10 of the Best Entryway Redos We Saw in 2022, Starting at Under $120

If there’s one thing to remember about entryways, it’s this: Don’t ignore them. Sure, your energy is more likely to be devoted to the high-use areas like kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms — making it very hard to have any will left for the place you spend 15 seconds in a day — but entryways serve an important function. Not only are they the first spot visitors see when they come by, but they’re also a customizable area that can make your comings and goings much more efficient. After all, if you have a designated location for shoes and keys, you won’t be running around your home trying to find them. 

Over the last year, Apartment Therapy has witnessed many homeowners and renters come to this same realization. Their entryways were once bland, out-of-date, or just plain empty, and they understood that the effort they dedicated to outfitting them would pay off almost immediately. These are our 10 favorite entryway renovations of 2022, which include upgrades that span from paint and benches to bright wallpaper and cubbies. Read on to get energized about your own entryway’s possibilities. 

Blaise’s townhouse (@our_townhouse_by_the_sea) had an entryway that was strictly business: It had a doorway, a landing, and a small spot to drop stuff at the bottom of the stairs. In other words, it was ripe for a personality-driven makeover. “This hallway transformation was super easy — anyone could do it in their home, including renters or homeowners on a budget,” she says. It started with a mirror hung above the radiator, continued with a pop of yellow paint on the opposing wall (which was added to the radiator later), and wrapped up with a new console table, light, and accessories, for a total cost of about $297. It sounds straightforward because it was, yet the results make for a striking difference.

Astin Hancock’s (@yourlifeiswhatyoumakeit) entryway needed more storage (a familiar sentiment to many). It had a bench and hooks, which provided some help, but Astin bumped things up a notch with a more involved DIY project. She built a platform and frame for a new, two-cabinet unit with a bench in between and storage throughout, and added beadboard to the back for a hint of interest. Aside from being a place to keep items and put shoes on, the $1,600 project is also a clever playground for the family cat. “She doesn’t have a cat tree, and you know how cats like being up high,” Astin says.

Nina Watson’s (@artdecojewel) entryway wasn’t in terrible shape before she decided to spruce it up. The entryway was built in 1910 and had timeless black-and-white design features to match, but had more potential to tap. “The space was quite dark as there was no light traveling all the way from the front to the back of the house,” Nina says. “The beige walls were too neutral for our taste. We wanted to bring more color to enhance the beautiful textures.” She painted the surrounding millwork a blue-gray shade and added botanical wallpaper, creating an aesthetic that’s much more in keeping with her bold style. 

Paula Truscott’s (@mismatchedhome) entryway had been knocked down her to-do list many times before she could do something about its bland appearance. “The house was very white and brown,” Paula says, “which we love but with a splash of color!” She and her husband, Martin Loortis, changed with an unusual color combination of dark green and mustard yellow in their entryway, which is punctuated by stained glass in the front doors. How’s that for personality?

Ghalia Eltassi’s (@urban.homeology) had a closet in her entryway that wasn’t doing her any favors. Its bifold doors weren’t easy to open, and the closet itself was an odd geometric shape. And, it has to be said, the entryway itself was a bit bland. “This closet was one of those areas in our home that I would constantly focus on and think. ‘This could be so much more functional,’” Ghalia says. “Since our mudroom layout wouldn’t allow for a drop-off zone, I decided to create it in the entryway.” Over the course of eight weeks and with $600, she updated the area by removing the doors, installing a bench, and tackling the unforeseen difficulties of a floating shelf.

Meg (@littlebristolterrace) had an English home built in the 1890s, with a drab entryway that had seen better days. She says it “was dark and felt quite one-dimensional,” thanks to gray walls and matching stairs, and she envisioned a refresh that would highlight the historical moldings, enhance natural brightness, and highlight the towering ceilings. So, over the course of a week and with less than $120, she used a pink-and-white palette to do just that. “I’m head-over-heels in love with the colors we used,” Meg says. “To this day, I’ve not seen another pink staircase, and I think it perfectly adds our personality to a house already bursting with character.”

Donna Powell’s (@donna_modernonmonticello) entryway was decidedly mid-century modern, given its solid wood front door and dark tiled floors. As in demand as this style is, this iteration desperately needed an update. “It had been ignored and neglected for many years, and mostly served as a passthrough to other parts of the house,” Donna says of her home’s entryway. “A few years ago, one of our dogs chewed through two of the pocket doors during a storm.” Alongside her husband, Brian, they fixed the doors, painted the front one a deep blue, and added a weathered wood accent wall all for $600. Now it’s mid-century modern, but in a good way. 

Sandra and John Tsarouxas had a blank spot next to the stairs in their entryway, and they never quite knew what to do with it. “I decided to make a change to the entryway so that it would appear larger and stand out when people enter our home,” Sandra (@ourblissfulhaven) says. They used board-and-batten for the wall feature and crafted a storage bench after watching YouTube videos, and then finished it all off with matching sconces, hooks, and hardware. Now the space is useful and stylish, all for $600.

DIYer Christina Chen (@color_myhome) painted her entryway blue with bohemian touches when she first moved into her home, but after a while, needed a change. “I decided to give it a try, and it didn’t feel like me,” she says. “I also tried a boho style, as it was trending at the time, and again it didn’t feel like me.” She used a William Morris-inspired wallpaper to add a floral element to the entryway’s alcove, and then paired that with trim, lighting, and a console. Nearby, a gallery wall and a bench add even more warmth, and everything feels much more akin to her style. 

Leslie Davis (Deeply Southern Home) had the opportunity to customize an entryway in her new home, but she asked the builder to leave it empty so that she could eventually customize an area to fit the exact needs of her family. She started with the IKEA GODISHUS wardrobe, and then built a bench with storage crates beside it. She was also sure to leave a gap between the bench and the wall to incorporate a sliding, vintage door. “The restoration of the door was a huge project that pushed my woodworking skills into new territory,” Leslie says. “Just because some of the steps were things I’ve never done before, doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it. With each DIY project, a new skill is learned and as years pass you realize you can do so much more than you ever imagined.”