be super inexpensive.
Have no fear – there is an amazing hack I’ve seen out there where you can pair battery-operated puck lights with beautiful sconces and get the same effect. It’s a little less of a permanent solution, but it’ll sure save a lot of money. I had used this idea in my basement for a little bit but ended up totally switching up the space.
They looked like professionally installed sconces and I was able to control the puck lights with a remote. How cool!
Check out Amy’s sconce hack here!
23. Pedestal Tables Can Be Decorated Adorably
Have a corner by the stairs when you first walk through the front door? A pedestal table decorated with a tray, coffee table books, and a candle might be the best idea for your space!
RELATED POST: 61 Best Coffee Table Books – Interior Design Inspired!
24. Faux Flowers – When Real Flowers Are Too Much
You can see this idea combines a few different entryway ideas in a beautiful way! Art plus hooks that are very appropriately sized for this entryway, a bench, a basket, and then these faux flowers perfectly placed in the basket. If this isn’t a vibe for a small entryway, then I don’t know what is.
Use a basket or a tall jug to have faux flowers overflowing to recreate this look in your space!
25. A Mailbox Creates The Perfect Vintage Front Door Vibe
If you want to get a little bit vintage but also want a super cute piece of decor in your entryway, check out this vintage mailbox hung on the wall. I just think this is adorable and if you’re someone that likes vintage decor but not sure how to incorporate it into your entryway, this seems to be a really good option!
26. Make It Practical, Cute, and Welcoming
Small entryways don’t just have to be pretty and welcoming. They can also be pretty, welcoming, AND practical. This idea hits the nail on the head in terms of a cute and practical entryway. I LOVE the subtle decor such as the small wreath, leather envelope, and “welcome home” sign.
If you’re a parent, you’ll surely love this idea because it’s the perfect way to keep track of chores, games, and events throughout the week with the calendar, but also a way to give those backpacks a home! Amazing use of a small space – all you need is a single wall.
27. Place Your Entryway To The Side
If your house has more of an open floor plan and doesn’t quite have an official entryway, then create your entryway off to the side. You can still get the same effect of a normal entryway, using the same ideas, and making it look adorable all at the same time. I am obsessed with the rattan console at the front door!
28. Utilize A Side Table When A Console Is Too Big
There is no rule saying you can’t use a side table for your small entryway! Sometimes a console table or entryway table is a little bit too big and bulky and you don’t have that kind of space. But if you still really love the look of a table at your front entrance, a side table will accomplish that look!
You can truly utilize as small of a side table as needed. Even a small drink table could make the cutest entryway table if you have an extremely small space. Side tables are a really great option on our list of small space entryway ideas because they can accommodate even the smallest space!
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29. Open Floor Plan Entryways Are Still Possible
How do you create an entryway in an open floor plan? This is the answer! If you immediately walk into a big open floor plan when entering your home, you might think your options for an entryway might not exist. Well, I’m here to let you know there is still hope for an amazing entryway!
Just create an entryway in the middle of the room with a nice, round table which is an absolutely classic look. Throw a rug underneath, add a bit of decor to the table, and voila – you’ve got yourself an entryway in an open floor plan!
30. Floating Shelves Help Declutter Entryways
Floating shelves are one of the best small space entryway ideas for those who like the idea of a console table, but it’s just a little too bulky in your space.
Floating shelves allow you to have a shelf aspect while still maximizing your floor space in your entryway. Load up the shelf with 2-3 of your favorite decor items such as candles for a very welcoming entryway.
31. Half Walls Still Make Great Entryways
Maybe you’re looking for small entryway ideas with stairs – and you just might not have an entire wall to work with. Don’t worry! Look how cute this look is without needing an entire wall dedicated to an entryway. You can add that extra bit of personality with some wallpaper!
Your ideas were just amazing and inspiring.
Thank you very much!