I have a fun little “before” and “after” entryway makeover for you today… this is one of those projects that I kept putting off month after month and then once I finally did it, I was kicking myself for not knocking it out years ago because it made such a difference! Ready to see? (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
Our Entryway “Before”
Our house had a much more traditional vibe and color palette when we first toured it – the rooms were mostly yellow, blue, and green including the entryway which had yellow wallpaper. The previous owners had a small console table and mirror on the back wall and a longer console table on the wall to the left that you can catch a little peek of:
After buying the house, we would have lived with the wallpaper for at least a few years if it was in good shape but it was really old and discolored so we decided it had to go. Jeff’s sweet parents came to visit around the time I decided to tackle it (this was several years back – we sadly lost Jeff’s mom a few years ago) and they insisted on jumping in to help. Of course who am I to say no? 😊
Thank goodness for their help because I think that wallpaper was put on with crazy glue – it came off in the smallest little pieces and was a much bigger project than I had anticipated! After the wallpaper was finally off I painted the walls Benjamin Moore White Dove, put a chest we brought from our old house on the back wall, and called it good (for now). It looked fresh and clean but also really blah – it was definitely not a space that made a great first impression when you walked in the front door:
Fast forward almost SEVEN years (we had bigger fish to fry with our major kitchen renovation, master bathroom addition, & other projects!) and I decided it was time to finally whip our boring entryway into shape!
New Entryway Wallpaper
While the white walls weren’t cutting it in our entryway, it was hard to pick another color that would flow well with all five of the rooms coming off of it. I came across {this wallpaper} and knew it was the perfect subtle yet statement-making wallpaper to tie all of these spaces together:
My wallpaper rolls actually sat in the boxes they came in for a full 2 1/2 years (!) before I finally made it a priority and carved out the time last week to get it up on the walls:
Some of you might think I’m nuts for putting up wallpaper again after it was such a chore to take the old wallpaper down, but if you coat the walls with a wallpaper primer first, it’s not hard at all to remove when the day comes that you’re ready for a change ({this post} has all of my wallpaper removing tips). I recommend {this Sheildz wallcovering primer} that primes, seals, sizes, & hides in one coat.
It took me three long days of work to get the wallpaper hung but it was so worth it! It changed the entire feel of our home as you walk in the front door:
Entryway Console Table, Art, Ottomans, & Accessories!
After the wallpaper was hung it was on to the fun part… decorating our newly refreshed space! I wanted to keep our entryway light and bright so when I shopped for an entryway console table, I looked for something that was fairly open (no closed cabinetry or drawers) and light in color. These were my favorites that I found in my search:
1. Cabot console | 2. Byron waterfall console table | 3. Modern minimalist console table | 4. Folsom console table | 5. Geometric framework console | 6. Belmont shore curved foot console | 7. Hollie console | 8. White curved leg console table | 9. Blake raffia console | 10. Copperton wood X base console
This isn’t our forever home so getting a console table that was versatile enough to also be used in a future home was also high on my priority list. I ended up choosing {this raffia console} in the Natural color (it also comes in Fog & Indigo):
Along with working in almost any entryway, I could see myself using it behind a sofa or in a bedroom in another home.
Next it was on to the art! I went on the hunt for a large vertical art piece for the top of our console table and at the same time I was looking for a similarly sized art piece for a bare wall in our bedroom. Since my colors are similar in both spaces, I ordered two pieces of art and decided to choose which one to put where after they arrived. Option #1 was “Grace in the Winds” by Emily Jeffords found {here} (on the left) and option #2 was “Marathon” by Laurent and Leif found {here} (on the right):
Both are 30″ x 40″ with the classic white wood frame option. It was a tough call but I ended up deciding to go with the more calming print in our bedroom and the more colorful print (“Marathon”) on the console.
Next it was on to a pair of cube ottomans for underneath the console – I chose {these Avalon cube ottomans} that were a perfect fit for the space:
They’re great as quick seats for taking shoes off after coming in the door. And those brass zippers… love!!
They have lots of other stylish cube ottoman options too – you can check them all out {here}.
And last but not least in wrapping up this makeover… the smaller accessories! On top of the console is one of {these white lamps} – they come in a pair and are really reasonably priced:
Next to it are {this decorative wood box} and {this decorative snail} that I swiped from the floating shelves in our kitchen:
And on the right is a piece of faux wave coral that I scored from HomeGoods years ago.
The console shelf was the perfect home for some of my coffee table book stash, {this shallow wood bowl}, and glass beads similar to {these}:
And with that… we’re done! Ready to see how it all came together??
It’s definitely a big change from this “before”:
to my makeover “after”:
I decided not to add any furniture to our entryway other than the console table so I could keep the open feel but I did hang {this large wall basket} on the wall to the right:
And with that our entryway makeover is a wrap! I’m already scheming up my next makeover that I hope to start in a few weeks… stay tuned! 🙂
XO,
Beautiful job. Isn’t Transitional refreshing? I laughed at the wallpaper story – when we bought our first home in our early 20’s we knew we wanted to make a lot of changes. Every single room in the house had been wallpapered!!! We found out very early on that it was 2 layers of wallpaper and it was all put on the old fashioned way – with a brush and glue. We decided to do just one wall at a time, and paint it white, and then go from there. That way we could maintain some kind of neatness, and didn’t tear a room apart. It took a while, but with a lot of TLC the walls in the 17 year old house looked like new. We did learn something from this experience as far as real estate – don’t buy a home in what I refer to is the “danger zone”. A 17 year old home is new enough to still have everything – HVAC, driveway, garage floor, bathrooms and kitchen – but within a very short period of time all these items will need replacing. We actually lived there for 17 years – but during that time everything was either updated or completely replaced at great expense. After that we built a new home, and we have been here 25 years, but everything has been updated for the next buyer, and we were able to take our time when tackling each project.
Lyn we have had the EXACT same learning experience with “danger zone” homes and have learned our lesson to really pay attention to the age of HVAC, roof, driveway, etc. when looking at homes. Those expenses are huge and add up so quickly!
Lovely! Three questions for you Kris:
1. Did you use BM White Dove on the TRIM as well as the walls?
2. What sheen did you use for walls vs. trim?
3. Did you continue your wallpaper down any adjacent hallway or did you use it just on the right entry wall and back wall where you rest your console as as “accent” wall focal points?
We have a similar “traditional” entry that is currently painted yellow, and our first intention, like yours, is to change the paint (throughout the house) from yellow on our walls (and trim) to white, but I am debating whether to match the trim and wall color (its a ranch-style home) or use a slightly different white tone on the trim. Thanks for your insights!
Hi Emma – yes I used White Dove in Satin on the trim (it seems to have a big of a yellowy cast in the pics but it doesn’t in person) and in flat on the walls. Whenever I paint a room white I use the same color white for the trim – the difference in sheen gives it just the right amount of contrast while still coordinating beautifully. And yes I papered our entire entryway 🙂
I love everything about this!
Love the make over. The hallway comes alive.
Well, it looks pretty awesome. But then I would expect no less from you!
Kris,
Your foyer transformation is fabulous! I love all of your tips for applying and removing wallpaper, as I am contemplating putting up in the kitchen.
Wow Kris! What a difference and I LOVE it. You mentioned you should have done it years ago, but would you have done it like this? I doubt it so maybe it was worth the wait. I adore that Serena and Lily wallpaper and goes perfect with your powder room! Of course, I love everything you do, so I’m not surprised that your entry hall is now a thing of beauty!
That’s a really good point because you’re right – I probably wouldn’t have done it the same. And all of the contractors had to pass through our entryway to go back and forth to our bathroom addition and I’m about 100% sure at some point the wallpaper would have been damaged so probably worked out for the best in the end!
Kris,
I love your style! I luckily found your blog last year and have used several of your inspirations in my home that was under construction at that time. I always find something that I love when I receive your emails and look to see where it may work in my home. Thank you!
It turned out absolutely gorgeous!!
Beautiful! I love everything you did.
Sensational idea of the console with ottoman underneath. My hubbie insisted on having bench , but I just couldn’t see it, especially as I wanted a few decor items in the entrance. Perfect solution for us, love the entryway. Thanks for the inspiration as always.
So glad you found a little inspiration from this post! I actually always wanted something to sit on in the entryway and we had a shallow bench along one of the long walls for a bit but it made the entryway feel too cramped so this was a good solution for us 🙂
BRAVO!!! Wouldn’t change a thing! And you’re right, those ottomans with the brass zippers…magnifique!
Bravo, Kris. I just love it!! Love the Tonic Living cubes too and have pinned them!
So cute your wallpaper removal helpers 🙂
Mary Ann
WOWWWWW!!!! That transformation is absolutely amazing. Gracious what a nice change.
I love your choices in everything!
RIP to your MIL – that is so sad. She would love your showed how helpful she was (they both were.) ♥♥
Great job! Looks refreshing and updated.
It certainly was a transformation and the scale of pieces were appropriate and balanced. The wallpaper, table and art played well together and contributed to a cohesive aesthetic. The middle of the road quality of the table and massed produced art did appear to have long term utility. The upholstered cubes underneath the table served no purpose.
All that said if the homeowner is pleased, the project is a success.
Beads in a bowl have no purpose. Decorating books stacked under lamps have no purpose. Vignettes in general have no purpose. Half of decorating is simply filling spaces with pretty items, whether or not they’re functional or serve some higher purpose, so the cubes DO serve a purpose…they are part of the decor; they look pretty Also they’re extra seating as needed, which is never a bad idea.
Also, calling a Serena & Lily $1300 console table “middle of the road quality” is just snooty & uncalled for. Sheesh.
Wow! Why are you taking out your negative attitude on her?
She’s helping a lot of people and if you don’t enjoy it, it really isn’t necessary to be so mean spirited.
We all need some kindness in the world right now…….
If you can’t say something nice…
Kris,
Some lucky buyer is going to be thrilled with the great changes you’ve made in this home. The entry turned out so well. It’s great.
xo,
Karen
Wow! How lovely! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the decor freshen up inspiration! It is wonderful to r
nvent a li
Lovely transformation! It brought back memories of removing wallpaper in our current home. Most of the walls were fairly easy, except I still have PTSD from one hallway! Didn’t stop me from putting some up that I still love! So sweet having that pic of your in laws helping. All of your choices came together for a beautiful, welcoming entryway.
Thanks for all of your great ideas! Especially helpful in this post, was what you did first, second , third etc. Often, the afters are shown “all done” and I don’t know where to start. So, seeing how you built and layered this was very helpful!
Pretty, Chris!
Great outcome! Did remind me, though, of this thought: “I finally tackled a chore I’ve been putting off for six months. It took only 15 minutes. I will learn nothing from this experience.”
That is the best! 😂
I love this makeover! I have the same wallpaper in my dining room. Entryway looks amazing!
Too much for the small space.👎
My 2 cents: the scale of the art on the table is too large. Try flipping the the bowl & picture and see if that isn’t better in scale and color.
I know oversize art isn’t for everyone but I actually experimented with sizing using different sized art prints that I had in other areas of our home before I ordered anything and this is the look I was going for 🙂
You traded better quality for look. Sorry, I am not a fan.
WOW! What a difference you made to your entry. It looks beautiful and updated and though a lot of work, well worth it. Thanks for sharing and giving us ideas for our own.
I know the before is traditional probably not for younger people not their style. But it’s very classy and with quality pieces. The after is a more modern, lighter approach. But I don’t like the ottomans under the table. What for? I don’t like the huge piece on the wall sticking out! The artwork doesn’t look important enough for first impression of space. Too cheap.
Update has a trendy cheap look
Too bad the bathroom is so prominent when walking in.
I’m sorry but I like the “before” better.
Love that look. It opens up the entryway’s friendly and bright. Has a welcome home feel.
Beautiful space!! ♥️
Not my style!! Too busy. Thanks for sharing after all your hard work.
Beautiful! I love how the zippers seem to tie into the floor!
Beautiful
Would love ideas on BUDGET decor for living room, dining room, bedroom and bathroom.
The new entryway looks WONDERFUL! Soft colors and clean is the feel.
Hi Shelly – I actually have a free email series that is on that exact topic – budget ideas for each room in your home. You can sign up for it here if you’re interested: https://drivenbydecor.ck.page/7d43bc466e
Hi!! Love your tips.. could you please direct me to one of your posts that would have suggestions for decorating a fireplace mantle? I am not happy with mine!!
I actually don’t have a mantel styling post but it’s on my to-do list!
Now THAT is awesome wallpaper! Fabulous transformation!!