6 Ways to Create a Functional Entry Area for You and Your Guests

Add Seating

Plan on a bench or a chair where you or your guests can sit to take off shoes or boots. This is important for homeowners daily but also important for guests. Whether or not you ask guests to take their shoes off, well, that’s up to you. But I know, especially in the winter, guests immediately like to remove their snowy wet shoes or boots. One way to encourage this is to have easy access to a conveniently located bench or chair.

Create a Landing Place for Shoes

If you keep your shoes or boots by the door at the entry, limit the number of shoes kept there to keep things orderly. Also, plan a basket, a tray, a mat, or even a drawer to house shoes and keep things orderly.

Create Coat Storage

Hang a few coat hooks, and add a coat closet or built-in cabinetry that can house coats. Depending on the amount of space that you have a few hooks, a small coat rack can do the trick in small places like an entry hall. If you don’t want these items in this location, create another space that’s easily accessible to hang these items like a small closet off the front hall, or even a small cabinet to store these often used items. Leave a little extra space so guests can hang their items as well.

Create Storage for Purses, Backpacks, Tote bags, etc.

If you have the space, you can certainly designate and design custom cabinetry for all of these items as we often do in our client’s homes. This keeps everything out of sight but easily accessible and is the best way to create customized storage. When you don’t have the space to do this, a few extra hooks, shelves, or even a small dresser or cabinet with storage near the door can provide storage for some of these items. If space is tight, have children store backpacks on a hook inside their bedroom so that everything doesn’t wind up on the floor near the door.

Use Color and Pattern

The entry area can be the first impression of your home for guests and the first space you see when you walk through the door. So this area should be welcoming and beautiful like the rest of your home. One of the easiest ways to create a beautiful and welcoming space is to use color and pattern wisely. Interesting combinations of color and pattern can add design impact. If your entry is into a hallway that attaches to other rooms, be mindful of creating a color scheme that flows from one space to the next. A separate mudroom gives you an opportunity.

Create a Separate Mudroom Area in Your Home

This could be done by renovating an existing space or combining other spaces in your home to design a useful designated mudroom space. A designated mudroom area will allow you to add additional useful features to the space. For example, a pet feeding center, storage for household items, extra cabinet and countertop space, sink area, or laundry area with built-in storage for laundry baskets and supplies. These are some of the features that we regularly include in our mudroom designs. The best part is that all of these features can be designed in a way that is beautiful and functional.

Until Next Time,

Gia