Ask A Designer™
March 30, 2022
Ask A Designer: How To Maximize Storage In A Compact Entryway
In this Ask A Designer column, Candace Thompson shares advice for maximizing storage in a compact front entry.
Question: Our front door opens right into the living room, leaving very little storage or space for a proper entryway. We’re putting in white oak flooring, and we want to get rid of the chunky white storage unit. We’d like to do something more streamlined and still have a place to store our coats and bags. What do you suggest? — M.H., Ottawa
Do you have a design dilemma? Send your questions to [email protected].
Candace: Based on the photo of your entryway, it looks like you’re a family of doers! Let’s start by hiding all the bags and coats that live in your hall.
Candace: Since the area behind your living room chairs is quite narrow, you’ll need a shallow storage system like Ikea’s Ivar cabinet, shown above. You can mount hooks on the inside of the doors and the back wall of the cabinet. It also comes with optional adjustable shelves, which you can use to store shoes and baskets.
Candace: To maximize space, stack two units, one on top of the other, to create the look of one tall cabinet. They can be anchored to the wall or mounted on feet (providing breathing room below for basket storage). If you have room, you can stack two more units to create a second tall cabinet.
Candace: The cabinets are made of solid pine and come unfinished. To customize, paint them off-black and add leather cabinet pulls.
Then, for taller coats, hang a blond wood peg rail on the wall.
Add a small bench below it to store shoes.
Consider freshening up your walls by painting them a bright white, like Behr’s Polar Bear.
Paint your radiator box the same color as your new cabinets and install a blond wood shelf above.
Then, swap out your print for a round mirror with a dark frame. This will be a great pairing.
Finally, add an all-weather doormat, plus a runner to bring warmth and define the space; an indoor-outdoor rug is a great option for this high-traffic area.
Enjoy your new organized entry!
Candace is a graduate of the Ryerson School of Interior Design and currently works as a designer at LRDS.