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In a small entryway, you seldom have ample room to work with. You might decide to take the easy way out and barely decorate the walls. Alternatively, you might place a mirror in the wrong spot just to tick items off your entranceway design checklist. Or, you might pay too much attention to scale and refrain from using large items in the tiny space. For instance, you may shy away from adding large furniture or rugs to your foyer. Although these mistakes aren’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, they’ll visually shrink your entryway and make it seem even smaller.

Instead, to make a small entryway feel bigger, give your bare walls an update. The easiest way is to add a large-scale art and let it dominate the space. Or, add tiles or millwork to draw the eye upward and make the cramped room seem spacious. Similarly, try positioning a mirror such that it reflects natural and artificial light around the undersized room. This will brighten up your passageway and make it appear larger than it is. 

As for not using large items, get runners that are larger than door mats. If your doorway opens up to your living room, style the perfect Boho entryway by laying down a rug that covers the expanse. This will give your foyer a cohesive look and create the illusion of more space. Alternatively, if you lack a shelf, table, or bench to house your grab-and-go items, invest in a substantial piece of furniture.

Leaving your small entryway’s walls bare and décor-free might seem like a good idea in theory. However, it’ll make the limited space seem even more depressing. It’s a good idea to dress up your foyer’s walls with some bold art. Display a large statement piece that’s tall enough to draw the eye upwards. This will make your walls appear taller than they are. Alternatively, deck it in colorful artwork of varied sizes, shapes, and styles to play with scale. It’ll add visual interest and depth, encouraging the eye to avoid clocking the square footage of your cardboard box-sized entryway.

You can also create a vertical accent wall for a similar effect. Shiplap and skinnylap  (the narrower version)are two options you can consider. Don’t have the budget for a lavish feature wall? Use some foam boards from the Dollar Tree to recreate these creative accent wall ideas on a budget.

While a mirror’s job is to reflect the light hitting the glass and visually expand a room, your foyer accessory might not help much if you put it in the wrong spot. Be sure to position it against a wall that receives a great deal of natural and artificial light. This simple trick will ensure the passageway looks bright and beautiful round-the-clock. In case you can’t find a wall that favors both, pick the spot that receives the sun’s rays to keep the area bright for the majority of the day. While you’ll be using it as a tool to enlarge your cramped entryway, there’s no reason why you can’t pick a large, beautiful mirror that suits your interiors.

You might not include large items in your small entryway to keep it as open as possible. Even though you may feel like this decision will visually expand the limited square footage, it achieves the opposite and shrinks the room further. Instead, measure the space you have available and add items accordingly. For instance, you don’t want to add a tiny doormat by the entry and call it a day. Put in some work and choose an appropriately sized runner to make your foyer seem larger.

The same goes for your furniture choices. Granted, you don’t want to forcefully fit in too large or bulky pieces, but you also don’t want to stick with small furniture, as it may give a boxed-in vibe and steal precious room from your small entryway. Tiny floating models are a no-go, too. To strike the right balance, pull out the measuring tape and brainstorm the tables, benches, or ottomans you can get away with. 

If you can’t fit in a full-blown console table, but love the look, see if you can find its narrow version  instead. HOOBRO’s Rustic Brown and Black Table is a good option. Need something with more storage space? Choose narrow tables with shelves or drawers, like a nightstand. However, if you need something to sit on while tying your shoelaces, space-saving benches with built-in storage or tiers is ideal. Nnewvante’s 2-tier Bamboo Entryway Bench might fit your requirements. Together, these pieces and the right wall décor can help your entryway feel a little more spacious.