Before and After: An Entryway Closet Gets a Stylish Redo with the Cutest Animal-Print Accent Wall

Entryways are often one of the most underutilized spaces in a home. Sure, it may seem like they’re only there to serve a functional purpose, but they have plenty of potential to be stylish. After all, the entryway is the first impression of your home, so why not glam it up a bit?

Fena and Taylor M. decided it was time to blend function and style in their home’s entryway closet. While the space was already homey and cute, it wasn’t serving their needs anymore. “We wanted something that felt more our style while also giving us more space and function,” Fena says.

This upgrade was completed in stages. Back in 2019, the couple renovated the space by opening the closet, adding shelves, and adding an accent wall.

This time around, they broke the project up over a couple of weekends. They started by adding doors to the formerly open space. Next, they stripped the original herringbone wood accent wall. They opted for another statement wall: animal print. They achieved the look with giraffe-print peel-and-stick wallpaper.

“I love the pop of color the wallpaper brings when you open the doors,” Fena says. “It’s like a nice surprise.”

Looking for a way to add more storage was the next challenge. The couple opted for floating shelves and faux drawers. Yep, the drawers are fake — they’re actually bins that open from the top. Fena says the space is perfect to hide all of their shoes.

The floating shelves add storage for everyday items, and Fena says she loves how functional the space is now. The dark shelves and doors create the perfect contrast to the lighter wall.

Fena’s advice for a project like this one? “Don’t be afraid to add some color or pattern, even if it’s outside of your comfort zone. Make a space that’s functional for you while also sticking to your personal style.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.