My Hallway Makeover and Entryway Ideas

Oh my gosh! I’m so excited to bring you today’s post with entryway ideas! As you may remember, I’ve been working on a much-needed makeover in my entry hallway. I’m done and I LOVE? the results!

If you need to catch up, first took out the chair rail, then I painted the trim. Next up, painting the walls, which sounds simple, but we have smooth walls which means any tiny knick or nail hole (even if it’s been filled in) shows up. I had to try a new technique so maybe it wouldn’t be so obvious that I had removed the chair rail. Uugh! I tried a new method and I think it worked the best of anything I’ve tried so far when removing chair rail and painting after.

Today, I get to show you all of the fun stuff! The eye candy. All the decorating and the final room. Yay! My favorite part of a DIY project. 

So let’s get the ugly out of the way. When I look back at these pictures, I can’t believe just how ugly it was and how we lived with it like this for over 10 years.

It has looked a little different throughout the 10 years, but I think painting the trim alone made such a huge difference in modernizing the space that everything else I did was just an uber bonus!

Ladies! Look! I’m mean! Doesn’t it look amazing? I’m probably supposed to be more restrained, but I sit at our kitchen table and see this space every day. As I’m sitting there, I am known to randomly just say, “It looks so pretty!” To which both of my kid’s eye roll and my 16-year-old tells me how “WE” need to do all this other work in the kitchen. Then it is my turn to eye roll because I know “We” means she will help for a hot minute and move on to all of her activities and “We” really means me. Anyway….I’m off track.

We had the bench and almost all of the wall art. I just reconfigured it. I wanted things to feel less cluttered and busy.

I know gallery walls are really popular, but I wanted a more simplified gallery wall.

I picked this sign up at JoAnn. It was part of their fall home collection, which is why I think the wood has a more orange tone. I wasn’t sure if it would work since our floors are still that kind of orange stain, but I love the wording to go with pictures of our road trips, which is what I have used to decorate the hallway. 

For your own entryway, depending on if it is the only entryway, you may need more functional space. Keep in mind how the space is used and what your storage and use needs are as you plan your entryway ideas.

This entryway is to our front door which we rarely use, so it is mostly decorative and wasted space. Yay for older home plans!

Currently, my daughters keep their backpacks under the bench at night and on the weekends. It was the best space we could find for their backpacks so they aren’t in the path where we all walk. Which is what I mean by keeping in mind your use and storage needs. It is all fun to have a pretty space, but if it doesn’t serve you and your family it doesn’t make sense. Try to make your entryway pretty and functional by keeping your use and needs in mind. 

To add some cozy and welcome, I found these cute pillows at Hobby Lobby. I mean! I love the colors, the fact that it says ‘hello” to welcome guests and then pom poms….need I say more? A fluffy pom pom pillow was a must for the space….at least if you are me.

I found the throw at Target (affiliate link) and it looks great, makes the space look warm and inviting. The throw is now on our couch because no one would use it in the entryway…but it looks great in the pictures. ? Just keeping it real with you.

Looking the other direction in the hallway (this is from our kitchen toward the front door).

Entryways are the first impression people get of both your home and your family as well, so add some personality and fun that reflects you and your family to your entryway ideas and plans.

Our entryway tells the story our cross-country road trips in which we have seen 42 states in 3 years!

Rugs are another important part of an entryway and one you need to make sure you factor your lifestyle into. If you have a busy and/or messy family, DON’T buy a dry clean only rug.

For my house, with 2 dogs and a cat, area rugs need to be washable. It’s surprisingly harder to find than I think it should be…well at least pretty rugs.

I found this pretty rug at Target(affiliate link) and I ?love it! It just makes the room feel much more modern and more my current style. 

Lighting is another key element for any room. Take into account the size of the space as you are picking out your light fixture. It’s another great place to add some personality and fun to your entryway, so make sure you pick something you love. Don’t go for basic and boring.

I had a chandelier type light fixture here(you can see it if you scroll back up to the before pictures). It’s in kind of an awkward place because the stairs are right there, so this time, I wanted to go smaller. I found this cutie at Lowe’s. I think it goes well with the new light fixture I did when I re-did my office this year. The office (which should be our formal dining room) is right off this entryway.

Now if I could only find decent light bulbs to light the space. I mean….lightbulbs these days are so expensive and seem to be either the really harsh bright bluish light or a yellowish light. Neither is right for this space. I found these light bulbs(affiliate link)…which are ridiculously expensive IMO, but the light is perfect. 

Most of us need to have some practical storage in our entryways because we use them daily to go in and out. Just because you need storage space doesn’t mean it has to be ugly or even obvious storage.

Here at the front door, I have this cute little chest of drawers. It holds a lot of my photography props for photographing crafts and such for this blog. It looks pretty in the space and is super functional for me. I love how it looks like I bought it for this space even though I bought a few years ago. You can see more of what’s in it in this post about having a real organized office.

Above the dresser, I’m telling more of the story of our road trips and using that space to add more personality and color. 

The map has color-coded stickers showing the states we went to on each trip and the tiles my girls and I made after each of our road trips. 

Fresh flowers add so much to a space and are a great addition to your entryway or house in general.

I love having flowers around, but unfortunately, our cat eats them and then pukes them up….so I rarely buy them. ?

If you don’t have a puking cat, I think fresh flowers in the entryway or anywhere in your house just adds such a pretty fresh touch. These hydrangeas have lasted forever, so if you want a flower that will last a while, I think they’re a great choice.

I mean…can you believe the difference? I love it!

If you are collecting your own entryway ideas, I highly recommend painting any wood trim and finding ways to tell your story while making the space welcoming and inviting for guest who will be entering your home. While you’re at it, find pretty ways to add some storage and contain all of the stuff that comes with family and kids.

Find ways to add those little touches that make the space pretty to you as well. It is after all your home and you should randomly annoy your children by commenting on how pretty it is, just like I do. ??

If you love all these ideas, please share with another hard working mom who loves her some DIY and having a pretty home as well. It would help me grow this blog and bring you even more great ideas and content. There are buttons right below this so you can share on Facebook, Pinterest or via email. Thanks so much!