Hi,
Could you help with the furniture for this entry? I would like a huge floor mirror on the left but I am not sure if that would be too big. Also, I have no idea were to put a coat rack that I still don't have. đź«Ł
Thanx!
From a purely functional stance, you'd most often want to check the mirror on your way out so to the right of the land-line phone is the best location for a mirror. Probably a medium-sized mirror with a slim console underneath would look best. However, if you don't have a full-size mirror anywhere else in the house and you need a place to put one, a full-size mirror will work too. I'm not sure if you regularly keep magazines at the front foyer for easy access or if the bench is where they wait for recycling day but, unless the magazines bring you joy, I would not let clutter be the first thing seen when entering the front door of my home. If the magazines have nowhere else to go, instead of a console beneath a mirror, I'd suggest a presentable magazine rack like this one that I found on Amazon:
The only feasible location for your typical iron coat rack is beside the bench, preferably not sticking out beyond the outside wall corner. However, as someone who dies a little bit inside whenever accidentally scuffing up wall paint, I would not risk knocking over a coat rack. I would much prefer to wallpaper the entry and place wall-mounted coat hooks (preferably a coat hook assembly with a shelf on top) above that bench instead. Vinyl wallpaper is very scuff resistant so you can even use those hooks to hang bags with metal hardware on them. Lastly, to maximize the functionality of the foyer, I'd consider swapping out the bench with one that doubles as shoe storage and maybe add a decorative umbrella holder if the closet is full.
Thank you for your effort!
Those papers under the bench are waiting for me to sort them out and decide what stays and what goes. :) I have a huge problem with scuffing up wall paint so wallpaper and hooks is actually a very good idea!
This is just the kind of challenge I love. First, you can never have too big a mirror! If you have it already great, if not then buy one with as thin a frame as possible to max out mirror surface. It will make the space look enormous. The author above suggested several great ideas. One is a coat rack with, say four hooks, and a shelf on top. Then under that a bench with shoe shelf underneath. You can have a trailing plant on the top shelf, perhaps baskets (open or with a lid). Nobody has ever said I couldn’t recommend vendors. So, Pottery Barn has just exactly these two items we are suggesting in one of their matched suites of furniture. Now, you didn’t ask about a rug on the floor. But to keep the dust down I would urge you to have one. At PB they will custom cut a natural fiber rug in a range of neutral colors for just that space. Use carpet tape to keep it from shifting around and expect to beat or vacuum often. If you want it to look beautiful then get a runner from MacKenzie Childs and I promise it is worth ever cent. Everybody has sales, which I follow if I am making do until the perfect thing comes along. Also, Garnet Hill and the Vermont Country Store both have wonderful rugs and tiny pieces of furniture for tight spaces. I am going to attach a couple of pix of my TINY space in Pasadena.
I would consider the back of the door for the mirror, so you can back up and check the whole outfit. Placing it on the hallway wall only gives you a foot or two to back up.
No! That defeats the purpose of a wall mirror which doubles the space. And a floor to ceiling mirror will indeed capture all of you—including parts you didn’t want to see. Did this in a mud room in Iowa City. It was a favorite hang out spot for my tiny children and their friends to play dress-up.
Don't put a mirror on an exit door. In an emergency, it's visually confusing.
I'd concur with the idea that a full length mirror goes best on the back of the door. For the rest, I'd look for an old fashioned hall stand secured to the wall, they hang coats and hats, rack stick, offer a place to unload/load pockets as you come/go in/out, and have a mirror, and often a seat. They're impressive pieces of furniture that don't date really; or you could make your own, they are, after all, just pieces of board with clothes hooks and other useful bits attached. Whatever you do, leave one side of your entryway unfurnished, put some pretty pictures there?
Like someone posted before me, I would place the bench on the left (phone wall) and hang a wall mirror to the right. Hang as large a mirror as you want—-don't be afraid to play with scale, and an oversized piece in a small space makes for a grand statement.
Hang hooks above the bench on the left for hanging coats, bags, etc.
