Living in a small urban apartment teaches you to be strategic with every inch of space, and after four years in my tiny home, I recently discovered my favorite storage solution to date.
The Caymus Upholstered Flip-Top Storage Bench (available at Wayfair), from the Martha Stewart collection, makes organizing an ultra-small entryway significantly easier. Since it bears Martha's good name, you can expect it to be both durable and visually appealing (thanks to its neutral colorway), while also being highly multifunctional.
What I love most is the bench's lift-top lid, which provides ample storage space for blankets, bags, and umbrellas. It holds everything you might need to grab before rushing out the door, keeping them out of sight but accessible in seconds. It's also a great place to sit and tie your laces, because that's what entryways are for, after all.
Upholstered in a light grey fabric, this storage bench is versatile enough to complement any given color scheme. I think it's perfect for an entryway, but it's just as useful in a bedroom, at the bottom of your bed, where you can store blankets, pillows, and linen. It comes with solid wood legs and a smooth textured finish that (almost) feels too chic to be practical.
Multifunctional furniture, starting with Martha's bench, is essential when styling a small entryway; however, as designers explain, there are ways to make your space feel more beautiful, even if, like me, you're working with an ultra-compact area.
'There are rooms in the house that are easier to style than others, but I think one that can be challenging is the entryway – it’s the first impression people will have of your house so you want it to reflect your style and rest of the home, which is tricky when working with a typically small space,' comments Antoni Roig, Interior Designer at OKA.
'A sideboard [like this one, also designed by Martha Stewart at Wayfair] or console table makes a great addition as it provides a surface for displaying decorative pieces that add character, along with table lamps for a warm glow and faux flowers for a welcoming personality to your space.
Inspired by Martha Stewart's Lily Pond Collection, this sideboard is just as beautiful in a living room as it is in an entryway. It features a retro-style cane paneling and stylish Pewter metal handles. We love how it has a nostalgic, vintage charm, despite being produced in the contemporary day.
This runner takes inspiration from traditional designs with a modernized motif. Its rich navy and neutral hues add both depth and simplicity to an entryway of any size. The timelessness of the rug is evident in its intricate details.
For a truly enduring table lamp, look no further than this elegant ceramic urn-shaped design. With a blue and white Chinoiserie-inspired floral, the design can create an effortlessly vintage and chic feel.
One final tip? 'A runner rug also always helps to soften a room and add texture. My tip is to choose one that goes right up to the edges of the room and sits underneath your furniture rather than alongside it,' Antoni says. 'It will open up the space by creating fewer vertical lines, giving a more seamless look.'
