Front Entrance Reveal

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The entryway is finally done! I can’t believe I had the audacity to call this a “minor” project back in March.

Nearly three months later, I’ve finally decided I’ve checked all the major boxes and can move on to other areas of the house.

When I started this project, I had little idea of what I wanted the space to look like. But, I knew how I wanted it to function. I have a no shoes home, so I wanted an inviting space with a comfortable seating area for guests to remove their shoes. Storage for said shoes was also important, and I wanted the space to flow into the rest of the house.

When I purchased this bench within weeks of moving in, my main concern was my parents. They had been coming over often to help me unpack or move things around and I noticed them sitting on the stairs or leaning on walls to remove their shoes. So I purchased the first bench I saw on sale at Bed Bath and Beyond with no eye towards how it would impact the design of my entry way. It turns out, nothing about me or my home says “clunky storage bench” and so it has been a real pain trying to design around it. But, I took it on as a challenge.

This bench has taught me to be more intentional about my purchases. Although function is important, aesthetic is equally important to me (if not more so 😬).Also, while the price (about $50 on sale and after coupons) was right, I’ve thought about replacing the bench several times. I looked at multiple options on various websites. I’ve learned to take full advantage of options that allowed me to view items in my space. But finding a bench that was beautiful and equally functional proved difficult.

This bench is a little over 2 feet tall which has been great for my guests and their Monique thee pony knees. I knew I did not want to sacrifice height for beauty. Also, I love the idea of guests shoes being tucked away in the cubes rather than lining the floor underneath the bench. After realizing that this bench was serving its purpose well, I began to look into options to make it look as great as it performed. I did find I was able to bring some color to the bench with the addition of a cube. I am still looking for a new seat cushion, or cover as I feel the current colors run right into the floor. But, long story short…I will be keeping the bench for the foreseeable future.

Initially, I had the hardest time figuring out how to style my console table.

It turns out that all I needed was a color scheme. If you’ve been keeping up with me on instagram and YouTube, you know that I picked up a massive piece of abstract art for $75 at a warehouse sale a few weeks ago. I’m planning to put it in my dining room but I’ll be pulling colors from it for every room in the house.

I can’t tell you how immediately things began to come together once I had a color scheme. In one trip to Target (for nail polish remover and dish soap) I had new rugs and all my console table decor. I won’t lie, this Target run felt very expensive because I had intended to spend all of $10 when I walked in. But, isn’t that the way of Target? All-in-all the decorative items cost just under $200.

I went through several wall decor options before settling on this oversized mirror from Target.

After a brief stint on the wall over the console table, I decided the scale of this mirror was all wrong

I absolutely hated this piece once I got it on the wall. I think it just looked cheap to me. Possibly because it was….

Since I got most of my items in the entryway from Target, I knew I needed some more unique items in the space to make it look less like the home decor section of my favorite store. I headed over to Home Goods to look for some art work to hang above the table. I immediate fell in love with this piece (which I’ve seen in every Home Goods I’ve entered since…not “so” unique lol). However, it does lend some texture and visual interest to an otherwise beige space.

Finally, I often say every room needs a plant. But my entryway is relatively light deprived. Despite my door being made mostly out of glass (yes, I was equally confused), for privacy reasons, I don’t get much light in the foyer. I initially had a faux palm in the corner by the bench. However, the height of the plant and the tropical vibe was not giving what it was supposed to gave. So, at the advice of a friend, I picked up a low light real option. Next, I needed a planter for my new plant baby. I ordered a set I had been eyeing on Overstock since last year. They are a staggered set, but I used the larger one for another plant that lives upstairs. The design is stunning and the plant and planter bring two colors from the upstairs painting into the space.

Et viola, I have a completed front entrance. As always, there will be minor updates as time goes on. I’ve already ordered new artwork for the giant white wall next to the stairs. But, I could not be more satisfied with what I’m looking at right now.