The Functional Entryway: a Practical Guide to Planning and Implementing

Identify the needs of the space.

Most entryways have a nearby closet, intended for light storage, hanging of coats, and tucking away shoes. This is fabulous in theory, however, if you are like most of us, a closet is the perfect place to show off how well you can apply your Tetris talents, by packing it to the brim, praying for the safety, and wellbeing of the next person opening the door. One of the needs may be to create a usable storage solution, in addition to your closet, or if there isn't a closet, a need for creating a sole storage center.

Welcome your guest to stay for a while.

It may be a bench, an upholstered chair, or even just a stool. This seat becomes your greeting place and will make guests feel more welcome while also giving them a chance to remove their outerwear before coming in.

Showcase your style

We all have different styles, collections, and passions found all around our home. From collections of antiques, to plant lovers, look for different ways to incorporate those items into your entryway to showcase your style and make your guest feel a part of the family.

For me, it's a love for antiques. All my designs come back to either showing off a unique piece of furniture, an apothecary cabinet or even better an apothecary cabinet with small little collections of vintage items inside. Sprinkle in a little seasonal greenery to the space to breathe some life and pop of color.

Let's talk about this cozy little space I used my little formula on.

The Needs for my space

A few years ago I took out our closet, simply because I don't have self-control and had the space packed to the brim. So one of the needs for this space is creating a storage solution. This antique wardrobe cabinet is a perfect option for this space. When we took out the closet we wanted to use the space below the steps, but one of the challenges is the shortened angled ceiling. Taller and longer cabinets usually don't fit, so finding the perfect fit that isn't too small is tough, but this wardrobe was a perfect fit.

Decorating for Christmas & Winter

Inside the wardrobe, I wanted to style it for Christmas & Winter. I recently shared a blog post, How to Style a Space for Winter & Christmas, approaching the space with "implied" Christmas or holiday decor, but something that can stay after the holidays. The Concordville Zinc village comes across as a little Christmas village, but after the holidays its zinc metal is neutral that it can still double as a Winter Village. The wardrobe does have built-in hooks and a drawer for coats and other seasonal outerwear.

Cozy Chair to Welcome the Guest

I brought back the upholstered wingback chair (link) into this space. I provide a seat for guests to take on and off their shoes, or simply just a little cozy space to look out or weight for your latest Amazon purchases to arrive. Adding a little texture from the swiss cross pillow, from my store, The Found Cottage. This chair is a beautiful Sarreid Wood Irish Chair (link).

Showcasing a few Antiques and Vintage Items

Showcasing my style a bit more with a seasonal faux green on an antique stool and some antlers hanging above the chair fill the space. Again with the angled ceiling in such a small space, it's a challenge to fill the space to help mitigate the eye from noticing the larger antique furniture piece not being centered in the space. I added some more little unique and vintage finds sprinkled around the cabinet to tell the guests that either this lady is a crazy hoarder, or a fun little collector of all the things, in a completely normal and healthy way.