Before and After: This Bare Entryway Transforms Into a Functional and Stylish One—For Only $32

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Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s $32 Design Challenge. Finding the perfect piece of furniture is hard enough… but then it can be surprisingly tricky—and expensive—to style it just right for your home. We challenged five staffers to style five different areas of the home, from the entryway to a desk, with a budget of just $32. Follow along with the whole series here.

Credit: AT Video

Challenge: Style a blank-slate entryway (with just this cabinet in it) for $32

Where Michael shopped:

  • Housing Works
  • Dollar Store
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Amazon

What he bought:

  • Mirror
  • Blue dish
  • Vase
  • Eucalyptus
  • Picture frame
  • Candle
Credit: AT Video

Big splurge: Michael spent close half the budget on this mirror from Amazon — which adds some style to the wall, but also a place for last looks on the way out the door.

Big saving: He found a frame for $1.49, which he filled with his own handwritten motivational message (go get ‘em).

One tip to remember: According to Michael, every entryway needs these three things: a mirror, a dish for keys, and something pretty to motivate you on the way out the door (or welcome you home).

Check out Michael’s full entryway transformation (and find out whether he stayed on budget!) in the video above.