Your entryway is the first part of your home you experience, but during a larger remodel, it can easily become an afterthought. If you are already planning to Complete house renovation Or search Costs of gut regenerationIt is a good time to think about how to improve the entrance for storage and circulation and how to connect adjacent rooms.
This might mean installing smarter components, opening up a narrow hallway, reworking a staircase, or even moving a doorway to make the surrounding design more functional. The following entryway design ideas show how homeowners made these changes as part of broader renovations, with each project offering a different way to make the space more useful and welcoming.
Key takeaways
- Shallow inserts can add useful storage space without making a narrow entryway cluttered.
- Removing an extra cabinet can open up the entryway when thoughtful storage space is added elsewhere.
- Widening openings or exposing stairs can improve how the entryway connects to the rest of the home.
- Entryway updates can have a greater impact when planned alongside changes to adjacent rooms.
1. Add shallow additions without crowding the hallway
Sometimes, improving a doorway doesn’t require making it larger. In Jeremy and Chris Hudson Yards renovationthe quirky foyer gained a floor-to-ceiling bookcase that’s just eight inches deep, adding useful storage space while still maintaining plenty of room to walk through.
On the other side of the bookcase, slim custom cabinets provide additional storage and space for bottles and glassware. The elements combined together allowed the foyer to serve as an entryway, library and bar without filling a narrow corridor with bulky closets.
The point here is less about adding as much cabinetry as possible and more about designing it around the room’s dimensions. Shallow or built-in bookcase Drink station Function can be added without interfering with the path through the entrance.
It’s also an idea that could fit naturally into a larger renovation. If custom cabinetry, shelving, or other millwork is already planned elsewhere in the house, the entryway can be considered at the same time rather than becoming a separate project later.
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2. Expand the hallway by removing an additional cabinet
In this Renewing a co-op on the Upper East SideTwo closets near the front door made the hallway unusually narrow. The homeowners removed the smaller closet while keeping the larger walk-in closet, using reclaimed floor space to give the entryway more space.
This decision worked because storage was reconsidered throughout the apartment and not just at the front door. Other closets were expanded or modified, and new storage helped make up for what was removed from the hallway.
This is where looking at the entryway as part of a larger redesign can make a difference. If you already work with General contractors When making changes to your floor plan, you might consider whether an awkwardly placed closet is more valuable than the open floor space it takes up.
This doesn’t mean simply getting rid of storage. The broader plan should take into account where coats, shoes and other possessions could go instead, whether through closets in other spaces or ideas built into a larger plan. Closet remodel.
3. Open the staircase wall and rebuild the missing storeroom
Opening up space can solve one problem while creating another. During this Glendale home renovation in QueensA large portion of the wall surrounding the staircase was removed, which helped open up the staircase area to the surrounding first floor.
The new configuration created a stronger connection between the spaces, but removing part of the wall also meant giving up storage. Custom millwork around the open staircase brought back that function with cabinetry, pantry, built-in seating, and other elements incorporated around the new design.
This is one of the clearest examples of an entryway concept that would make sense to consider within a larger renovation. The wall opening, stairs, railings, storage, and adjacent rooms all influence each other, so the change goes beyond just removing a section of wall.
When several parts of a project are closely related, Hiring the right contractors It becomes an important part of planning. It is also worth preparing Questions to ask your contractor About how the new opening will impact trading, warehousing and other businesses involved in the remodel.
4. Reveal hidden drawer for better flow
The stairs played a different role in Carol and John Jersey City Renewal. Their house was previously the property of two families, and the staircase was hidden behind a wall.
As part of bringing the house back together as one, this wall was removed and a railing added. The staircase is again visible, creating a more open relationship between the entrance, the living area and the path upstairs.
Unlike the previous example, this change was not driven by the need to replace lost storage space around the stairs. The bigger idea was to reveal the architectural connection that was hidden and change the way people move through the house.
This is something worth considering when there is a larger renovation that really rethinks the floor plan. Improving a portal doesn’t always mean adding a new feature. Sometimes, removing post-editing can help connect adjacent spaces in a more meaningful way.
5. Double the opening from the hallway to the living room
Not every foyer has enough floor space to become larger. In Monique Queens Rowhouse renovationThe entrance remained within its current footprint, but the opening between the foyer and the living room was doubled.
The wider connection helped make the two spaces more open to each other. Meanwhile, the front door, patterned flooring, wallpaper, and lighting gave the foyer enough character to remain visually distinct from the adjacent living room.
This can be a practical approach when adding square footage is not part of the renovation process. If adjacent spaces have already been updated, the width of the opening can be considered along with flooring, lighting, paint and other finishes that visually transition from one room to the next.
The project also demonstrates that improving flow does not require making connected spaces look identical. The foyer can open more generously to another room while retaining the materials and details that clearly identify it as the entryway.
6. Move the back entry to create a functional mudroom
Jennifer and Nick have had a different kind of circulation problem in their lives Westchester home renovation. The original back door opened directly into the kitchen, placing the entryway in the center of an area that also needed to function as a work space.
The renovation moved the exterior entrance to the adjacent space, which became a mudroom and shared laundry area. Closing the old doorway also freed up more usable wall space in the kitchen for counters and storage.
Here, the decision of the entrance was directly related to the larger one Kitchen renovation. Moving the door not only created a more practical access point. It has also changed what homeowners can do with their kitchen layout.
For this reason, it’s helpful to think about the entryway when several adjacent spaces are part of the same remodel. The decision about where people enter a home can affect circulation, storage, cabinets, and the amount of usable wall space in another room.
Plan to change the entrance as part of the bigger picture
A better entryway doesn’t always require adding square footage. These projects found space useful in very different ways, from adding shallow cabinets and removing an unnecessary closet to opening up stairs, widening the entryway, and moving the exterior entryway.
If you are thinking of similar Entrance design ideas During a larger redesign, look at what each change might mean for the rooms around it. Working with A Remodeling contractor It can help you discuss these connections while the wider scale and floor plan are still being worked on, rather than treating the entrance as an afterthought.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of the doorway in the house?
The purpose of a doorway in a home is to create a functional transition between the doorway and the rest of the home. It can also provide storage space, help regulate circulation and set the tone for adjacent rooms.
How can I make a small hallway look beautiful?
One way you can make a small entryway look beautiful is by adding shallow additions that provide storage space without cluttering the walkway. In one of Sweeten’s renovations, an 8-inch-deep bookcase and slim custom cabinetry helped the foyer feel more finished while keeping the pathway open.
Is the lobby the same as the entrance?
Yes, a foyer is a type of entryway, although the term often refers to a more specific space just inside the front door. The entrance can be wider and may include anything from a small entrance area to a larger foyer that connects to other rooms.
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