Small Entryway DIY Makeover: That Will Make a Big Impact
Transforming a small entryway can feel intimidating, but with the right approach. You can turn even the tightest foyer into a space that’s stylish, functional, and welcoming. The secret? Start by understanding your dimensions, work with your limitations, and layer in smart storage and lighting choices to maximize every inch. Once I have all my decor and materials, this will be a weekend project.
1. Know Your Dimensions
Before you buy a single item, measure the width, height, and depth of your entryway. This step is often skipped, but it’s the foundation for a successful makeover. Dimensions will guide everything from the size of your rug to the scale of your light fixture, ensuring your space feels balanced rather than cramped.
2. Work With Limitations
Every small entryway comes with quirks; maybe it’s a narrow hallway, a low ceiling, or a closet that never seems big enough. Instead of fighting these limitations, embrace them. Use peel-and-stick wallpaper to add character without overwhelming the walls. Or opt for slim-profile furniture that tucks neatly against the wall without stealing precious floor space.
3. Fit in Smart Storage
Storage is the heartbeat of an entryway. Hooks, wall-mounted shelves, and slim benches with hidden compartments keep clutter at bay while giving everyone a landing spot for coats, bags, and shoes. If you’re working with a tiny closet, maximize vertical space with double rods or stacking bins. The goal is to make the space both functional and inviting.
4. Brighten With the Right Lighting
Lighting can make or break a small entry. An outdated fixture can drag the space down, while the right one adds warmth and style. Look for a flush mount or semi-flush fixture that spreads light evenly without overwhelming the ceiling height. Neutral tones or linen-like shades with metallic accents blend with existing hardware, tying the space together. Always double-check fixture dimensions before ordering to avoid mismatches and returns.
5. Wall Color or Texture
Your walls set the tone for the entire entryway, so don’t overlook them. Choosing the right color or texture can unify your palette and make the space feel intentional. Lighter shades like soft neutrals, airy whites, or warm pastels to create the illusion of more space. A bold accent wall or peel-and-stick wallpaper adds personality without commitment. If you already have metallic finishes on your door hardware or lighting, then consider bringing in complementary tones through wallpaper patterns or painted trim. The goal is to have your walls act as the backdrop. This will tie together your storage, lighting, and décor, ensuring everything feels cohesive from the moment you walk in.
Bringing It All Together
Redoing a small entryway isn’t about knocking down wall, it’s about making intentional choices that suit your space. When you measure first, accept your limitations, add purposeful storage, and brighten with thoughtful lighting, you’ll create an entry that feels both polished and practical. And with so many budget-friendly options available, including Amazon finds, you can refresh your entry in a single weekend.
What I will be tackling in this small entryway DIY makeover
This will be an Easy weekend entryway update with a budget-friendly price for this small foyer refresh. Here are the areas I will tackle:
- Entryway closet organization for small spaces DIY. I will maximize this space by adding a shoe rack and overhead boxes for storage.
- Peel and stick wallpaper entryway install tutorial. I have used this throughout my home. But decided to use a textured grasscloth and not a pattern because the wall space is small and I will also be using this on the entryway ceiling to unify the space.
- Then, adding an updated flush mount light fixture to install in a small hallway. This will give it the extra finishing touch to replace the old Tuscan one I currently have there.
- Refinishing the wood and front door with some good old cleaning and sealing.
- Painting the white wainscoting to a more neutral tone to soften the starkness of the white
- To finish this off, I am adding a non-slip rattan entry rug to keep the beachy vibe
So let’s get started!
Wallpaper
Peel and stick has become my go-to besides painting. Since this is a very small entryway, I wanted to pick more of a color and a texture over a print to make it not too busy. Since I have a coastal modern vibe going on in my living room, I wanted the entryway to reflect this to make it a seamless transition. Also I pan on adding this to the small square ceiling to showcase my new fixture!
You can find in this post a selection of peel-and-stick wallpaper that is right for each room. 19 Peel and Stick Wallpaper from Amazon. Transform your space with Ease. Lots of good resources and ideas!
This is the peel-and-stick I used for this specific project. I chose it based on a few factors: color, texture, and rating! This was a little pricey, however, I only needed one roll since the 4 walls in this space is very limited due to the size and the wainscoting on the lower half that I am going to just touch up with some trim paint for a refresh.
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Lighting
Updating your entryway lighting is one of the easiest ways to completely change the look and feel of the space. I started with an outdated overhead fixture that made the area feel dull and dated. So I swapped it out for a piece that’s bright, stylish, and perfectly scaled for a small entry. A neutral linen-like shade with subtle gold accents ties in beautifully with my gold door handles, creating a cohesive, elevated look without feeling overdone. Before ordering, always check the fixture’s dimensions against your space. This one simple step saves the hassle of returns and ensures your new light feels intentional, not overwhelming.
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I’ll also be sharing a few other fixture options that work well in small entryways. So you can choose the one that fits your style best.
- Rattan ceiling light– This comes in 2 colors and either a 1 or 3 lightbulb fixture, depending on what you are looking for.
- Ceiling Light Fixture with Pleated Shade-metal frame with white pleated drum shade
- Woven Rattan Boho Ceiling Light Fixture-3-Light Modern Semi Flush Mount Lamp with Drum Fabric Shade
- Scalloped Fabric Flush Mount Ceiling Light– Scallop shapes have been trending; this beauty comes in three colors
- Faceted Flush Mount-Featuring a double layer of handcrafted capiz shells exuding a pearl-like luster
- Linen Double Drum Pendant Light– Comes in both black and natural and is good for higher ceilings.
- Flush Mount Ceiling Light with White Wood Beads-Boho Hand-Painted Solid Wood Beads – Crafted with warm-tone solid wood beads, each painted by hand for a natural, authentic look
- Semi Flush Mount Ceiling Light- Flower-shaped shade and brass canopy, this gold flush mount ceiling light
Entryway Storage
Being a small entryway, I find that my family loves to kick off their shoes right here or in the living room entrance, it starts to look like a sea of unorganized shoes, and not what I want the front of my house looking like when you first enter.
I researched a shoe cabinet that would fit my almost nonexistent space to the left of my front door. Again, I measured the height of my wainscoting, the width, and the depth of this small cutout to make this cabinet work, and it does! Now, if you are a family of four with multiple shoes. This will not be practical for the bulk of shoes, so this will house everyday shoes. Then I will reorganize the closet with another shoe rack there to keep the lesser-worn shoes, so now I will have two areas to store shoes other than my living room floor.
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Closet Storage
For the additional shoes, I bought a shoe rack that can sit at the bottom of my front hall closet to store all the extra shoes. Still low enough not to interfere with the hanging coats and jackets. Again, check the dimensions
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For the top shelf of the closet, I needed to organize this by utilizing these boxes, so that when opening the door, all your stored towels and items are tucked away into these boxes for a more streamlined look.
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I swapped out all my mismatched hangers and replaced them with heavy-duty felt ones. I was breaking so many hangers from heavy items that I decided to use these for less breakage, and they will hold heavier items without breaking.
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Wall decor for Entryway
There is one 1/2 wall that I want to add a mirror to over the wallpaper to give it a finishing touch. I want this to align over my narrow shoe cabinet for a complete look. I measured the space and the shoe cabinet and picked out this round 25″ gold-framed mirror.
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Optional Mirror shapes
I chose a round mirror for my small space; however, there are some other shapes to consider depending on your own decor, taste, and wall size. See below for a mixture of these Mirror shapes to consider
- Oval Wavy Mirror– This irregular Wall Mirror is 24″x36″ with a Gold Asymmetrical Aluminum Alloy Frame
- Irregular Wall Mirror 22″x30″ trapezoid mirror in a gold frame
- Irregular Wall Mirror– This is 16″ and comes in both black and gold options
- Arched Wall Mirror– This has 3 metal frame color options as well as sizes
- Braided Wood Finish Oval Wall Mirror- This decorative wood frame brings an elevated, timeless look
- Scalloped Petite Gallery Wall Mirror– This is a small mirror, which would lend itself to a mirrored gallery wall
- Scalloped Wood Mirror– Natural sscalloped grooved wood frame can either be hung vertically or horizontally
- Wood Flower Scalloped Wall Mirror– Now this is such a beautiful piece and is well on trend with the scalloped frame
Hardware for doors
I currently have gold swivel handles on both my entryway front door and my closet door. For this project, I want to change it to a crystal knob but keep the gold tones. This is an easy way to update a door without changing it out.
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Floor covering
I finished this space with an area rug that has a rubber backing and can be easily washed due to the outdoor foot traffic in the house. I chose a light beige and white pattern to complement the neutrals in this space. This is a similar one from Amazon; the one I bought was from Ikea.
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Related Posts
See some additional makeover posts that you may be interested in. Happy reading!
- How to Decorate Floating Shelves. The Rule of Three & Other Pro Styling Tricks
- Choosing Furniture Pulls and Knobs That Wow
- Small Space, Big Impact: How to Make a Wood Slat Accent Wall
Redoing a small entryway is about so much more than making a first impression—it’s about setting the tone for your entire home. This space welcomes you back after a long day and greets your guests the moment they arrive. By approaching your makeover with intention—measuring your dimensions, embracing limitations, choosing the right storage, layering in effective lighting, and finishing with a thoughtful wall color or texture—you’ve laid the groundwork for a transformation that is both practical and beautiful.
What makes a project like this truly empowering is that it doesn’t require a full remodel or a huge budget. Instead, it’s the small, well-chosen changes that make the biggest difference: a flush mount light fixture that brightens every corner, slim shelving or hidden storage to keep clutter at bay, or a peel-and-stick wallpaper accent that instantly adds personality. Each choice you make adds up, creating a welcoming entryway that reflects your style while solving real-life challenges of space and function.
Remember, your entryway is the handshake of your home. When it feels organized, bright, and cohesive, it instantly communicates warmth and care. By investing a weekend in rethinking this small but mighty area, you’ve shown how intentional design can transform even the most overlooked corners of your home.
So grab your tape measure, pick your palette, and let’s turn your small entryway into a space that feels big on style, function, and personality. You’ll be surprised how quickly these little changes add up to a huge impact.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Last update on 2026-06-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
