6 Tips for Refreshing Your Small Entryway

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18 May

Written By Lisa Linh

The first impression most people make about your place begins with your entryway. For my studio apartment, it is literally the first thing you see when you open the door, so I have to make sure it sets the tone and vibe for the remainder of my apartment.

If you’ve read my post about creating a cozy reading nook, you know that I’m all about welcoming good vibes with warm tones — especially since my carpet is a forest green. Wood elements have been my best bet in contrasting the carpet, along with adding in faux fur rugs to draw attention away from the floor.

I’ve recently teamed up with Frame Bridge to redress my walls and in the process, have found 6 helpful tips for refreshing a small entryway.

Add a Bench or Console Table
Prior to the bench pictured, I had a white console table that took up 3/4th of the wall space. While it was cute and great for storage, I wanted to tie in my overall apartment theme with a wood element instead. I found this dining bench at Urban Outfitters and it just so happen to be the exact measurements of my entryway. It was easy to build and is pretty sturdy, as I do sit on it from time to time to take off my shoes. Also another reason why I wanted a bench versus console table, was so I can sit down to put on/take off my shoes.
Lightly Accessorize
Since I wanted enough space to sit down, I decided to only decorate the ends of the bench. On the right side is a basket of scarfs and a vintage mirror tray that I found at a flea market. The tray holds a small vintage book, some stones, palo santo, a diffuser, a couple pieces of jewelry, and incense holder.
I also have a little floating shelf (I found at an estate sale) above the bench, which holds random knick knacks/souvenirs from previous trips.
Hang Photos/Art Work
I have two large frames positioned towards the back of the bench, along with a photo framed right above the bench. All frames are from Frame Bridge’s “The Shop”. The sizes of the prints on the bench are rather large, as I wanted it to be noticed right upon entering. I also chose gold and black frames to contrast the bench. The quality of the prints are amazing and well beyond what I expected. Highly recommend using Frame Bridge for any custom print work you need.
Use Baskets for Storage
On the far right corner of my bench is a small basket filled with scarves. They’re always the last thing I throw on before I walk out the door, so I figured that would be a great place to place them. Underneath the bench is another small basket where I place my most worn sandals. Again, easy access and what I usually throw on for quick errands or to grab the mail. You can easily find baskets anywhere, but mine are from Target and Urban Outfitters.
Throw In a Rug
Since I have faux fur rugs all over my place, in an attempt to hide a good chunk of the green carpet, I decided to also add in a rug on top of the bench. To give a little more contrast and some slight cushion, I placed the faux fur rug (from Urban Outfitters) underneath the vanity mirror tray and the two framed prints.
Add Some Greenery
No surprise that my last tip is to add in plants. It’s a trend nowadays, everyone’s a plant mom and unfortunately because I have a terrible green thumb, I have to settle for artificial plants. I mean, it looks pretty real to me though. I purposely placed a faux plant on the far left end of my bench so that it ends up being behind my reading chair. This kind of blocks off the view from the other side of my reading nook, creating a barrier to separate the entryway and the reading area.
On occasion, I do add fresh flowers on my vanity tray and adding in fresh elements to any area of your home always helps brings it to life.