What to put on the middle shelf?

last year

We are reusing this narrow table from my partners old appartment as an entry table in our new appartment. I know i wanna keep the bottom shelf for shoes and im planning on adding a lamp to the top shelf, but so far the middle shelf stays empty. Sometimes we will leave my purse or his headphones in it but other wise its blank. i have no idea how to decorate this space. i tend to like an older more eclectic style, so ive considered books, but theres another large bookshelf completely full right next to it.

Featured Answer

mcarroll16

last year

I really wouldn't try to decorate it. It's a shoe bench, and most other decor is going to look a bit odd above the shoes. Plus, it's great to have a place for handbags, yours and guests. If it's bothering you to have empty space there, maybe put an attractive lidded basket there. Winter time the basket could hold gloves, summer time, it could hold sunscreen.

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Comments (8)

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BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
No one wants to walk into the entry of a home/apt and be faced with lots of shoes. This shouldn't look like a Mud Room.

If you use a ventilated bench/chest you'll be able to sit down when removing the shoes.
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Krys
Original Author
last year
Thats so smart! thank you
Jilly
last year
Yes, like mcarroll suggested … there are all kinds of baskets you could put on the second shelf. I like your idea of a lamp on top, very welcoming at entryways. :)

It’s not uncommon to see shoes by front doors, especially when space is at a premium.

Examples of square baskets:
Kendrah
last year
I'd put bags and purses on it. Or, put a basket on it to put bags, purses, head phones in. That way when you can't find your headphones and you search all over the house for them, you can finally find them in the basket.
shirlpp
last year
I'd put the shoes in a basket as well. You can put names on them and each person can have their own.
Sigrid
last year
Baskets was my answer, too. Put gloves, sweaters, what have you in them.
emilyam819
last year
I don’t even have a lot of stuff, and I can’t imagine having an empty entryway shelf. Purses, baskets as necessary.