Your entryway is the first and last room your guests see, so creating a welcoming and memorable space is key. An entryway is more than a simple doorway; it’s the space where the transition is made from the exterior, public world to the interior, private world. The entry or foyer also offers visitors the first view of your home, so its significance is greater than its size. Your entryway should reflect your home’s style and create a single point from which all the other rooms flow. Architectural elements can help define the area, but they don’t stand alone. The decorating choices also play a large role in creating a warm and welcoming feeling. The entry foyer should lead the individual inside to experience the interior architecture. A functional entryway engages as many senses as possible with fountains, lighting, artwork, views, and a connection to the outdoors. In the aesthetic sense, this means that an entryway should be a place where family members can pause, either before leaving the sanctuary of home, or when returning after a day of work or school. It should also have ample room for greeting guests, with space to linger while coming and going.

In reality, this means that entryways are drop zones. Car keys, purses, grocery bags and backpacks — not to mention mail, cell phones, and shoes, coats and scarves — all end up being carried into in this space. Visitors are often squeezed in amid the many everyday items. Serving as a bridge between private and public spaces, a place to meet guests, and an area for controlling the clutter of everyday life is a lot to ask of one small space. Meeting all these needs without overwhelming either the room or the people in it takes careful planning.

A mudroom is the ideal storage space for shoes, lunch bags, sports equipment, and pet essentials such as food dishes, leashes, blankets, and toys. You don’t even need an entire room to reap a mudroom’s benefits. A narrow hall, a partial wall, or a space carved out from between wall studs will do just fine. Instead of letting a mudroom become cluttered, take advantage of its storage potential. Counters, tables, and benches can be storage pieces that collect and organize both day-to-day and seasonal items. A built-in cabinet that resembles a set of lockers will allow individual family members to have their own space. Other essentials for the room might include an umbrella stand, boot tray, baskets, and a message board. Many cost-effective storage solutions are tailored specifically for mudrooms and other utility spaces. You’ll find a wealth of inexpensive storage ideas, such as wall-mounted racks for boots, shelving for hats, and hooks for sports gear, at home centers and container stores.