Come see a small entryway makeover done with a tiny budget and a short time frame.
Our front door is literally in the middle of our home and I walk past it a thousand times a day. And one day, I was just so over the “in between” and got started on a small entryway makeover. My goal: create a prettier space, add simple functionality, and stick to a tiny budget.
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THE ENTRYWAY BEFORE
This entryway has come a long way. The second day we owned the house, James tore out the original coat closet. {You can see all the behind the scenes of those first days HERE.} The space was too tight for a closet and all 5 of us coming and going all the time. We also had another location for a coat closet. {If you missed the toilet in the closet post, click HERE…it’s a good one!} So, for us, it was a no brainer to add more square footage to our entryway.
With the closet gone, I was able to refinish our floors in that space when I did the rest of the house. {Before and after photos of sanding floors: click HERE.} Once the dust {literally} cleared, our entryway was simply made livable for the near future. Read: ugly.
THE ENTRYWAY DURING
I knew going into the project that this will not be a final makeover because removing 2×4’s is, well, I’d say below my pay grade. But that would be a lie. It’s way beyond my abilities. And since James is deep in the middle of a bedroom renovation project, I did what I could.
And that included removing all the excess plaster in this small entryway makeover.
This project confirmed our suspicions about our walls being two layers of plaster thick. And that is exactly why hanging anything in this house always turns into a bigger project than expected.
Once all of the extra plaster and nails were removed, I really made James scratch is head. Why? Because I just painted the 2×4’s. It’s kinda like the: “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” mentality. I couldn’t do anything about the extra 2×4’s, so might as well make them blend in with the rest of our small entryway makeover.
THE ENTRYWAY AFTER
A few coats of my new favorite interior color (Behr Swiss Coffee) on the walls, our kitchen cabinet color on the door, and some fun accessories later and the makeover is complete. {Want to see our kitchen cabinet color on…well, our kitchen cabinets? Click HERE.}
Oh, wait…I did a little something on one wall. You see, I’ve been admiring all of the removable wallpaper I see online. And since my budget consisted of, well, a stencil and a pint of paint, I did the next best thing. I painted a faux wallpaper design on one wall in our entryway.
It felt a little daring to use gold paint, but I really wanted to add a feminine aspect to our small entryway makeover. Plus, I knew that taking a little chance on something that seemed out of character for me, might just pay off. So I jumped in with two feet and went GOLD!
The opposite wall was plain and empty. And since the door opens that way, anything hung on it needed to be mostly flat. Basically something decorative would work. After covering a canvas with chalkboard paint, my daughter lettered this for me:
While the above photos are so pretty with the wood floors beaming through, I need to show you what is really in this space. It’s not pretty, but it’s certainly functional. And a great in between while I wait for the right rug to come along.
It really was a simple small entryway makeover. A few days here and there and using mostly what I had on hand and my family can now get in and out of the house easily. Plus, the bonus is that it’s pretty…for us and our guests.
How about you? Is there an eye-sore area in your home? Do you think a quick makeover is in order? If so, tell me about that space and what you plan to do with it!
♥Leigh
FIND MORE OF OUR PROJECTS HERE:
A Living Room Game Table Makeover
How I Painted a Stone Fireplace
An Enclosed Back Porch Makeover
SHOP THIS LOOK:
PIN IT FOR LATER:
I think the after photo is such a transformation. You opened up your entryway area and made it functional and beautiful on a budget. My fave thing is the wall treatment.
Thank you, Cheryl! The painted “wallpaper” was so fun to do…and the low price tag attached made it even better. Thanks for your kind words. ♥
What a difference it made, physically for entering, as well as cosmetically. It looks great! You’ve kind of mastered these entries into your home….front and back. They both look amazing! And you’ve accomplished it with a very low budget! That makes it even better!
Cheryl, you are so sweet! Thank you for encouraging me…and I hadn’t even put the two entrances together in my mind so thank you for that! ♥
Such a cute and functional entryway!! You did an amazing job! I need you in our home, LOL! Blessings!
I love it! This may be my favorite of your renos… but I also love the half bath and living room.
=)