7 Smart IKEA Hacks to Make Your Entryway More Welcoming and Functional

While you might not spend very many minutes at a time there, your home’s entryway is one of its highest-trafficked spots — after all, it’s the space you have to cross through every time you enter or leave. So even though you might be tempted to turn your attention to bigger players in the reno game, like the kitchen or living room, it’s worth spending some time to make this area an organized and comfortable spot.

When it comes to upgrades needed for an entryway, IKEA really shines — particularly if you don’t mind a good, ol’ fashioned hack. For inspiration, take a look at these seven projects that will hopefully inspire you to make equally smart and approachable shifts.

If you don’t have room for a traditional shelf, this is the hack for you. Instead of using the whole HEJNE piece, use just the HEJNE shelves to create a modular drop zone. Copy Fran of Fall for DIY by mounting the shelves to the wall vertically and using hooks to organize essentials. Another IKEA product that works well for this DIY? Bed slats, which you can see in action here.

A floating a credenza is an excellent way to add storage but keep floor space clear for shoes. Here, Ashley of Sugar & Cloth combined two EKET cabinet drawers and unified them with a solid wood top and matching hardware. And while she uses hers as a dressing table, this would be equally practical in an entryway. An even slimmer option for small spaces: the EKBY ALEX shelf with drawers.

Building a custom frame to house IKEA furniture is a classic hack, and this BESTA bench proves just how beautiful and sturdy the end product can be. Stephanie of Henrik June Home shares that her DIY has held up for five years in a variety of rooms, including her dining room to support six adults around a table. Add your own BESTA bench to your entry for a place to put on shoes (and stash them away), then install a peg rail above for even more easy organization.

A wall of shelves pull double duty as a focal display and practical drop zone. Incorporate a catchall dish and pretty baskets, and your storage will blend seamlessly with the rest of the look. Lindsey of Hilltown House built the shelves shown above from scratch, but IKEA’s LACK shelves could be used to a similar effect; follow this IKEA Hackers tutorial to learn how to cut them to the size you need.

You know lighting is important in your home’s hangout spots, and entryways are no different. This space sets the tone for your home, and a dramatic light fixture is a great way to capitalize on that. If you don’t have a junction box near your threshold, try this DIY pendant light hack from Jennifer of City Farmhouse, which uses wireless lights. An IKEA basket makes for the perfect high-impact shade.

Annabel (@skyebarnconversion) carved out an entire mudroom along her blank entryway wall using a PAX wardrobe and KALLAX unit as her base. Special touches like the back paneling, skirting, and bench cushion make the whole unit look like a high-end, custom-build piece.

The TRONNES and HEMNES shoe cabinets are staple entryway fixtures, and there are tons of options for hacking them to fit your style — no matter if your tastes skew more cottagecore or more Hollywood Regency. The sophisticated look shown above is a crowd pleaser — with pole wrap, new pulls, and paint, DIYer Bailey transformed the taller HEMNES to not only stylishly stash shoes but act as the family drop zone.