Entryway Storage and Decor on a Budget
Entryway storage needs to hold it all: shoes, gloves, papers, hats, mail, shoes, keys, the list goes on and on! Come see our IKEA hack for entryway storage, plus how we stuck to our budget while also decorating the entryway.
You’ll also like these other IKEA hacks: Built-in Wardrobe, Large-Scale Wooden Picture Frame, and a Shared Kids’ Desk with Hidden Storage
IKEA Hack Entryway Storage and Decor
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This little nook by our front door is new!
Previously, it was the back half of a bedroom closet on the other side of the wall. We installed a PAX closet system in the closet (which was not sponsored, and I can’t even tell you HOW MUCH we love it).
That left us with a whole foot of extra space that we were able to open up to the living room for entryway storage! HALLELUJAH!
Here’s the video showing how we built the base of the unit to complete our IKEA hack for entryway storage. This is the easiest built-in IKEA hack e-v-e-r!
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Entryway Storage and Decor on a Budget
Let me give you a peek of the entryway before and after:
After:
I had a lot of fun perusing IKEA online to find the best entryway storage options.
Ultimately, I chose the universally used KALLAX shelf (or you may be familiar with the previous version, EXPEDIT), which is super affordable at around $70.00!
More entryway storage we love: mail sorter tall shoe cubby shelf | DIY mid-century entry console with cubbies
The best news is all the different things you can do with a KALLAX shelf. There are SO many color and insert options. ANYONE can make a KALLAX work for them in their space. 
The * options are endless to organize your KALLAX. * You can use whatever you like to make it work for your space and with your existing decor. Personalize the piece and make it your own! There are baskets, boxes, wire baskets, doors and drawers.
(Update: IKEA updates their product selection each season, so while not every item pictured here is currently available, new and different ones are!)
To maximize our entryway storage, I decided having hidden and yet easy-to-organize drawers would be worth the minimal extra investment. I bought 4 sets of the KALLAX two drawer units.
I love bringing in a natural woven texture to all of the spaces I work with, so for the bottom shelves, I bought 4 rattan BRANAS baskets.
Look how good it looks with both textures!
Once we got the entryway storage portion taken care of, there was the matter of how to decorate the big blank space above the new beautiful furniture piece.
For the wall, I decided it is nice to be able to check out my crazy hair before I answer the door and the STOCKHOLM Mirror was the perfect answer.
Next, lights! We chose * 2 of the RANARP wall clamp LED spotlights * and I love how the gold looks in the space. My super amazing husband installed an outlet connected to a switch which means any plug-in wall sconce can go in this space and be swapped out as I desire!
Lastly, while you can’t buy our full sized Swedish clock at IKEA (building plans at the link), they do have a VERY similarly shaped small clock, the IKEA PS 1995 that you could use to recreate the look if you love it but don’t want to build one! (And psst, it has storage inside!)
After assembling all the pieces and putting our entryway storage space together, we were able to clean out our cramped and uninspiring front closet so that everything now has a permanent home. It feels so good to be organized!
Thank you for joining us for this post!
Taking this home from basic to beautiful has been such a journey!
Come see the “before” home tour, then enjoy the plank wood ceiling and our redone fireplace, in addition to all the updates and changes.
Please check out these other organization ideas:
Also check out our recipes, DIY Project Plans, and our remodel and decorating inspiration. There’s so much good stuff!
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Originally published 01.16.2018 // Updated 01.29.2021
Looks great only question is how did you construct the base to put the shelving unit on? That’s what really makes it pretty and gives height.
Hi Pj,
Watch the video we’ve added to the post to see the details. It makes a big difference and it was so easy!
Thanks for the comment.
Did I miss it when the video glitched? .. How did you match the white of the baseboard at the bottom of the unit to Ikea’s off/white of the Kallax? Or does all your trim already match Ikea’s off-white? Is there a specific white paint out there that matches IKEA’s off-white furnishings?
Thanks!
Hi Evelyn,
Ours was already a really close match (just off the shelf white paint) but if you want a more exact match, you can take a shelf from the Kallax into the paint store and they can match it.
Did u add a base to the Kallax shelf
Hi Nicole,
Yes, we did add a base — watch the video in the post and it will show you how we did it. It’s really easy!
I love this storage solution. The front door does become a dumping ground (another mom without a mud room). The time elapsed video was great to show all the steps. Thanks for making it work.
I would use an empty basket for kid shoes and a drawer for socks
Thanks!!!
Amazing entry organization! What an absolutely adorable ornament that you have chosen. Great choice
Love this so much! What paint color did you use on the base to match the Kallax shelf?
Hi Cass,
I love your Kallax hack so much that this is the first comment I’ve ever made on anything Pinterest!
So first, compliments, because I am so picky! I absolutely love this!
Two questions: I may have missed the size of the baseboard I need to cover the bottom in the video…did you give it? Do you have it? And second, do you have them paint brand/name color you used to match the kallax unit? I will order it in regular white as well.
Thanks in advance!
Alli
I have a cubby shelf that we use in the basement for toys and games. I used baskets in a few of the cubes like you did, however I noticed that the basket was scratching the shelf. I went to the local hobby store and bought sheets of felt and glued to the bottom of the baskets, and now the basket no longer leaves scratch marks.
So smart, LeeAnn! Thanks for sharing. We haven’t noticed any scratching but this is such an easy solution!
Hello, what’s the measure from the base? From the white plates the long ones and the 2 on the sites? Thanks
Where is the shiplap explanation?
I don’t think we have one yet for this wall. That’s a great Idea though. I will see if we can put one together. Great question! Thanks Kelly!
I have been scouring the internet for your shiplap instructions. Ha! Did you just attach the shiplap to the back of the Pax units?
We have a sheet of plywood between the Pax and the shiplap. That way I was able to glue and nail the shiplap to the pylwood.
Good use of new-found space.
Since you had to build the “ship lap” wall, which wasn’t there before, and must have added an outlet for the lamps, why didn’t you also put in a junction box to hard-wire the lamps so the cord wouldn’t be visible?
The lamps we wanted were corded and there wasn’t room behind the lamps for a juntion box. The ship lap wall is only 1” thick because of the closet n the other room.
Please tell me what color is the inside of your front door.
The color is from Behr and it’s called: (S530-7) Dark Navy Base: 7753. We love it!
Sorry I gave you the wrong color. That is what the color is now. It was black I will try and get that for you.
It looks as though the front door would hit it if you open the door all the way.
The door knob can hit the top of the furniture, but we haven’t had any problems. Mostly the door is opened where it doesn’t hit it at all.
Love this hack! We are going to do this in our entryway. Can’t wait for the added storage. My husband was wondering what type of screw you use to screw on the legs? He’s going to make this for me next weekend. ???????? Thanks!
Can you give exact measurements and info on base PLEASE. ? I would really like to do this piece
The base is about 6 inches tall. I made three separate U-shaped feet for the cabinet to sit on. I have a really good description on how I did that within the video that’s part of this post. And then I wrapped two sides in the back with MDF trim.
Let us know how it turns out we love to see a picture of it.
I love this. Since you asked what should you store in the empty Draws? I would put maybe the gloves in the wooden draws, and use one of those beautiful basket to store flip flops or house shoes/stocks to put on during summer, and to put on indoors.
I am so in love with this fabulous diy.
Thanks for the love, Ivory! Great ideas.
Hi! Question for yo: We are working on ordering the Kallax insert drawers. Did you choose the white or the high gloss for best match?So appreciate it!
Hi Maria! I would order whichever matches the finish of the KALLAX unit you have — ours was just white, not the high gloss white.