Hey friends! Many of you know that we recently moved into a “new to us” house in St. Louis while my husband goes to grad school. We really love it overall, but of course, there are things that we wish we could change. One of those things is that our house is a split level home. So, when you walk in the front door, you walk onto a landing and see stairs going up and stairs going down. Besides the fact that no one is ever sure which way to go (up or down!), there is not much space to decorate!! (Sadness!) Since I’m sure that I’m not the only one with this issue, I thought I’d share some tips on how to decorate a small entryway.
Functionality should be your number one priority
You want people to feel welcome and comfortable when they come to your home, and if they can’t fit in your entryway because of furniture or decor you have set up, they’re going to feel awkward! Not good 🙂 So, try to find small pieces of furniture that could fit in a corner, or something skinny that could be against the wall without protruding into the area.
Add interest with accessories
If you do have room for a small piece of furniture, add some accessories! This is a great way to express your style and personality. I have been wanting some willow branches for a loooong time, but they can be SO expensive, so I’ve done without 🙁 But, I happened upon a sale at Hobby Lobby and got these for half off!! Insert happy dance! One reason I love these is that they are tall. I have a two story opening in my entryway, and these willows add some height in my decor to help fill the space and bring the eye up.
Use color and texture
Because there’s not a lot of space to work with in small entryways, color and texture will be your friend!! Try using a large rug with pattern or color. Utilize the back of your door! You could paint it, or add a wreath to add texture and interest. Think of the accessories you’re using on your piece of furniture–can you add some color with a picture frame or flowers, or add texture with a metal accent piece?
Be smart with your space
Look around and make a list of every spot of space you have to work with. The biggest thing I have in my entryway is the wall that goes up the stairs. It’s a huge blank space! Since we all know I’m a sucker for gallery walls, that’s what I’m currently doing with this space–who knows what’ll it’ll be in a year! 😉 I’ve staggered my pictures to flow with the staircase, and used a variety of color, style and textures. Adding a fun wallpaper would be awesome! Or a dramatic paint color. But, if you’re on a budget (like me 😉 ) putting together a gallery wall with things you already have on hand is a great option! I’d love to put baskets on the staircase, but ours isn’t very wide, so it would hamper the functionality of the stairs. Sigh. 😉
My goal with our entryway was to keep it light and bright. It’s such a small space, that I didn’t want it to be cramped and overwhelming. I tend to want to go overboard when I decorate, putting things absolutely anywhere they could fit! My husband is not a fan of that and I’m trying to back off and keep things looking clean, simple and stylish. It’s a work in progress! I am thinking about painting my little accent table navy though….I can’t get enough of that color lately…what do you think??
I hope that one or two of these tips can help give you ideas on how to decorate a small entryway! Try some out and see what you think. I’d love to hear from you, see pictures of your successes or help however I can!!
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