Fresh Ideas for Foyers and Entries

An efficient entryway doesn’t require swaths of square footage—just a blank wall will do. Here, a skinny bench snugs under the window for a convenient drop zone for grocery bags and backpacks; baskets slide beneath for additional storage. The paneled wall holds a rack for coats and hats, making it easy to hang these items up and out of the way.

Few things greet guests more heartily than a delightful dose of color and personality at the front door! Cheerful tomato-red paint on the door and sidelights gives way to stripes in two shades of blue on the rug and the chest of drawers. Fresh flowers and a tabletop arrangement of artwork will put a smile on the face of anyone who enters.

This back-door entry cleverly uses the backside of the kitchen cabinetry for storing items that transition between indoors and out—for example, pet gear, including a bin for kibble and bowls for food and water. Closed-door cabinets hide empty grocery bags, cleaning supplies, and other unsightly things.

A rack of hooks for hats, bags, and a dog leash takes on the appearance of artwork when hung among a smattering of paintings and frames. The orange tray on the TV cabinet collects loose items so they’re easy to deposit on the way in or to grab on the way out.

Personalized cubbies—tucked on a shelf near the front door—corral phones, keys, MP3 players, and other items you might grab on your way out the door. Having a particular place for everything means always knowing where important things are stored.

What a welcoming sight upon first coming inside! Both decorative and functional, this entryway banquette offers a spot to sit when putting on or taking off shoes or boots, as well as three drawers for storing all your front-entry necessities. It also teases with a tantalizing taste of the home's decor.

A small mudroom lets a home shift smoothly between the indoors and out. Hardy tile flooring and a wide farmhouse sink means that dirt and grit from the backyard can be shaken and washed off before entering the house proper.

Boisterous wallpaper cleverly conceals hooks crafted of wooden dowels; upon closer look, they resemble stubby branches amidst all of the tree trunks on the wall! The hooks are handy perches for bags, hats, jackets, dog leashes, and whatever else you need to drop off on the way inside. A cushioned bench makes it easy to slip shoes on or off before coming or going.

A demilune table graciously curtsies a greeting, turning a bare stretch of wall into a welcoming foyer. The demure table provides just enough surface space for a small tray (ideal for catching car keys and spare change), a slim lamp, and a bit of artwork. Shoes and boots stash tidily underneath.

What could've easily been blank walls or bland bookcases blossomed into an eye-catching display in this entryway. A motley mix of books, pottery, potted plants, framed photos, and baskets mingle boisterously on the shelves, giving guests something to gaze at as they come in the front door and venture into the home.

Wall-mounted pockets—one for each family member—keep mail, homework, and other papers separate, organized, and all in one place. A magnetic chalkboard above alerts everyone to the week's schedule.

Many older homes don’t have a coat closet near the front door, but this ingenious solution puts pretty jackets and umbrellas on marvelous display. A freestanding rack gathers outerwear, shoes, and other gear in one compact spot right where it’s needed—without taking up scads of space.

A wooden shelving unit slips perfectly into a slender alcove just inside the front door. Baskets and buckets expand the shelves' storage capacity, while a mirror visually amplifies the tiny space. 

A basic bench piled with colorful cushions would be helpful enough for setting down grocery bags or a heavy purse upon coming in the door. But this one packs even more assistance into its small size: A trio of under-seat drawers stores extra shoes, hats and gloves, sporting equipment, and anything else that needs a place.

A wood-tone magnetic board takes up mere inches of wall space but imbues an entryway with loads of convenience—three little hooks grasp car and house keys—and a spot to showcase fave photos.

Even if a house doesn’t have a designated foyer, one or two pieces of the right furniture can fake it. Here, an antiqued folding screen separates the entryway from the nearby family room, while a diminutive wooden table, brightened with a lamp and a few artsy treasures, catches mail and keys.

A bright, clean mudroom makes the transition from outdoors to inside an easy one. Tall locker-type cubbies let each family member shed and stow his or her shoes, jackets, and backpacks in its own space. A rugged slate floor stands up to dirt and stains that might meander in from the backyard, and a wide sink lets kids grab a drink or wash off before setting foot in the main part of the house.

Every bit of this antique cabinet is pressed into service. The top surface gathers white pottery and a pair of lamps in a lovely display; it can also be a landing spot for things needed upon leaving the house or coming home. Its drawers stash papers and other loose items to keep them out of sight, and the cabinets conceal purses, backpacks, and other bulky pieces so the clutter doesn’t spill over into the family room.

These built-in cubbies look a bit like gym lockers—only much more polished and pretty! Each kid in the family has his or her own locker, where hooks hang coats and a deep bench corrals balls and bags.

Open shelves at foot-level hold shoes and boots; plus, they slide out so it’s easy to retrieve shoes and put them away.

Fabric-lined baskets collect seldom-used items, such as off-season clothing or shoes, so they are out of the way.

Just wide and deep enough to snug into the crook of the staircase, this plump cushioned sofa tells visitors that comfort rules in this house. It's the perfect perch for gazing out the window or waiting for a guest.