A Tiny Entryway Makeover Reveal

Small changes, big impact

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There is so much to love about our 110-year old craftsman home, but the lack of any form of entryway or coat closet has been a real challenge. I created a makeshift entry years ago by mounting two rows of sturdy hooks next to the front door. It proved sufficient for stowing hats, bags, and jackets (see image below) but during the winter months it turned into a heap of wet drippy coats, and I never really made peace with staring at a pile of dirty shoes and backpacks while sitting in the living room.

The Before

A few months ago, I helped a client organize her dreamy mudroom, complete with a custom locker for each member of the family, and it got me thinking - might it actually be possible to create a micro-version in our tiny entryway? Since our space was so tight, and our old home is quite crooked, store bought systems were out, but I found a cabinet maker who was eager to take on the project.

Our space had just 15” of depth and 40” of width to work with, but it was enough to create a sweet little system that works perfectly for our family.

The Reveal

Ta-da! I love how there is a place for everything (hats, bike helmet, jackets, shoes, and backpacks), and when the doors are closed it creates a much cleaner aesthetic in our living room. No more staring at backpacks on the floor. Hooray!

Tips and Takeaways

• I like to be transparent about cost in case you’re considering a similar project. We paid $1500 for materials and labor, used white semi-gloss paint we already owned (Snowfall White by Benjamin Moore), and bought these 8” pulls in True Black for the doors.

• While this new system has been a true game changer, the real key to creating a successful small space entryway is simply to reduce volume. Our girls only own 3-4 pairs of shoes each, and each one has a single puffer jacket they store in their rooms.

• Jordan and I store almost all of our shoes and jackets in our shared primary closet due to space constraints. Dirty running shoes and muddy boots get tucked on our porch to dry.

• We use a large french market basket for tossing flip-flops, soccer cleats, and our dog leash and harness. Practical and pretty.

My biggest takeaway from this project is not to be defeated by even the smallest, most challenging spaces. I honestly thought we would have to move to a massive home to ever have this kind of entry system, but it just took a little creative thinking (and a skilled local cabinet maker) to turn my entryway dreams into a reality.

Small entryway questions? Ask away in the comments below!

Photography Credit: Vivian Johnson