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Entryway season is basically all year round, but fall is when everyone suddenly notices their mud room looks like a shoe graveyard! The most common mistake? Trying to fix it with one big furniture piece instead of a few small smart changes.
A good entry does a lot of quiet work. It catches the mess before it hits the rest of the house. It also happens to be the first thing guests see, so it deserves a little love, lol!
For this list, I scrolled through way more pins than I want to admit. I kept only the ones that looked doable on a weekend, not the ones that needed a contractor and a small loan.
You’ll find a mix here. Some ideas are for tight apartment entries. Others are for full mud rooms with room to spread out.
There are a couple of dorm room and western bedroom looks tossed in too, since a good storage or style trick doesn’t really care what room it’s in. Same energy, different door!
Under each idea I’ve added the details you’ll actually want, plus a link to the full how-to. Grab a coffee and let’s get into it!
MUD ROOM AND ENTRYWAY IDEAS
Herringbone Tile Floor Entry
We’re starting off strong with a herringbone tile floor. The zigzag pattern hides scuffs way better than plain tile.
She swears it hides muddy boot prints like nothing else. Worth every grout line, honestly, lol!
- The pattern that hides everything
- Lays over an old subfloor fine
- Peel and stick option exists too
- Wipes clean in seconds
Open Shelf Shoe Storage
Open shelves for shoes sound simple, but they change everything. No more digging through a closet for one missing sneaker!
Who doesn’t love that? That alone cuts down on the morning chaos, haha!
- Shoe pileup, solved
- Holds a dozen pairs easily
- Build it in an afternoon
- Cut from one plywood sheet
Wall Mounted Coat Hooks Row
A row of wall mounted hooks is the cheapest fix on this whole list. Coats stop living on chairs the second these go up!
I space mine a hand’s width apart so bulky winter coats do not fight for room.
- One row, zero clutter
- Mounts straight into drywall studs
- Holds a coat and a bag
- Brass hooks feel a bit fancy
Board And Batten Wall Entry
Board and batten walls turn a boring hallway into something that looks custom built. It’s just strips of wood and paint, but the effect is huge!
He still brings it up at every family dinner. That one weekend basically became his whole personality now, lol!
- Custom look, hardware store budget
- One gallon of paint covers it
- Strips are cut at the store
- Dries overnight before hooks go on
Woven Baskets Under Bench
Woven baskets tucked under a bench catch all the things that has no other home. Mittens, dog leashes, the mail nobody opened, am I right?
They pull out easily for quick cleanup before guests arrive. My whole system is just shoving everything in there before the doorbell rings, haha!
- The catch-all under the bench
- Thrift store baskets work perfectly
- Slides out on the tile floor
- Fits three baskets side by side
Black And White Checkered Floor
A black and white checkered floor is dramatic in the best way. It makes a small entry feel like a proper room instead of a hallway you rush through.
Peel and stick tiles made this doable for me in a single Saturday. No demo required, which is basically the dream! Even a total beginner could pull this off in an afternoon.
- Drama at the front door
- Peel and stick tiles only
- No demo or grout needed
- Finishes in one afternoon
Farmhouse Style Boot Rack
Farmhouse boot racks are built for real life, not just for show. Slanted slats let the mud fall through instead of sitting on your floor.
I stained mine dark and now it looks like it came from a proper barn sale. Nobody has to know it is from the craft aisle, lol!
- Built for muddy boots
- Slats let mud drop through
- Stained finish in one coat
- Holds six pairs of boots
Arched Doorway Entry Nook
An arched doorway nook adds a little architectural charm to an otherwise plain entry. It frames the space like a little stage for your coat hooks and bench. If you were hunting for these entrance, this one is a keeper!
My contractor talked me out of doing this one myself. Honestly he was right. This is not a weekend beginner project, that is for sure. Save it for someone who actually knows how to swing a hammer.
- The nook that looks built in
- Needs basic drywall skills
- Arch kit sold at hardware stores
- Paint matches the rest of the hall
Umbrella Stand By Front Door
An umbrella stand by the front door sounds old fashioned, but it solves a real problem. No more wet umbrellas dripping on the mail!
My ceramic one is pretty enough to double as decor even when it is not raining. Best five dollars I have spent on this house, haha!
Patterned Runner Rug Entrance
How cute is a patterned runner rug at the entrance? It softens the walk in and hides dirt way better than plain flooring ever could.
I keep finding these vintage-style ones and buying way too many. They look expensive but most run under fifty dollars, lol!
Fairy Lights Above Dorm Bed
Fairy lights above a dorm bed are basically a rite of passage. They’re something anyone tackling uni room ideas uk students actually search for every August.
They soften the harsh overhead light dorms always seem to have. Her room reads cozy, not like a college party.
- Dorm glow on a budget
- Battery pack hides behind the headboard
- Warm white beats cool white every time
- Sticks up with damage free clips
Corkboard Wall Photo Collage
A corkboard wall photo collage keeps every memory pinned up without damaging the walls. Concert tickets, polaroids, birthday cards, it all fits!
The board barely has any cork left showing, haha!
- Every memory, one wall
- Cork tiles from the craft aisle
- No nails needed on cinder block
- Fits a whole year of photos
Under Bed Storage Crates
Under bed storage crates are the real MVP of small dorm rooms. Every inch under that bed frame is wasted space otherwise, right?
I stack sweaters in one bin and shoes in another. It keeps the whole room looking tidy without an actual closet. Labeling each bin saves so much digging around at 8am.
- Wasted space, finally used
- Fits standard twin bed frames
- Stacks two crates deep
- Slides out on rolling casters
Fold Out Desk Study Corner
A fold out desk study corner is perfect for rooms too small for a real desk.
She folds it flat the second she is done, since floor space matters more than a desk. Suddenly she had room to walk again, lol!
- The desk that disappears
- Folds flat when not studying
- Mounts on any dorm wall
Cowhide Rug Bedroom Corner
A cowhide rug in the bedroom corner is the fastest way into western room ideas without repainting a single wall. Just toss it down and the whole vibe shifts!
No two hides look the same, so mine is basically one of a kind. That is half the charm.
Turquoise Accent Wall Decor
A turquoise accent wall brings that southwestern color in without overwhelming the room. One wall is plenty, trust me on this one.
Pair it with warm wood furniture and the whole room feels balanced instead of loud. Even a small dresser in the same wood tone ties it together nicely.
- One wall, whole new vibe
- Pairs well with warm wood tones
- Dries in a couple of hours
Vintage Horseshoe Wall Display
Who says horseshoes need to stay in the barn? A vintage horseshoe wall display brings a little rustic luck straight into the bedroom!
I hunted mine down at a farm sale and it has way more character than anything new. Rust and dents are basically the whole appeal, haha!
- Farm sale finds under five dollars
- Hangs with basic picture hooks
- Arrange in a loose arc shape
Cactus Print Throw Pillows
Last but definitely not least, cactus print throw pillows finish off a western room without much effort at all! Toss a couple on the bed and the theme reads instantly.
I paired mine with the turquoise wall from earlier on this list. Took me five minutes and nobody has to know that, lol!
- The five minute finishing touch
- Mixes with striped blankets fine
- Machine washable covers
- Comes in a two pack usually
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only recommend and mention products I truly stand behind and that I've tested myself.
And as you know, I seriously love hearing from you - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, feel free to share it here in the comments or send me a message. I'm always excited to connect with y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Luna
