It may seem that the design of the entrance area does not require much effort – the premises are non-residential and generally passable, what could be simpler? But this is the face of the apartment, which forms the first – and most important – impression of it. What you need to consider when you think about entryway ideas for small apartments, we tell in this article.
You have a small apartment but you don’t have entryway ideas for small apartments. Then you will be inspired by our article and equip your hallway.
Table of Contents
Entryway ideas for small apartments
The interior of the hallway in the apartment should combine several qualities at once.
Aesthetics
The small apartment entryway is the first thing we see when we enter. So, the situation immediately sets the tone for the whole design of the small space.
It should be cozy and inviting to go further.
Practicality
The small entryway is a transit zone between the street and the house, so it will always be dirty and humid here. Let’s add melting snow in winter, dry sand on the soles in summer, and spring-autumn slush – we get a whole list of reasons for daily cleaning.
This point must be taken into account when you think about small entryway ideas.
Spaciousness
The main function of the small apartment entryway is storage. Here you need to place seasonal items, shoes, suitcases, bags, and sometimes sports equipment.
And also leave room for little things and casual outerwear. And most often you have to deal with limited footage.
Actual styles
Consider the styles that have proven themselves as long-term trends that will not lose their relevance after a couple of seasons.
1. Scandi
Scandinavia will never get tired of the inhabitants of the northern latitudes. This style is created for small apartments with a lack of sunlight, it is easy to decorate it yourself.
Scandi features
Light colors in the small apartment entryway visually increase the small space. The priority is white, light gray, and beige. In addition to the 1-2 bright accents.
Natural materials or their high-quality eco-friendly alternatives: wooden bench, veneer, cork, stone, glass, rattan.
Simple silhouettes, clear lines, laconic furniture.
The cozy decor is made of wood, paper, clay, natural fabrics, and wickerwork.
2. Minimalism
Minimalism has a wide gradation: from a reasonable rejection of non-functional things to exaggeratedly ascetic interiors. You only need to choose its comfortable degree.
Peculiarities
Neutral natural shades: from sand to graphite.
Emphasis on functionality. There should not be anything superfluous in the small entryway, each item solves a certain task, and preferably several.
Purity of forms. The image of the interior design is created by clear geometric or vice versa smooth lines. Silhouettes in the small entryway are simple, flowing into each other.
Minimum decor. Better 1-2 concise items in the all floor space instead of a dozen little things.
3. Modern
Contemporary is in many ways similar to minimalism, as it is a unifying style for all modern trends.
Distinctive features
Natural, pleasing to the eye palette. You can add bright colors to the apartment entryway: for example, highlight an accent wall or make colored interior doors.
Quality materials, and not necessarily limited to the natural. Use all the achievements of progress: micro cement, high-strength porcelain stoneware, 3D printing, and innovative materials from recycled materials.
Built-in systems, floating shelves, and furniture transformers much useful storage space. The priority is the rational use of free smaller spaces.
Multi-level lighting, the use of LED lamps, and hidden lighting.
4. Loft
In a typical apartment entryway, the loft is rarely used in its pure form – this direction involves high ceilings, huge windows, and a maximum of open space. The easiest way to make it stylized is to use only the brightest elements in the design of the corridor.
Small entryway ideas in Loft features
Rough finishing materials – brick, concrete, metal, stone. The texture of micro cement or decorative plaster is suitable.
Gray, brown, black, and dark blue, terracotta at the base of the accent wall.
Furniture and decor in industrial style.
5. Neoclassic
Unlike the classics in their purest form, this style offers more freedom and is suitable for any area.
Small entryway ideas and Attributes
Noble neutrals as backgrounds and richer accents. The base of the small entryway is cream, ivory, smoky gray, or white with a beige undertone.
Symmetry is at the heart of the composition, all lines are clean, tending upwards.
Stucco molding, moldings, curly platbands, and other decor on the walls or ceiling.
Precious metals or their imitation – for example, as accessories.
Only high-quality, functional, and stylish materials: wood, stone, marble, and glass.
Smooth lines, floating shelves, a console table, and other furniture on curved legs.
6. Provence
If you like the cozy, timeless small entryway, pay attention to the Provence style.
This is a more romantic variety of country music, which is often combined with classic and retro elements in a city apartment. The design welcomes the simplicity and naturalness inherent in rural life.
Small apartment entryway ideas in this style
- Light palette. The basis of small spaces is pastel colors, beige and white.
- Natural materials: wood, brick, plywood, stone.
- Vintage or antique furniture.
- Floral and geometric prints in the small entryway.
- Homemade decor, candles, photo frames, fresh flowers, decoupage items.
Color spectrum
The choice of palette for the small entryway is not as obvious as it seems.
What looks good in an entryway: 2 small entryway ideas
Light gamma visually enlarges the small entryway.
Darker colors make you “move into the light” in the living room or kitchen.
Non-staining colors will help to facilitate cleaning, on which stains, drops, and dust are not visible: any shades of beige, gray, marsh, brown, or gray-green. It doesn’t sound poetic, but any “dirt color” will do.
For a dark palette, choose deep natural shades: plum, dark blue, emerald, burgundy, terracotta, olive, and graphite. They will ennoble even budget repairs, especially if you emphasize them with the texture of wood, stone, and marble.
If small entryway ideas are to transform a small vertical space, then pay attention to the refreshing combinations of white with blue, mint, cream, peach, lavender, etc.
How do I decorate a small apartment entrance? What should be the finish?
Withstand mechanical damage, easy to clean, and not afraid of moisture and household chemicals.
For floor
The best option for the small entryway is tile or porcelain stoneware. If the corridor is spacious, you can use ceramics only near the front door, and then lay a laminate or parquet. The tree looks good with tiles, so the combination will turn out to be interesting and will help to zone the small entryway.
For walls
Washable wallpaper (preferably non-woven, vinyl or glass), decorative plaster, and paint are suitable for walls. If there are animals in the house, take a closer look at fiberglass – this is an anti-vandal paintable coating that can be updated up to 20 times and is not afraid of mechanical damage.
Part of the wall can be highlighted with decorative panels or wooden slats, thus zoning the small entryway.
A small pattern will mask the dirt, but a print that is too active will make the space cramped and can quickly get boring. Vertical stripes visually stretch the wall up, horizontal – in breadth. This property can be used to adjust the proportions of the hall.
The simpler the ceiling is decorated, the better. Refuse complex multi-level structures – let it be ordinary whitewashing or simple stretch fabric. A glossy ceiling will enliven a small, dark room. If the area is small, it is better to replace a massive chandelier with a compact ceiling lamp or LED strip.
How do you make an entryway in a small space with furniture?
Storage systems – the main right decision in the small entryway.
Refuse massive cabinet products – only if you do not have a spacious small entryway, the space of which needs to be somehow filled.
Pay attention to shallow, slim cabinets – they are suitable for small or narrow spaces. If the width of the wall allows, you can make a single structure from a built-in wardrobe and an open part with a hanger.
Consider a place near the front door where you can sit down. It can be a compact ottoman that slides under a console or hanger, an armchair, or a bench with a storage compartment. Most often, this subject becomes an accent.
Hanging consoles and illuminated open storage bench add lightness and create interest in small entryways.
What looks good in an entryway? Design of hallways of different sizes
An area of several squares is a typical situation for small entryways. It will not work to fit everything in the world into a tiny corridor, so you need to choose the required minimum. You can also find out more information about decorating your house and entryway ideas for small apartments.
Up to 5 sq m
Gentlemen’s set: a wardrobe or chest of drawers, a hanger, a shelf for scarves, hats, and gloves, a stunning bench for shoes, and a mirror.
The main enemy of a small entrance area is not a lack of storage space, but clutter. Jackets form a real snowball on a small hanger, a mountain of shoes grows at the door, and keys and gloves are anywhere but in the wrong place.
The easiest way to solve this problem is to organize maximum storage in closed systems. It can be a wardrobe, a bookcase with drawers, baskets, a chest of drawers, or a narrow console.
For shoes, you can find a compact wall or floor shoe rack. Let only a few hooks for everyday clothes remain in sight, and everything else will be hidden behind the doors.
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Make the most of vertical surfaces, be it a wall or a cabinet door. You can hang a mirror, a shoe rack, shelves for small items, hooks for outerwear, and bags on them.
5-10 sq m
If you got a small entryway, its design depends on the shape of the room.
It is easiest to work with a square or not too long rectangle. On one side of the door, you can place a built-in wardrobe, and on the other – a mirror, a hanger with a padded stool, a bookcase, or a bench. Or put all the furniture on one wall, and leave the second almost empty, adding only a little decor or putting a beautiful full-length mirror.
It is worth adding 1-2 accents to the design of the hallway, as in the photo: it can be tiled with a colorful pattern on the floor, photo wallpapers on one wall, a bright piece of furniture, or a large picture.
In an elongated entrance area, it is important not only to place everything you need, but also to visually adjust the proportions.
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What to use?
- Mirror cabinet fronts.
- Vertical lines on short walls – striped wallpaper, graceful silhouettes of furniture, lamps, and decor.
- Accent floor – it will divert attention from the unsuccessful shape of the room.
- Layered lighting to avoid dark corners and long shadows.
- Light colors where you want to visually increase the area, dark colors where you want to reduce it.
- A glass door to a bedroom or other living room to let natural light into the hallway.
From 10 sq m
For many, a large entrance hall is a dream, but in fact, working with a spacious room is no easier than working with a small one.
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The main task
The main task is to make sure that the space does not seem empty. For this:
- Choose large-format furniture – so the proportions will be in harmony.
- Experiment with the palette. Dark colors hide the space and make the atmosphere more intimate.
- Place accents: in a large empty area, there is nothing to catch your eye, and a few focus points will solve this problem.
- What to do if you have no entryway? Zoning: once you have enough square meters at your disposal, select an area at the entrance, dressing table with a mirror, etc. Use partitions, different colors, and textures, and several finishing materials.
- Make a bright floor – it will draw attention away from the walls and the size of the room. For example, it can be a carpet made of any patterned tile.
FAQ
How to decorate small apartment entryway?
Decorating a small apartment entryway can be challenging, but with a few simple tips, you can make it both functional and stylish. Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Create a focal point
2. Add seating
3. Install wall hooks
4. Use a console table
5. Incorporate lighting
6. Use a rug
7. Optimize storage
Remember, when decorating a small apartment entryway, it’s important to prioritize function and organization to make the most of the limited space.
What to put in entryway apartment?
The entryway of your apartment is the first impression your guests will have of your home, so it’s important to make it both functional and stylish. Here are some items you can consider putting in your entryway:
1. A coat rack or hooks
2. A shoe rack or storage bench
3. A console table
4. A mirror
5. Lighting
6. Decorative accents
Remember, the key to a functional and stylish entryway is to keep it organized and clutter-free. Consider only adding items that are necessary and that you will use on a daily basis.
What to do when you don’t have an entryway?
Not having an entryway in your home can make it challenging to keep the rest of your living space clean and organized. However, there are still several things you can do to create an entryway-like space, even if you don’t have a designated area for it. Here are some ideas:
1. Create a focal point
2. Use a room divider
3. Use a console table
4. Add storage
5. Use a rug
6. Install lighting
Remember, the key to creating an entryway-like space is to keep it organized and clutter-free. Consider only adding items that are necessary and that you will use on a daily basis.
Conclusion
Even a small entryway can be made cozy and beautiful. For this, you do not need to spend a lot of time, but just show a little imagination. If you have a small apartment, you can also read about if no space for fridge in kitchen.