From chaos to come on in

Our front entry used to be zero function AND zero charm, what a combo. I finally fixed the vibe so that guests would think they’re walking into our actual home instead of accidentally into a (ugly) storage closet.

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Welcome In!

During Covid, we transformed our entryway into a makeshift mudroom to avoid using the shared back stairwell. But once we reworked our basement storage unit, this space became the primary guest entrance (in need of an overhaul). Scroll down to see our issues and solutions!

The (old) view when you entered our unit from the shared condo hallway.

Ta da! More welcoming than before, I hope. The art and mirror were relocated from our old master bedroom once we moved upstairs.

Problems & Solutions

Jump ahead to see how we got around the issues of having a tiny space with unnecessary storage, an off-center wall sconce, wavy wall edges, and an unwelcoming stairwell.

Problem 1: Tiny space

The entryway is tiny (7’8” x 3’10” = under 30 feet²) with the main door and stairwell right next to each other.

I use hooks for keys (check out my whole ultra-organized key system! ) and minimized any floor furniture to help with flow of traffic.

The faux plants in hanging planters are installed in the corner out of the way above head height. I keep one little seat for folks who need it.

Problem 2. Too much storage?

We had a shoe bench (carried over from our very first apartment) that housed torn mittens , too-small (and forgotten about) seasonal outerwear , and (most recently) piles of missing toys and books that our younger kiddo kept stashing down here then crying about losing!

Now we keep space for shoes (with a reminder to remove) and a coat rack!

Problem 3. Off-center junction box

Did you notice that 3-light wall fixture ?! It’s new. Our wall sconce has always been off-center, and it has always driven me nuts. I decided to shift it over 4” to where it belonged, and it turns out that my neighbor’s junction box is perfectly centered (and perfectly in the way).

I found a new wall sconce with a large baseplate that I could hang centered but connect to the off-center junction box anyway.

Problem 4. Wavy corners for wallpapering

Once I solved the light fixture issue, it was time to wallpaper! This cheerful print is called “Whispers of Chinoiserie” from GiffyWalls. You’d think the process would be easier by my fourth time installing peel-and-stick wallpaper… (downstairs bathroom in 2022, then our master bedroom and a little project in our office loft in 2023, then the utility room in 2024, and now here)! It’s not.

Getting around (wavy, uneven) corners is still the absolute worst. I abandoned the effort for a day after making it through the first corner (of three!).

So glad it’s finally done, though!

Problem 5: Creepy stairwell

Finally, I tried to make the stairwell less… imposing / prison-y … by adding a photo wall! I bought those 29-opening Adeco frames on serious clearance during graduate school, and they are still going strong.

And just to close with a view of our home from the top of the stairs!

To the right into the kitchen and dining.

And to the left into our living room!

Cost

I couldn’t decide on what to do

Shilpa Kobren is the Associate Director of Rare Disease Analysis at Harvard Medical School where she focuses on analyzing genomic sequencing data with patient clinical information to derive insights into human diseases. Shilpa lives in an 1890s urban apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and two energetic toddlers. She retains her sense of peace amid the chaos by creating and iteratively improving systems that optimize daily efficiency in her family's constrained living space.