How-To Create a Clean and Inviting Entryway
Our home projects are coming along slowly but surely. It’s been a lot more work than I anticipated but in the end I know it will pay off. And I love that I get to put my touch and style into every inch of this house.
I’ve found the best way to tackle these projects without getting overwhelmed is to take it one room at a time. And I’ve found working on the smallest rooms first is a great way to not go insane in the process of updating this home.
That’s why I started with the main entryway of my home. It’s small, just about 7 foot long by 4 foot wide. Luckily we have multiple entryways and this main entryway is not the one I use on a daily basis. This one is specifically for guests since it’s located right off the front door. The entryway is the first thing my guest will see when entering my home. And I want it to greet them with open arms! So let’s get started on how to do that!
CLEAN
I want my entryway to set the tone of my home. That means it needs to be clean, welcoming and organized! Check out my tips below to achieving a clean, organized and inviting entryway. Even if it’s small like mine!
Clean
- Remove everything from your entryway.
- Clean and dust walls, ceilings, crown molding, light fixtures and base boards.
- Paint walls and base boards and doors if necessary.
- Clean floors, including tile grout if you have tile floors.
- Wipe down the front door front and back. Plus any additional doors that you may have in your entryway.
- Clean/replace doorknobs.
- Dust staircase railing.
- If you have a coat closet located in your entryway, clean that out as well. Get rid of items you no longer need.
Starting with a clean entryway will make it easier and more fun to organize and decorate later. So don’t skip the cleaning process!
ORGANIZE
Next it’s time to organize. Think about who will use this space and what is needed. For mine, it’s mainly for guests so I want a place for them to hang jackets and purses. Oh did I mention I don’t have a coat closet? Yeah so my entryway needs to be functional more than anything. But I also want it to look nice and inviting as well. Think about your space and what is needed, and organize your set up from there. It’s time to keep your entryway organized and tidy.
Organize
- Coat hooks/racks/wall hooks: these are great for collecting coats, hats, backpacks and keys. Having designated spaces for these items keeps your entryway looking neat, organized and off the floor. (Keeping things off the floor is a must for small entryways like mine.)
- Catch all: a decorative bowl or container to toss loose change, keys and receipts in is a great way to collect smaller items and keep them off your kitchen table, coffee table, etc. I don’t have much space in my main entryway for a bowl, so my coat hooks are the catch all for my guests. And since this entryway is specifically for my guests, they shouldn’t need a place to toss their change or receipts. As I said before, think about who will use this space and what is needed when organizing.
- Shoe storage: decorative baskets or cubbies are a great way to keep all shoes together and not all over the floor. Our home has no carpet, so the need for house shoes is a must! But I don’t want them all over the floor so having a designated spot for our house shoes and other shoes is a much needed organization element. Since my husband and I don’t use this entryway very often and it’s small, we plan to have a dedicated shoe space in one of our other entryways which I’ll share with you in a future post!
DECORATE
Now that your space is cleaned, and you have an idea of what you’ll need to make your entryway useful and organized, it’s now time for the fun stuff! Decorating!!!
Decorate
- Furniture: If your space allows, add an entryway table, chair, bench etc. Most of these options also come with additional storage which is always a plus! The only furniture piece I have in my entryway is a small planter with 2 shelves. This planter was left by the original home owners and I just went outside and picked it out of the garden. They left a lot of planters. I liked this one the best for the color and the storage. The top shelf holds a live house plant and the bottom shelf is the perfect size to hold my dogs toy chest! Decorative and functional!
- Scented candles/photos/greenery/artwork: all these elements can help define your space and feel warm and inviting. I love the artificial wreath on my home sign! The pop of green seems to add a little life to the space and some texture.
- Mirrors: mirrors can make a small space feel larger and can add a bit of drama!
- Lighting/hardware: If you have low ceilings, a new flush mount or semi flush mount will do the trick. These lights hang closer to the ceiling and usually have a low profile. Or if you’re not ready to invest in new lighting, simply clean the light fixture you have. If you have tall ceilings, a chandelier or pendant light will add some character and interest to your entryway. Since we have 10 foot ceilings, I decided on a chandelier. It’s great for lighting and visual interest. I also took this opportunity to switch out the doorknobs on the doors in our entryway for a more cohesive look.
- Rugs: If you plan on using a rug, be sure it can stand up to high traffic. This rug will get lots of use so make sure it’s up for the job. A floor rug is a great way to define a space, plus add visual interest. I wanted my rug to add some texture and softness to my otherwise hard floor.
Lastly, be sure the space says YOU! I collect Cocoa Cola pieces, so you’ll see small elements of Coca Cola memorabilia throughout my house. Make sure whatever you love shines though in your home décor. That’s what makes your home uniquely you!
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How To Create a Clean and Inviting Entryway
I want my entryway to set the tone of my home. That means it needs to be clean, welcoming and organized! Check out my tips below to achieving a clean, organized and inviting entryway. Even if it’s small like mine!
Instructions
1. Clean
- Remove everything from your entryway.
- Clean and dust walls, ceilings, crown molding, light fixtures and base boards.
- Paint walls and base boards and doors if necessary.
- Clean floors, including tile grout if you have tile floors.
- Wipe down the front door front and back.
- Clean/replace doorknobs.
- Dust staircase railing.
- If you have a coat closet located in your entryway, clean that out as well.
2. Organize
- Coat hooks/racks/wall hooks: these are great for collecting coats, hats, backpacks and keys. Having designated spaces for these items keeps your entryway looking neat, organized and off the floor. (Keeping things off the floor is a must for small entryways like mine.)
- Catch all: a decorative bowl or container to toss loose change, keys and receipts in is a great way to collect smaller items and keep them off your kitchen table, coffee table, etc. I don’t have much space in my main entryway for a bowl, so my coat hooks are the catch all for my guests. And since this entryway is specifically for my guest, they shouldn’t need a place to toss their change or receipts in. As I said before, think about who will use this space and what is needed when organizing.
- Shoe storage: decorative baskets or cubbies are great way to keep all shoes together and not all over the floor. Our home has no carpet, so the need for house shoes is a must! But I don’t want them all over the floor so having a designated spot for our house shoes and other shoes is a much needed organization element. Since my husband and I don’t use this entryway very often and it’s small, we plan to have a dedicated shoe space in one of our other entryways which I’ll share with you in a future post!
3. Decorate
- Furniture: If your space allows, add an entryway table, chair, bench etc. Most of these options also come with additional storage which is always a plus! The only furniture piece I have in my entryway is a small planter with 2 shelves. This planter was left by the original home owners and I just went outside and picked it out of the garden. They left a lot of planters. I liked this one the best for the color and the storage. The top shelf holds a live house plant and the bottom shelf is the perfect size to hold my dogs toy chest! Decorative and functional!
- Scented candles/photos/greenery/artwork: all these elements can help define your space and feel warm and inviting. I love the artificial wreath on my home sign! The pop of green seems to add a little life to the space and some texture.
- Mirrors: mirrors can make small space feel larger and can add a bit of drama!
- Lighting/hardware: If you have low ceilings, a new flush mount or semi flush mount will do the trick. These lights hang closer to the ceiling and usually have a low profile. Or if you’re not ready to invest in new lighting, simply clean the light fixture you have. If you have tall ceilings, a chandelier or pendant light will add some character and interest to your entryway. Since we have 10 foot ceilings, I decided on a chandelier. It’s great for lighting and visual interest. I also took this opportunity to switch out the doorknobs on the doors in our entryway for a more cohesive look.
- Rugs: If you plan on using a rug, be sure it can stand up to high traffic. This rug will get lots of use so make sure it’s up for the job. A floor rug is a great way to define a space, plus add visual interest. I wanted my rug to add some texture and softness to my otherwise hard floor.
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