16+ Stunning Long Entryway Ideas That Transform Boring Halls

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Here’s a tip nobody tells you about hallways: hang the art at eye level for the shortest person in the house, not the tallest. It sounds tiny but it changes the whole feel of the space, lol!

Long entryways get such a bad reputation. Everyone treats them like leftover space instead of a real room. That’s such a waste, right?

This list was built by scrolling through hundreds of pins and tossing out anything that needed a contractor or a second mortgage. What’s left are the ideas that actually work in everyday homes with everyday budgets.

Some of these are full weekend projects. Others are a trip to the hardware store and an afternoon, done before dinner.

Whether you’ve got a narrow hallway, a cramped front door situation, or a mudroom the size of a closet, there’s something here for you. Who doesn’t want their entryway to actually look intentional?

Scroll through, save your favorites. Start with whichever one scares you the least.

LONG ENTRYWAY IDEAS

Gallery Wall Down Hallway

A gallery wall down a long hallway turns dead space into the best part of the house! Mix frame sizes so it does not look like a showroom display.

I keep telling her it looks like it cost hundreds. It did not, haha! She spent under thirty dollars total, lol!

Long Bench With Cushions

A long bench with cushions gives a hallway somewhere to actually sit while you deal with shoes. Add a few pillows so it does not look like a waiting room.

I put mine under a window because I always forget to turn hallway lights on. It ended up being the smartest accident in the whole house! Natural light hits it perfectly every morning.

Row Of Wall Sconces

A row of wall sconces down a long hallway solves the lighting problem nobody wants to deal with. Overhead lights alone make a hallway feel like an office.

I finally swapped mine out after years of squinting at the coat closet. Space them evenly and the hallway suddenly reads as designed. Such a fun little upgrade for the effort!

Board And Batten Hallway Wall

Board and batten on a hallway wall adds texture without eating up floor space. That matters a lot in a narrow spot. Paint it the same color as the wall above for a subtle look, or go bold instead.

I always think mine will look fussy and then I forget it is even a project. It photographs way better than it sounds on paper. How great does that turn out?

Striped Painted Floor Runner

A striped painted floor runner is the cheapest trick on this whole list. Tape off stripes on a wood or concrete floor and paint them a soft color.

I did this in my old rental because I could not afford a real rug. It fooled the eye into thinking the hallway was wider. No bunching, no rug required, ever!

Console Table With Round Mirror

If you are looking for front entryway ideas that feel put together in five minutes flat, a console table with a round mirror is it. The round shape softens all the straight lines a front door area usually has.

I set a small lamp on one side and a bowl for keys on the other. That is basically my whole formula. It works every time, lol!

Round Table With Woven Basket

Among entryway table ideas, a round table with a woven basket underneath might be the most practical one out there. The basket catches mail, umbrellas, whatever piles up by the door.

It works anyway, haha! Nobody in her house questions it anymore.

Console Table With Ceramic Lamp

A console table with a ceramic lamp brings warmth to an entryway the second you walk in. This is a small detail, but it makes coming home in the dark so much nicer.

I always reach for a warm bulb, never a bright white one. My entryway should feel like a hug, not an interrogation room, lol! Am I right?

Wall Mounted Shoe Rack

For small this entryway ideas, a wall mounted shoe rack saves the floor entirely. Nobody wants to trip over sneakers the second they walk in. If you were hunting for small this entryway ideas, this one is a keeper! If you were hunting for small front entryway ideas, this one is a keeper!

I was shocked how many pairs mine actually holds. My entry stays clean without a single bin in sight. Turns out that was the whole trick.

Corner Coat Hook Display

A corner coat hook display makes use of the one spot most entryways completely waste. Corners usually just sit empty, which is such a shame in a small space.

I hung mine at different heights so coats stop piling on each other. Simple idea, works every single time anyway.

Floating Shelf With Baskets

A floating shelf with baskets underneath is basically a built in without the built in price tag. Slide baskets in for gloves, hats, whatever tends to wander off.

I used this trick in the tightest hallway I have ever owned. It only uses wall space, so my floor stayed completely clear. Not a single inch sacrificed, how cute is that?

Built In Bench With Cubbies

Among small mudroom ideas entryway setups, a built in bench with cubbies underneath wins for actual daily use. Everyone gets their own cubby, so shoes stop landing in one giant heap by the door.

This is a bigger project, sure. I put mine off for two years. Once it is done you will wonder how you ever lived without it!

Hooks Over Boot Tray

Hooks over a boot tray is the simplest small mudroom fix on this entire list. Wet boots go on the tray, coats go on the hooks. The floor stays dry.

I stole the idea from him without any shame. Who wouldn’t?

Vertical Shiplap Mudroom Nook

A vertical shiplap mudroom nook stretches a tiny space upward instead of outward. The lines draw the eye up, which tricks the area into feeling taller.

I added a hook rail near the bottom and a shelf up top for hats. My tiniest corner suddenly does the most work in the house! Not bad for one weekend, lol!

Hidden Mudroom Behind Curtain

Among this mudroom ideas that hide clutter completely, a curtain over an open nook is the sneaky one. Everything stays organized behind it. Guests never see the mess.

I love this one for renters since there is no drilling into anything. My landlord never even noticed the rod, haha! Same!

Stacked Baskets For Storage

Last but definitely not least, stacked baskets for storage handle a small mudroom with almost no effort. Slide them onto a shelf or stack them right on the floor in a corner.

I already had half of these baskets sitting in a closet doing nothing. They hide clutter faster than any other idea on this list. Not a bad way to close things out, haha!