Transform A Simple Entry Closet Into A Beautiful And Functional Storage Space

Entryways can set the tone for your entire home, all depending on how they are styled and used. They can either be a warm, welcoming room, or feel like an awkward utilitarian zone. Do you dream of having a luxurious mudroom, complete with built-in cabinets, vertical storage, and oodles of shoe storage, but are left with a cramped entryway closet that is totally neglected or overflowing with miscellaneous objects? 

As it turns out, your dreams may not be as far out of your reach as you think; all it take is a little DIY magic. One easy way to get a stylish mudroom look on a budget is to reimagine the entryway closet by removing the doors and adding storage and seating. This might sound a tad overwhelming, but can be done very simply with a semi-homemade approach, or totally custom depending on your budget and skill level. 

The first step is to remove the doors from your hallway closet. This alone can make a small entryway feel bigger by opening up the space. You'll also no longer have to deal with awkwardly shimmying past the open closet doors in a narrow entryway, which is an added bonus. After the doors are off, rethink the closet space by adding additional vertical storage, a place to sit, and possibly some drawers or cubby holes. We'll walk you through more options for creating a stunning DIY entry closet.

If you're a DIY superstar with all the right tools, you can absolutely repurpose a closet into a custom mudroom. This will look super professional and high-end, but might be a tad ambitious for some. You can still get this look with some clever shopping and creativity. For instance, you can use IKEA's KALLAX cabinet to build a chic storage bench, or even buy a storage bench and coat hanger-combo that's the same size as the closet, assembling it inside the entryway. At the very least, we recommend adding a small bench with shoe storage for you and guests to sit comfortably while taking shoes off, removing coats, and so on. 

Now that you've got those doors off, it's time to decide what you actually want to use this storage space for. With the doors on, there's nothing wrong with just throwing odds and ends since nobody can see inside, but now you need to curate a bit more. To make the space feel functional but not cramped, try to limit it to things you only need when you're leaving the house and can put away as soon as you get home. Objects like umbrellas, reusable shopping bags, jackets, scarves, and of course boots and shoes are perfect for this zone. You may also want to build additional vertical storage with shelving, or mounting some coat hooks onto the wall, as done by DIY blogger @comestayawhile on TikTok. Since your objects will be on display, try using storage baskets and stackable bins to hold miscellaneous objects.