My Entryway Essentials 2020 are a few must haves for decor and for necessity. Nobody, and I mean no body, uses my front door. Guests, family, and friends enter my home through the Laundry / Mud Room. It is the first place they see and the first hint of my decorating style. It has become a catch all place of late. But that all changed this weekend. When Wayfair challenged their Homemakers to share our Entryway Essentials, I thought it would be a good time to spruce up the area. This is a paid post and all images, thoughts are my own.
Creating a Welcoming Entryway
I had one things in mind as I designed this space again – storage and accessories that would say, “Come on in.” Since we are social distancing at the moment, I wanted to create a warm welcome when loved ones were able to visit once again. Pillows, quilt, and accessories give that homey feel immediately.
My Entryway Essentials
Essentials for my entryway are storage and accessories that set the tone. This makeover was inspired by this storage bench and this patriotic artwork that works well in these chaotic times. For me, decorating is about finding that WOW inspiration piece. You know the one that catches your imagination and launches a creativity spurt of daydreaming and drawing layouts in your mind. I drag out the magazines and hit Pinterest for ideas.
The mish-mash of baskets and wall decor had to go. I wanted to create a peaceful Zen feel to the room turning it into a beautiful utility area that makes me smile. I brought in some peaceful, calm accents to give the dark, windowless room some life.
Next, I added accents to the dark storage bench. I placed pillows and a quilt the top and some metal baskets with white fabric inserts. It gave it some character while adding functionality as the baskets will store dog stuff, shoes, and hats.
I love this America the Beautiful artwork from Wayfair. My patriotic soul is on fire during these stay-at-home times. I smile every time I pass as it gives me hope that we will again wander the backroads and byways of America when this pandemic passes.
Another absolute essential part of our entryway is a coat rack. We have jackets and hats that need to be corralled. This handy 3-hook rack is the perfect size. The shelf give a great place for accessories and holding the dog brush and leash.
My final must have is plants (and my favorite cowgirl boots close at hand). Plants just give a bit of natural and nature in this windowless room. Sorry that some of the photos seems a little dark.
As we were beginning the makeover, HIMself kept saying, “It’s a utility room. Why does it need to be pretty?” Yes, our Laundry Mud Room serves a functional purpose. Yet I was determined to show him that the utility room can be an aesthetically pleasing part of our home while still being multi-functional.
The Before and The Clearing / Cleaning
The Before photos below show that the room had become a dumping place for misfits, jackets (how many jackets do two people need?), water jugs, and shoes. Mismatched storage bins in cubbies really look wonky. And the washer and dryer are stacked with all kinds of thing as well. None of this is welcoming, nor does it say, “Please come in and enjoy your stay.”
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We started by removing everything from the space except the washer and dryer. During the process, I discovered that this room tends to be a drop everything and run area for jackets, shoes, and a lot of the miscellaneous stuff that no longer serves a purpose in the other parts of our home.
We cleaned it thoroughly. Since it is now Spring, we did everything– walls, doors, baseboards, etc. We still had a way to go to make it welcoming, but it was clean.
Lastly, I turned the top of the washer and dryer into beautiful storage with the beautiful utility bin and a small wire basket to hold stain removal potions, etc. Just a few containers can make a big difference and keep everything tidy and organized.
I believe we did a good job mixing my essentials into the Welcoming Laundry / Mud Room Makeover. It it now a place to pause and feel a moment of peace when entering or leaving our home. And that makes all the effort worth it. Even the pink sink looks better! WINK WINK
Check out storage benches HERE!
Check out Canvas Wall Art HERE!
Check out the pillows at Wayfair HERE!
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