Molly and her husband recently purchased their first home: a classic Chicago brick bungalow that has been lovingly renovated to retain beautiful details like trim and hardwood floors. When it was time to start creating their space, they started at the entrance.
As a welcome to your home, the entrance hall sets the tone for the rest of the style of your space. For Molly, that means an eclectic mix of colors, vintage and new furniture, and a mix of art from different eras. “I lots plants,” says Molly. “We both like comfort and a cozy home.”
To help her entryway reflect that, she opted for furniture and decor that could match her style and keep the couple and their two rescue pups organized on their way out the door—especially with all the layers and snowy accessories that come with Chicago winters. At Kohl’s, she found high-quality, affordable home decor for small changes with a big impact.
Molly started with a piece of furniture that might seem surprising: a chest of drawers. This one has warm wood tones and woven cane details that fit in with its cozy eclectic vibe. With three spacious drawers, it’s a stylish place to store winter gear, dog leashes and even extra kitchen linens or seasonal decor. We don’t always think about chests of drawers outside of the bedroom, but with a spacious, dedicated entryway like this one, they’re a genius way to add storage and reduce clutter.
With a larger piece to anchor the space, Molly then focused on smaller touches that add both personality and purpose. The beautiful carpet is soft underfoot and protects the wooden floors from dirt and salt, and the rich red color palette complements the walnut tone of the chest of drawers. A neutral pair of ceramic table lamps creates visual symmetry and adds illumination to this small nook, while a decorative wooden dough bowl makes a unique landing spot for keys, change and mail.
Then it was time for the finishing touches. No room in Molly’s home would be complete without a plant. Fake monsters add a pop of green in a place with less than ideal growing conditions, and two nature-inspired prints make for a serene focal point. Finally, the scented candle provides a pleasant aroma of mahogany and cedar — and after it is used up, the sculptural ceramic vessel can have a second life as a beautiful pattern.
Now, Molly says, the space feels like home as soon as you walk in. The mini-remodel also changed the way she and her husband use the entryway: “I didn’t plan on being able to store so much in there, so I’m really happy to have that option now. I didn’t think of the chest of drawers in the entrance!” she says. “It’s such a clever way to use the space for both the counter in the entryway and storage for leashes, hats, gloves and sunglasses.”