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need advice on entryway

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Trying to make our entryway more inviting. Any ideas?




Comments (23)

  • 5 years ago

    Can you post pictures from different perspectives? Right now, the only thing I can suggest is to paint the closet doors. They are competing with the floor.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    If you wanted advice about adding something to the top of your Closet.

    Don't. Keep it simple. Nothing needs to be up there.

  • 5 years ago

    This is all you see when you walk in the front door. I just wanted to give it more pizzazz, less plain Jane and more inviting since it is the first impression people have of the home. To the left is kitchen and living room to the right. Cathedral ceilings.

  • 5 years ago

    Opposite closet doors

  • 5 years ago

    If you're not concerned with Feng Shui, I'd suggest mirrored sliding doors.

  • 5 years ago

    Hmm, on one hand I'd say to paint them to blend into the wall, but... Then you would have a big blank wall. But doors with panels would draw attention to the doors. Maybe one of the pro's can come up with something. <---my post is not helpful at all, lol.

  • 5 years ago

    Looks like you have room for a larger area rug also. Maybe something larger, or a larger runner can connect the two.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Gee you're going to make us pull this out of you.......so you've got entrance door and closet doors. Anything we can actually work with?.....another wall,? So far you can change the doors out , because bi-fold doors look like the economy way to go, and add a larger rug. Beyond that....zip!




  • 5 years ago

    Paint them, that wood is so dark. You could add narrow mirrors which would brighten things up and change the knobs out.


  • 5 years ago

    Thanks for your comments. Not into rustic barn doors. The rest of the house is more modern/glam.

  • 5 years ago

    Sorry we don’t have more to work with but there are no walls other than front door and closet opposite it.

  • 5 years ago

    I agree bifold doors look builder-grade economy. They were original to house we bought in 2018.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I think updating the doors to a more modern style would look good in there, as long as they still relate to your front door style and the trim stain. A few ideas, not saying these exact ones, but to hopefully provide inspiration.

    https://roomfortuesday.com/paneled-bi-fold-closet-door-diy/

    https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/05/attractive-bi-fold-closet-doors/

    From Pinterest, wondering if you could DIY —



    Can you show the room as a whole, from further back? It’s hard to suggest more (decor), without seeing further context.

    ETA: This is another style, more transitional. They'd look good with modern hardware. Again, just posting as an idea, I don’t know your budget.

    https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/kimberly-bay-paneled-wood-primed-bi-fold-door-kiby1004.html

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Just a thought, I did this once in an apartment. Take off the doors and the hardware and make the closet a little room. I was young and into entertaining so i made it a fancy bar thing (or at least my 25 year old mind thought it was fancy). I wouldn't do that in the entryway, but could you build some interest with a little bench and a table or use the light in the closet to spotlight some interesting floor sculpture? Probably need to remove the trim and finish the drywall so it looks like an alcove.

  • 5 years ago

    Since the closet doors clash with the flooring and the nearby gray-and-white fireplace, I would seriously consider painting the doors and trim white to match the front doors. You may need a primer coat because the wood grain may show through the paint. Fix up the interior so it is most useful for coats, jackets, boots, luggage, and whatever else you need to put in there. More attractive handles or knobs would also be an improvement. The existing knobs are too small. Make sure the knobs or handles won’t catch on pockets or sleeves as someone passes by.

  • 5 years ago

    Unless you have some serious DIY skills to mimic a nice panel job shown above, it would be easier to switch it out to just the two door, no bifold doors and match the paneling style on the front door and paint the trim white. Current door matches nothing I can see in your pictures.

  • 5 years ago

    Move the area rug away from the threshold and into the foyer so that it is centered in the space. You may need a larger rug. Remove the word art above the door. It is neither modern nor glam.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks. Mom loves the word art. Not my fave. In MN we need rug right by threshold due to snow but I like suggestion of a bigger rug.

  • 5 years ago

    My coat closet is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door and I solved that by using a Murphy door. You can buy them as double doors as well. No one has ever guessed this is a door.

    https://murphydoor.com/products/hidden-alder-french-door?variant=34219650449453&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29nLjvHL7gIVQj2tBh39hg1_EAQYASABEgJqr_D_BwE

  • 5 years ago

    My first suggestion, as soon as I saw the photos of your closet doors, was to change them and/or paint them! Not all barn doors are rustic. My hubby built the set in our bedroom to emulate the all wood 6 panel doors we have in this house and I painted them white:

    Adding visual interest to the doors will go a long way!

  • 5 years ago

    Great ideas! I love the Murphy door idea. I have heard of Murphy beds before but not Murphy door. Great way to fool the eye to create interest!

  • 5 years ago

    Have to say I really like Bev's suggestion above for the barn doors as they would be both a decorative feature as well as function better (sliding to the side as opposed to swinging out into a not so huge entryway) a design win-win!