Transforming our entryway from eyesore to inviting
Our house didn’t have a coat closet, and as our family grew it became more of an issue. I tried different things, like hooks on an empty wall near the kitchen, but it was always cluttered and messy looking because there just wasn’t enough space. Between sweatshirts, coats, knapsacks, and all the miscellaneous things that landed there, our entryway was an eyesore.
An entryway sets the initial impression of a home. Having a neat and welcoming entryway makes such a difference — even for your immediate family as they come home every day. But there’s often very little wiggle room to change the entryway layout, because there are other rooms and/or stairs immediately off of it. We sometimes need to get creative to find other spaces to designate for coats and catchalls. We try to find an unused nook or an inconspicuous wall near the primary door to hang some hooks and even some shelving for baskets when possible. It might be right behind the door, or under the stairs. A console table with storage space works well for keys, small umbrellas, cold weather accessories, and other smaller things. Even a coat rack can work for really tight spaces or rentals that can’t be renovated.
Sometimes there are bulkier things like strollers that belong in the entryway but tend to get in everyone’s way. It’s ideal to designate a parking spot for those things, like the corner of a nearby room or behind the door, so that they don’t get in the way of foot traffic.
When planning a more major renovation, or a new build, designing a spacious entryway with closets is, of course, ideal. When possible, having a two-story entryway gives the whole house an expansive feel. (As a side note, while most homes have the stairs right off the entryway, it makes the living space upstairs far less private. When a delivery or meshulach comes to the door, I prefer they don’t see the kids running out of the bath. When possible, I prefer to set the stairs up elsewhere.)
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