Do you have an awkward or narrow entry like we do? Come see how I gave our small entry a makeover with DIY trim, organization ideas, an Ikea Stall shoe cabinet hack, and tons of hidden hallway storage.
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We built our home 7 years ago, and while we love almost everything about it I wish we would have made our entryway larger. There's hardly any room between the front door and the stairway, and the entrance flows into a narrow hallway in a somewhat awkward L-shape.
Here's how it looked BEFORE this makeover:
Oh, I like to keep my before photos NICE and messy. I had a little mirror with a shelf on the West wall, and a photo feature on the East wall.
Shoes and boots always piled up in the hallway, and it drove me NUTS! I knew we needed some better shoe storage, but nothing too wide for this narrow hallway.
Our little guest closet on the West wall was a disaster too. No upper or lower shelves made it hard to organize our coats and shoes. (Yes, MORE shoes.)
This last month, I finally gave our awkward entry hall a much needed makeover! Two Ikea Stall shoe cabinets were my jumping off point since I knew they were only 6" deep and would offer much-needed storage, and then I painted and trimmed them out to make them look more built in to the wall.
Watch our whole small entry makeover from start to finish here:
Here's how our entry hallway looks NOW:
Oh, I just LOVE it! Even though it was one of those projects that seemed to take forever to complete (hello, caulking and painting for days!), it was all worth it. The shoe cabinets give us so much more storage while not taking up too much space, and all the trim detail matches the traditional bones of our home.
I sanded, primed and painted the Stall cabinets in BEHR Whisper White to match the rest of the trim in our home. I also added DIY board and batten to the shoe cabinet & closet walls for the traditional look I love. You can find my board & batten tutorial right here.
For a sleek look and to help with cleaning under the cabinets, I decided to float them above our baseboards rather than install the legs that came with them. The top ledge of the Stall cabinets offers just enough space to hold a basket for keys and phones, and some books and plants.
We were able to fit many pairs of shoes in the cabinets, and we even reserved a couple of the pull-out drawers for hats and mittens for Winter.
The gigantic 36" wide mirror above the cabinets is my favourite piece here! It's such a lovely scale for this wall, and it's also practical for checking makeup and hair as we rush out the door.
You can find this large mirror here from Wayfair. I bought the 36" size. It has a simple shape that would work well in both modern and traditional spaces!
The distressed looking turqouise runner is from Wayfair too (find it right here), and I think the long length is perfect for our long & narrow hall.
As for the closet, I grabbed a 16" deep shelf from The Home Depot, cut it to size and installed it over the clothing rod. Some large baskets from Walmart sit on the shelf and are the perfect place to store seasonal shoes and other items.
Between the better organized closet and new shoe cabinets, we were able to organize and store all of our family's footwear in our hallway area. Such a win!
To the left of the closet, I hung a couple of little butterfly prints from The Crown Prints. I love how framing them in simple white Ikea frames adds a little more texture to this wall, but keeps the look simple. I'm trying hard to remember that not ever wall needs to be busy!
Overall, I'm absolutely ecstatic with how this space turned out. It's so much more functional for our family, and it's beautiful too!
It's a great reminder that with better organization and a little DIY, even an awkward space can become so much better!
Now tell me: What do you think of our small entryway makeover?
Stacy
Perfection! Well done! The extra work on the shoe shelves was WELL WORTH IT!
Ashley
I love this so much and you totally inspired me. Our entryway is essentially the same width with the same closet on the opposite side...so, I completely copied you (except I painted mine in BM Chantilly Lace to match all our trim). Thanks so much for the idea and inspiration to actually do it. My husband was not convinced but is now loving it...and it wasn’t actually that hard! It looks amazing and we now have storage in our tiny entryway - win win!
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Amazing! If you have time to tag Christina on instagram or Facebook, @thediymommy - she'd love to see it!
Jacki
I love the size of these cabinets but don't need them for shoes. Would cans of vegetables roll down into them?
The DIY Mommy
Depends on the size of the can! I’d check using the store model to make sure.
The DIY Mommy
This post may be more helpful for you https://thediymommy.com/useless-closet-to-small-pantry-makeover/
Courtney
Such a great idea and it looks beautiful! How wide was the hallway originally?
Tessah Hazen
How has the paint held up?
Maryam Jabbar
I love your hallway! I've just bought the stall cabinets but they look so yellow compared to everything else which is bright white. What was the name or type of primer you used on the cabinets after sanding please?
Raj
What is the width of the space between closet and shoe rack, is it enough for people to walk by?
The DIY Mommy
The hallway is 42" wide and is still wide enough to walk through.
Beverly Coomer
What a beautiful space you have created in an area we so easily take for granted! We, too, have a narrow hallway still under renovation, and you have given me some great new fodder for design ideas! One quick question: how big is your mirror? I see that it comes in various sizes, so I'd like to get a sense of perspective of your space, compared to ours. Thanks!
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Hi Beverly! It's 36"
Anna
Hi. Just found this, looks great! We are in NZ with a narrow hallway entry but no ikea, so these units are only available via importers at $169 NZD each. Before I click buy, can you please let me know, do they have visible screw holes on the sides? Or did you fill and paint those? You mention sanding and painting so assume it's not a laminate finish? And lastly, your cupboard cutouts looks great! Did you paint/spray them too? The ones I can find in NZ look like they've got a grey/metallic edging to them.
Nippon
Fabulous information! Thank You!!
Pamela
This looks SO GOOD!!! Absolutely love it! I was wondering how the shoes fit in there. Great job!
Julia @squeeze_cuddles
The makeover is very stylish. I like the fresh white look. We have some Ikea shoe storage drawers in our garage. They are great!
Roxanne
Would you happen to know the name of the baskets? I made a trip to Walmart and was unable to find them.
Dana
Hello! I don't see a link for the shoe cabinet- am I totally missing it? Or do you not get a commission on that part of the DIY?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Hi!
It's linked under the picture of Christina in the cute, blue overalls 😉 https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/staell-shoe-cabinet-with-4-compartments-white-70178170/
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Love this! I have selected this post as a feature this week for the #HomeMattersParty. Mostly because I also need to recreate something like this for myself and you have inspired me to try it out. Thanks for sharing with us this week.
Lara
Hi! This looks great! This cabinet is the perfect size for my space but the silver fixtures on the door pulls put me off. I can't see them on your cabinet - did you manage to pry them off, or did you just paint over them?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Christina primed and painted right over top of them! LOL
Catherine Jackson
I can figure out the ones shelves but how did you build the pull out drawers. I presume they tilt a out so you can slide in shoes?
The DIY Mommy
Yes, they tilt. It's from IKEA 🙂
Alison
Hi Christina! This is incredible! In the pictures I can’t tell at all that you used two IKEA pieces. Did You also use wood putty to blend them together? Or add your own extra board to the top? Thanks!
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
She used wood filler to deal with the gap in between 🙂
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
She used wood putty 🙂
frugal hausfrau
Fabulous! And I know you're not alone with that b/4 situation! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Irene
Hi I love your entry hallway make over you just gave me an idea on what I can do for my hallway and my shoes issue thanks I also love your coveralls I've been searching for something like those i know it doest have nothing to do with the diy but could you email me the maker or company
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Hi! They're from Rosie's Workwear!
Joel
This is a great idea. Just to get a sense of scale. How wide is your hallway?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
It's 40" 🙂
Teddy
That setup looks awesome! How tall were the feet you didn't use? or how tall is the unit without feet?
Torrey Huxley
I absolutely love your makeover! It looks so functional and pretty. We have a very similar entryway and it drives me crazy! Would you mind telling me how wide your hallway is so I have an idea of whether this could work for us? Thx
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
It's 42"
Colleen
I love this!! Did you use a brush or a sprayer to paint the shoe cabinets? Also, have you noticed any stinky shoe smells? I hade a 13 year old boy 😜
Jamie
I love this so much. Can you tell me what color you painted your front door?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Hi! I believe it's Valspar Noir 🙂
Sarah
wow! This is so impressive. you did such a great job and I'm inspired!! Thanks so much for documenting your process and sharing.
Linh
This looks amazing! I'm in the process of installing the STALL cabinets and want to float them like you did. What type/size screws did you use to anchor them to the wall/stud?
Caroline Grahmann Gardner
I love this! Was wondering what extra steps were required to float this on the wall... (I assume the backing is the normal cardboard Ikea backing...) I want to do this in my hallway and I think it looks so much better without the legs!
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Hi Caroline! She just screwed them into the wall studs 🙂
Jen
I was looking for makeovers with IKEA show storage and this looks great! but, I would really love to know where you got that fabulous leopard sweater?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
That sweater came from Anthropologie last year! LOL
Terry
What size are the shoe storage cabinets without the legs?
Regards
Nanette
Hi! This is beautiful and similar to what we’d like to do in our apartment entryway. We have high baseboards and been hesitant about getting the Stall cabinet. We are not handy.. but it seems we can simply skip the step of adding the feet? Will we be able to make it float just by following usual instructions provided (minus feet?) thank you!
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
Yep! She just screwed it into the studs 🙂
Deborah
I was curious how you mounted the cabinet-did you have to put some kind of inner shelf to hold it there?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
She just screwed it in to the studs 🙂
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
She just screwed it into the studs 🙂
Tracy
Looks amazing! I am going to try it for my entry way. How did you take the legs off?
Sarah - The DIY Mommy
She just didn't put them on and then screwed it into the wall studs 🙂
Alyssa
Hi! Doing this now in our hallway! Did you add an extra piece of wood in the back to screw into the studs? And what lengths screws did you use to screw into the stud? THANKS!!!!
Isabel Sánchez
I absolutely love everything about this entryway makeover! The mirror, the shelves and especially the shoe rack inside the closet. This will be a summer diy project for sure!
GC Blain
Loved this idea! I've been looking at the Hemnes shoe cabinet to help with our small hallway space. How did you find storing the toques and mitts in them? Were damp wet mitts, etc able to dry? We live in Sk and have the same issues with winter storage.
Thanks
A.Rrajani Photographer
GREAT POST!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING...
Jennifer Mounce
I am totally and completely in love with your ideas!!!! Thanks a million for sharing! I am going to give it a GO! 🙂
The DIY Mommy
That's great Jennifer! We'd love to see it when you're done - you can tag Christina on Facebook or Instagram at @thediymommy
Have fun!
Linda
I absolute love this idea! Do you have post for doing the accent wall? Also, Wayfair has so many round mirrors. Do you have the link for yours? Or ones that are similar?
The DIY Mommy
Hi Linda, There is a link to the mirror in the post, but it appears to be discontinued on Wayfair or perhaps just out of stock. Are you talking about the Board & Batten wall? We linked it above, here it is: https://thediymommy.com/diy-board-batten-video-tutorial/
Sharon
Looks awesome! Considering trying something like this in my entryway. Could you please share what the height of the ikea cabinets are after the legs are removed?
Doreen
Hi Christina,
This hallway makeover is fabulous!!!! Can you please tell me how wide your hallway is? Would LOVE to do this but I think my hallway may be narrower than yours.
Thank you
The DIY Mommy
Thank you so much! My hallway is 42inches wide.
tom
This looks amazing! I'm in the process of installing the STALL cabinets and want to float them like you did.
.
cam
wow! This is so impressive. you did such a great job and I'm inspired!! Thanks so much for documenting your process and sharing
Rose
Hi, how do you think it would have looked without painting it? I’m so lazy … trying to see if I could get the same effect by doing less!
Cate
I just did this same makeover yesterday!! The two Stall cabinets were easy to put together, and I suspended mine on the wall also (O chose not to use the front feet they provided).
It looks BEAUTIFUL, holds A LOT of gear! I use the bottom doors for shoes, and the upper ones for keys/sunblock/wallet/dog leashes and stuff that needs to go OUT of the house (ie, library books, a serving dish to return to a friend, etc).
THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ME with this job…….I absolutely love it, and will browse your other ideas.
-cate
The DIY Mommy
Hello Cate,
I am so happy to read that this project worked out for you.
Jennifer Daniel
Love everything about this! Can you share what paint colour you have used on your walls - the off white colour, grey near front door and front door colour?
The DIY Mommy
All of Christina's paint colors can be found here: https://thediymommy.com/our-diy-house-modern-farmhouse-paint-colors/