What's the best way to set up a small entryway? Use the walls, not the floor. Add hooks, a slim shelf or a floating ledge, a mirror for light, and one narrow piece of storage for shoes. Give keys and mail a single home, and keep the path from the front door at least 36 inches clear. In a very tight space, hooks and a mirror alone can do the job.
These small entryway ideas work for apartments, narrow hallways and homes where the front door opens straight into a room. For larger spaces, see our main entryway ideas guide.
Start by Measuring
Three measurements decide what fits in your small entryway.
| Measure | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Door swing | Furniture has to clear the open door, and so do you |
| Width of the walkway | Aim for 36 in of clear path; 30 in is a tight minimum |
| Wall length and depth available | Decides between hooks, a slim console or a shoe cabinet |
| Entry width | What fits |
|---|---|
| Under 36 in | Wall hooks, a mirror, a narrow ledge. No floor furniture |
| 36–42 in | Add a piece up to 8–10 in deep, like a wall-mounted shoe rack |
| 42–48 in | A console table or shoe cabinet up to about 12 in deep |
| 48 in or more | A bench or a cabinet around 16 in deep |
A depth of 8 to 12 inches is usually the sweet spot for narrow entryway furniture. Our console table height guide has the standard sizes.
Small Entryway Storage Ideas
1. Install a row of wall hooks
Hooks are the most useful thing you can put in a small space. They hold coats, bags, dog leashes and hats, and they take up almost no room. Hang one row for adults at about 60 to 66 inches and a lower row for kids.
2. Add a floating shelf
A floating shelf or narrow ledge above the hooks gives you a surface without legs. Use it for keys, sunglasses and a small plant. You can mount one on a wall that's too tight for a table.
3. Choose a slim shoe rack or shoe cabinet
Loose shoes are what make an entry feel messy. A tilt-out shoe cabinet stays shallow, and a simple shoe rack costs little and fits behind a door. On a longer wall, closed storage hides everything. The Travero Enclosed Shoe Cabinet and the Travero Sensor-Lit Shoe Cabinet are 15.7 inches deep and 63 inches wide, with anti-tip hardware included and a top surface for a lamp or a tray. They're best for an entry that's 48 inches wide or more. See how to choose a shoe cabinet and shoe storage ideas.
4. Try a small bench
A small bench gives you a place to sit and put on shoes, and baskets or shoes can sit underneath. In a very small entry, a stool that slides under a console table does the same job.
5. Use a narrow console table
A narrow console table is the classic choice. Pick one with slim legs so you can see the floor underneath, and tuck baskets below it. Consider a table with a lower shelf or a drawer for mail.
6. Use baskets for loose items
One basket per person keeps gloves, hats and scarves off the floor. Baskets also soften the look of a hard, narrow hallway.
7. Go vertical with cubbies
Tall, shallow cubbies use height, not floor space. They make the most of a corner and work well for families with kids. If you have more room, a mudroom-style setup will do even more. Our mudroom ideas show how it's done.
8. Use the back of the door
An over-the-door organizer or a few hooks adds storage in a spot you rarely use. It suits apartments, where you may not be able to drill into walls.
9. Use the corner
A corner is often unused. A tall coat rack, a slim plant stand or an umbrella stand fits there without getting in the way. Umbrellas drip, so choose a stand with a tray.
10. Add a hall tree if you have the wall
If your entry has a full wall, a hall tree puts hanging space, drawers and storage into one piece. Our hall tree guide explains the sizes. The Homsee hall tree collection starts with the Vestia 2-Door at 40.9 inches wide and 24.8 inches deep, with lighting included, so it's a better fit for a foyer than a tight hallway.
Small Entryway Design Ideas
11. Hang a mirror
A mirror is the single best design trick in a small entryway. It bounces light around, makes the space feel wider and lets you check your coat on the way out. A wide mirror above a console table or cabinet works well, like the Nacre Wall Mirror with its mother-of-pearl inlay frame at 39.4 inches wide. See how high to hang a mirror.
12. Choose the right light
Most entries are dark. Use a flush ceiling light, or a wall sconce, which takes up no surface space. A plug-in sconce works if you rent. A small table lamp adds a warm glow in the evening, and it's a nice thing to come home to.
13. Use a runner rug
A runner draws the eye along the narrow space, and catches dirt from the door. Choose a low-pile, washable rug with a pattern that hides marks. A dark color or medium pattern is more forgiving than cream. For fit, leave several inches of floor visible on each side.
14. Paint it boldly or keep it light
Painted walls change an entry more than any furniture. Light colors make it feel wider, but because you pass through a small entry quickly, a dark color can work well too. Paint the walls, trim and door in the same color for a bigger look. Our guide to choosing paint colors can help.
15. Try wallpaper
Small rooms are the best place to try a bold pattern. You'll need only a roll or two, and it adds personality without using any floor space. See how to choose wallpaper, or use peel-and-stick in an apartment.
16. Add a gallery wall or one big piece of art
Art gives the eye somewhere to go in a tight space. It also makes a good first impression. See our gallery wall ideas.
17. Add wainscoting or a peg rail
A Shaker-style peg rail is both decoration and storage. Beadboard or wainscoting on the lower half of the wall also protects paint from bags and shoes.
18. Keep a catch-all tray
A bowl or tray for keys and a phone stops things from drifting around the house. Mail is the other big source of clutter, so use a slim wall file and clear it out once a week.
No Entryway? Create One
If the front door opens straight into the living room, you can still make an entry.
- Put a rug or doormat just inside the door to mark the zone
- Use the back of the sofa with a slim console table to form a divider
- Put a bookcase or tall shelf at a right angle to the door
- Paint a section of wall a different color, or add wallpaper on one side
- Hang a mirror and hooks on the nearest wall, with a shoe tray below
What to Avoid in a Small Entry
Designers tend to agree on what makes an entryway look messy or tacky:
- Piles of shoes on the floor
- Too many small decorative items on the table
- A rug that's too small or slides around
- Harsh, single overhead lighting
- Coats stacked several deep on one hook
- Furniture too deep for the space, so that you have to turn sideways to pass
You can also keep it looking good with a few simple habits. Every season, put away out-of-season coats and shoes. If the hooks are full, move something to a closet. For tips on keeping things tidy past the entry, read our hallway decor ideas.
FAQ
What do you do with a tiny entryway?
Skip floor furniture and use the walls: hooks, a floating shelf and a mirror. Add a wall sconce for light and a small tray for keys.
What are some ideas for a small foyer?
A narrow console or slim cabinet with a mirror above it, a runner rug and one good light. If there's room, add a small bench or stool.
What should you put in a narrow entryway?
Choose furniture no deeper than 8 to 12 inches, such as a slim console, a tilt-out shoe cabinet or a wall-mounted shelf. Leave a clear path of about 36 inches.
How can I make my small entryway look bigger?
Use a large mirror, keep the floor clear, choose leggy furniture and add good lighting. Our guide on how to make a room look bigger has more ideas.
Where do you put shoes in a small entryway?
In a slim shoe cabinet, under a bench, in a basket or on a rack behind the door. Keep only the pairs you wear each week near the door.
Related: Entryway ideas · Hallway decor ideas · Shoe storage ideas · Hall tree guide