12 brilliant functional entryway ideas that are both practical and beautiful
Creating a functional entryway starts with practical storage solutions and efficient use of space. An inviting entrance provides room for dressing and ample clothing storage.
1. Space and light
Is there anything more frustrating than a cramped entryway? The entryway of this urban home, converted from a garage, is a spacious and bright alcove. There are tidy closets for clothes and an ingenious shoe shelf under the windowsill. A large mirror completes the ensemble and doubles the amount of light. You can position the mirror to reflect something beautiful. The floor is made of practical, mud-resistant tile.
2. Beautifully displayed
What you can’t hide is worth highlighting. This is one way to tame the shoe chaos in the entryway! The rustic shoe rack in this home, converted from an old barn, is like a work of art that displays dozens of pairs of shoes. The arrangement is so artful, you might hesitate to even take a pair to wear.
3. Welcome to our home!
When the entrance leads directly into the living room, functional clothing storage is essential for keeping everything in order. The recess with slatted paneling and the mirror between the closets nicely lighten the appearance of the cabinets and create a polished, hotel-like atmosphere.
Tip! In addition to closets, it’s worth getting a beautiful freestanding coat rack or a stylish wall-mounted rack for the entryway. They look stunning when empty but are handy when you have visitors.
4. Hidden under the stairs
Stairs to the upper floor are often in the entryway. The underside of the stairs is indeed the perfect place for a wardrobe or storage. If you’re worried that a closet under the staircase will become a big black hole where things disappear never to be seen again, then this clear cabinet and drawer solution is for you.
5. More is more
Sometimes the solution for entryway storage is simple: Stack an insane—or at least sufficient—number of cabinets in a row. In passageways like a hallway or foyer, large cabinets go almost unnoticed. In this interior designer’s home, the execution is particularly stylish.
6. Like at the daycare center
A true organization enthusiast takes inspiration from daycare centers. In this entryway, the family’s clothes are neatly organized in a cubby system. Everyone has their own cubby, even the adults! The parents designed and built the solution themselves from laminated wood panels and ready-made cabinet elements. The floor is made of practical and durable tile.
7. Behind the screen
You can also define spaces very subtly. This way, the spaciousness of the entryway is preserved. The partition in this modern wooden house’s entryway is made of round slats. The coat rack visible behind the lattice was custom-made by August Design.
8. Eyes upward
Here, only the clothes and shoes that are in frequent use are on display. You can maximize the storage space by attaching a shelf near the ceiling—around the entire entryway, if you wish. Beautiful boxes can be used to store hats, gloves, and other accessories.
9. Ah, the everyday entryway!
The problem: constant chaos and too much stuff in the entryway. The solution: a separate everyday entryway. It doesn’t have to be grand or flashy, just spacious and easy to maintain. While there’s a sleek and slender guest coat rack in main entryway, the everyday entryway has large cabinets and space to undress, dress, and dry clothes.
10. Matching style
The storage spaces of an old house should be designed to match the style of the house. In this home, the entryway was opened up, but the style was preserved. The green cabinets in the hallway of this hundred-year-old log house were built on-site. The foot of the stairs houses an invention by the carpenter—a well-hidden shoe box.
11. Add color with wallpaper
A small space doesn’t have to be dreary and colorless. You can hang paintings in the entryway or wallpaper one or more walls with a beautiful design. When the space is small, you can splurge on a slightly more expensive wallpaper since you don’t need much of it.
12. Impressively hidden
When you have the space, it’s worth allocating plenty for everyday activities. In the entrance of this house, clothes aren’t spilling out of closets and your elbows won’t hit the walls of small spaces when putting on a coat. Still, everything is close at hand. The wardrobe and laundry room are hidden behind the homemade sliding doors.
