When it comes to decorating your house, every little space counts. And for creating a warm welcome, there’s no area that matters more than the entryway—the place you come home to and where you make a stunning first impression for guests. In a tiny cottage or cabin—or perhaps especially in these petite homes—small entryway decor ideas make a real impact, providing style and function in the place you need it most.Decorating a small entryway can be tricky, but we’re here with solutions! In this roundup of small entryway ideas, we offer smart furniture options like dressers or chests for extra storage, tiny tables to add style with providing a landing spot for mail and keys, hall trees that act as a one-stop shop for storing essentials like coats, hats, and umbrellas, and benches tucked in easily as narrow entryway decor. And we’ll just say it—space-saving hooks on the wall are a small foyer’s MVP.Function comes first, but style is a close second. Decorating a small entryway should always include showing off your personality. Gallery walls, antique and vintage collections, and wallpaper can set the tone for what’s to come in the rest of your home. Paint picks go a long way, too—warm, inviting colors tend to be the best choices for small entryway decor. Architectural details like wainscoting take up virtually no space at all while adding loads of character that says, “Come on in!”Here are more ways to create the warmest welcome to your home:1Add Character with WainscotingDavid TsayDesigned by Fran Keenan, this entryway serves up a breezy welcome with V-groove wainscoting painted a pretty robin’s-egg blue. The floral wallpaper above adds a slightly feminine touch. A hefty pine piece topped with a mirror and mementos offers a spot to drop mail and keys, or even store shoes on the bottom shelf.RELATED: Add Loads of Character With These Wainscoting Ideas2Pick a Peg RackRead McKendree for Country LivingEvery square inch in this tiny Cape Cod cottage is put to use, including this makeshift entryway. A smart peg rack provides a handy spot to hang hats, totes, and jackets. TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Go Dutch (Door)Dane Tashima for Country LivingA glossy black Dutch door allows these homeowners to be on the lookout for guests. A narrow flip-top French dining table offers a spot to drop keys and mail. Above it, a large zinc mirror reflects light into the space. Hooks behind the door keep leashes and hats at the ready.Get the Look: Door Paint Color:Black Hollandlac by Fine Paints of EuropeRELATED: More Dutch Door Ideas for an Entryway With Double the Charm4Be Bold With WallpaperMatthew KisidayA small space is the perfect place to go wild with a bold wallpaper print. With its large-scale paisley motif, this entry sets a lively tone befitting the West Virginia property’s history. For even more pattern play, a hand-painted Greek key design on the floor gives a wink to the homeowner’s Greek ancestry. Get the Look: Wallpaper:“Kashimir” by JasperTOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Select a Serene Color SchemeRikki Snyder for Country LivingIn designer Christina Salway’s Hudson Valley farmhouse, this once foreboding entry is much more inviting now, thanks to a pretty blue-green and white paint combo that continues throughout the home. A hand-painted French settee with a striped cushion and piles of pillows offers a comfy spot to pull shoes on and off. A collection of French fish plates hangs above. Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: All White by Farrow & BallTrim and Door Paint Color:Quiet Moments by Benjamin MooreTOUR THIS HOUSE6Design With WhimsyStacy Zarin GoldbergWhat a fun entry! Designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors, this whimsical space features clover wallpaper, a Roman shade in a bold pattern, and a graphic rug. Solid furniture pieces keep the design balanced.Get the Look:Wallpaper:Klöverblad designed by Josef FrankRELATED: Designers Are Loving These Fresh Wallpaper Ideas Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Tuck In a Hall TreeAli Harper for Country LivingThis petite entryway has just enough room for a bamboo hall tree. The piece, complete with a mirror, hooks for hats, and shelves, serves many purposes. The walls are painted a rich earthy brown that pairs well with the greenish-blue front door.Get the Look: Wall Paint Color:London Clay by Farrow & Ball TOUR THIS HOUSE8Style It Just RightBecky Luigar-Stayner, styling by Kathleen Varner for Country LivingTake it from Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones—a styled-up space is a happier way to come home. Case in point: her welcoming back door entryway. Thanks to Shaker-style screw-in wood pegs, the just-right happy hue of cheery yellow, and William Morris wallcovering, the once-dumping-ground area in her kitchen is now a hardworking and stylish makeshift mudroom. Pro tip: Space pegs at least six inches apart to maximize their pile-it-on capacity.Get the Look:Cabinetry and Trim Paint Color: Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & BallWallpaper:“Fruit”TOUR THIS KITCHEN Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Display an Eye-Catching CollectibleDylan Chandler for Country LivingIn author Nora Murphy’s historic Connecticut home, the entryway, like the whole house, is the setting for sea-salty finds like this antique model sailboat. The painted floors in a checkerboard pattern bring loads of character underfoot.RELATED: Add Instant Charm to Any Room With Painted Floors10Add Flourish With Painted FloorsRead McKendreeThis small entryway really packs it in—a navy Dutch door, a petite entry table with fresh flowers, and a bench. But the star of the show has to be the folk-art painted floor, bringing color and flourish to the front of the house.RELATED: Add Instant Charm to Any Room With Painted FloorsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Make the Door SpecialRead McKendree for Country LivingIn this tiny beach cottage, seaglass-inspired stained glass trims out the front door. Special touches like this make even the smallest spaces memorable.TOUR THIS HOUSERELATED: Stained Glass Is One of 2025’s Hottest Design Trends, Here’s How to Use It12Turn a Wall Into an Entry MomentAli Harper for Country LivingIn this 1940s cottage, the homeowner used small entryway wall ideas to transform a flat wall into an true entryway moment filled with character. Meaningful collections of old water-hose nozzles and natural discoveries like birds’ nests and antique tortoise shells set the tone for the interesting finds. Useful hooks, seating, and surfaces offer convenient drop spots for coats and keys.Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: Dark Chocolate by Benjamin Moore Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Hang Handy HooksBecky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingRope cleats secured to a piece of painted plywood come in handy as entryway or mudroom hooks. We especially love this coastal design element for a lake house or seaside cottage. A vintage paint-by-number sailboat adds decorative charm.RELATED: 50 Lake House Decorating Ideas for a Laid-Back Look14Paint the Door a Sunny HueChristopher Dibble for Country LivingNothing says “welcome home” quite like a cheerful front door. Designer Max Humphrey nailed it when he coated his modern-rustic rancher’s front door with a nearly neon yellow. Tramp art frames converted into mirrors add rustic charm. The motif of the indoor-outdoor rug, part of Max’s collection with Thayer Design Studio, is inspired by friendship bracelets.Get the Look: Front Door Paint Color:Chartreuse by Benjamin MooreRELATED: Front Door Paint Colors for the Most Inviting EntryAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Let the Light InRoger Davis for Country LivingRather than a traditional 50-50 Dutch door split, designer Alexis Garrett lowered the cut to allow even more California sunlight to stream in to her charming beach cottage. The door’s lower section is lined with vertical planking, mimicking the room’s vaulted ceilings. Grab-and-go beach hats and towels flank the door.Get the Look:Door Paint Color: Kensington Blue by Benjamin MooreTOUR THIS HOUSE16Go GrandioseHelen Norman for Country LivingThis narrow Georgia farmhouse entryway designed by James Farmer feels grand thanks to pastoral wallpaper, handsome mossy green millwork, a pretty antique sideboard, and framed art. A pair of globe pendant lights adds sparkle at night.Get the Look:Wallpaper: Royal Oak by Lewis & WoodTrim Paint Color: Hampshire Gray by Benjamin MooreTOUR THIS HOUSE Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Set the ToneAnnie Schlechter for Country LivingAn entry area is the perfect spot to have a little fun and set the tone for what’s to come in the rest of the house. Here, singer-songwriter Holly Williams added to the charm of her 1800s Kentucky fixer-upper with blue-and-white floral wallpaper and a “DANGER” sign found at a Tennessee antiques market that serves as a tongue-in-cheek warning to house guests.TOUR THIS HOUSE18Double the FunctionAli Harper, styling by Ginny Au for Pfeffer TorodeWhen a home doesn’t have a foyer, spaces have to do double duty, like in this renovated log cabin’s hallway. It functions as both an entry hall and a mudroom, making use of an otherwise blank wall with antique hooks that hold hats and jackets. The vintage 46-star American flag in the nearby kitchen was a flea-market find. White paint helps brighten the potentially dark space.TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below19Hang a ChalkboardDavid HillegasAlthough this one is more decorative, we love the idea of making your entryway a family hub for what’s happening with a giant chalkboard. Jot down the dinner menu, to-dos, upcoming events, and greetings for those coming and going. 20Utilize Vertical SpaceStacy Zarin GoldbergMake the most of vertical space, like this customized wainscoting and peg system for hanging boots and hats does in this narrow back hallway. A door-length window covering and vintage rug add pretty decorative touches to the hardworking boot room.Get the Look:Trim and Millwork Paint Color: Inchyra Blue by Farrow & BallRELATED: Designer-Approved Mudroom Ideas That Are Stylish and Functional Amy MitchellManaging EditorAmy Mitchell is the managing editor for VERANDA and Country Living, where she writes articles on a variety of topics—decorating and design, gardens, and holidays. Amy’s experience in the shelter magazine category spans more than 20 years, as she’s previously held positions at Coastal Living and Cottage Living. Her personal pursuits include cooking, gardening, and hunting her favorite tag sale spots for the next piece of Pyrex for her prized collection.