For cozy, compact living like in an apartment or townhouse, the entryway closet can present a challenge; here are some small hall closet ideas to bring in farmhouse style and practicality!
Five Steps to Revitalize a Small Entry Closet with Farmhouse Flair
Transform Bi-fold Doors into French Closet Doors
Most closets feature standard small doors; examine yours closely—could they be removed for an open mudroom feel, or perhaps enhanced with a simple DIY or paint job for a farmhouse look?
Consider the basic doors we initially observed:
These were standard bi-fold doors, difficult to operate, but a straightforward diy project transformed them into these faux shiplap french closet doors!
The complete guide and instructions for this project are available here.
(We applied this same method to our craft room and office closet doors; view the makeover reveal post here.)
Simply adjusting the doors—by removing, modifying, painting, or changing hardware—can create a significant difference!
Design an Accessible Entryway Coat Closet
Wall hooks are a hallmark of farmhouse design; why not incorporate them into your small entryway? I prefer hanging my coat on a hook upon arrival rather than wrestling with hangers! Swapping the existing coat hanger rail for hooks completely changes the look and feel of a small closet entryway.
Store Entry Items in Chic Containers
Think about items you need immediately when leaving, such as hats, scarves, mittens, and keys; at our home, these are key items. Group these necessities and find stylish, easily accessible storage solutions.
A shelf above the coat hooks is ideal for wicker or galvanized baskets; remember to add neat labels so your family can easily return items.
A compact shelf paired with hooks (like this) serves well as a spot for mail and keys.
Incorporate a Bench or Shoe Shelf, or Both
Recall the door rethinking? If you prefer no door, consider placing a bench beneath the coat hooks; it could feature a lift-up seat for extra storage or shelves for footwear below.
We kept the doors on our closet (since the entryway is in our living room!); we installed 2 lower shelves for shoes, and it works wonderfully!
Enhance Your Entry Closet with Lovely Decor
With the functionality of your small entryway solved, it’s time to decorate! Creativity is limitless in this area.
Last year, we painted the inside of our exterior doors a deep hue (“Raccoon Fur” by Benjamin Moore), so I repainted our entryway closet doors Simply White. While I loved the paint change, I felt the corner needed more vibrancy.
Adding 2 homemade boxwood wreaths and a sign above the door made the difference!
It is now the warm, inviting space I had hoped for.
For a simple trick I used to hang the picture above the door, check the highlights on my Instagram under “Entryway Decor.”
Looking for more Joanna Gaines’ Inspired Farmhouse Style Ideas and projects? You may want to check out these posts:
- Bathroom Ideas Inspired by Joanna Gaines
- Modern Farmhouse Bedrooms
- How to Make Fixer Upper Style Farmhouse Shelves
- Best Christmas Farmhouse Table Decor Items Inspired by Joanna Gaines
- Modern Farmhouse Headboards
- 100+ Free Farmhouse Botanical Printables
- Farmhouse Style Painted Corbels
Join Us in Decluttering & Organizing our homes – in just 15 minutes a day?!
I’ve put together a free Home Organization series just for you! Included in it are:
- Simple 15 minute organization tasks for each day
- Additional resources and ideas for more specific spaces – like organizing kitchen cupboards, pantry organization, and how to organize small closets.
- FREE printable checklists
