Ideas for furnishing ground floor/entry area of house

December 15, 2020 11:17 AM

We just moved into a townhome, and we can't figure out what to do with the space on the ground floor/entryway. What are some creative ideas for how to use this space?

Rough floor plan. It's about 16 ft by 11 ft.

We have kitchen, dining, and living room space upstairs. This is kind of an awkward area that needs to serve as a functional entry area (think landing strip for keys/mail etc) but it's big, so we want to furnish it and be able to use the space for... something. But, it feels separate from the rest of the house so it ends up gathering junk and Amazon boxes until trash day. I want to set it up nicely since it's the first thing you see when you walk into the house.

What would you do with this space?

posted by jschu to Home & Garden (19 answers total)

That is awkward. Since it's next to the garage I might go for a workroom/office sort of thing, but since it also has to be an entryway that might not be the right vibe. Would it work to split the space in two with a curtain (or in the long term, if you own it, a wall), leaving a small entryway and a separate work space?
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:26 AM on December 15, 2020

One thing I put in my entryway is a decent sized dedicated storage/processing area for recycling, which accommodates those Amazon boxes (as well as the associated box cutter) as well as junk mail, things for pickup, etc etc.
I've also seen lovely built in hallway storage that had a specific section for each family member's coats, shoes, gym gear and so on.
posted by quacks like a duck at 11:43 AM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

I would put a chair or bench in front of the window so you can sit while putting on or taking off your shoes and have a tidy spot for people to store shoes. Even if you have guests keep their shoes on, some may want to take them off, plus an empty side table so they can put down a purse or bag. After that I would think about adding attractive storage for things I don't want in the regular house: camping and sports gear, gift wrap, giant cookware used once a year, etc. If you add some attractive cupboards/counters and leave one open underneath, you could use it as a workspace when needed.
posted by soelo at 11:43 AM on December 15, 2020 [9 favorites]

I like the idea of separating out the attractive entry/functional space purposes of the room with a room divider- maybe a standing screen, or a tall set of open shelves, behind a console table to collect mail and keys etc? You could hide the Amazon boxes behind the room divider. Also, is this a shoe collection spot as well? A nice shoe holder and a small chair or bench could be nice additions.
posted by MadamM at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2020 [4 favorites]

I don't know what your home's shoe wearing norms are, but as someone with a house that has zero entry area I would absolutely find a long bench or two with (open?) shoe storage underneath and put as many shoes as reasonable for your mode of living there. I also lack an entry closet, so I'd also install a ton of hooks for coats and jackets and bags to live on the wall there, and a bucket for umbrellas, etc. Maybe a lamp and a small side table and an upholstered chair for something to sit in when taking outdoor shoes on/off. Along with your landing strip, add at least a small trash and recycling container so that you don't start piling junk up on the floor.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2020 [6 favorites]

If this were my house, there would be a shelf and hook thingy next to the bathroom for shoes coats and bags. The whole wall on the right would be edge to edge bookshelves because we never have enough book storage. Console table along the window in front of the house, inevitably with more stacks of books on it but also a tray for mail/keys/etc, and probably bins under the console table for recycling or other storage. And then a statement rug of some sort in the center of the room, hopefully soft enough to hang out on sometimes, when sifting through books, or playing with cats, or doing stretches. A stack of floor cushions in the corner also, and lamps on the console table.
posted by Mizu at 11:45 AM on December 15, 2020 [3 favorites]

all of the "semi private" kind of house areas that do better slightly separate from the rest of the common areas.

* exercise bike+TV
* library w reading chair
* any space hogging hobbies (art etc)
* music stuff

(in addition to entryway furniture by the door (shelves, hooks etc) to handle shoes, umbrellas, jackets.)
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:45 AM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

With a similar entry, sister put coat racks, a full length mirror, a bench and shelves near the ceiling for games/holiday overflow.

Her coat closet upstairs now holds baking supplies, YMMV.
posted by MichelleinMD at 11:45 AM on December 15, 2020

I would create a small entryway, as others have mentioned, and use the rest for storage. Some of these would be great. This space can be home to all the overflow from your garage and/or home. Lots of seasonal items. You can add a bookshelf and plants under the window(?) next to the entry to make it a bit more welcoming. (Fake plant if you don't want to try to keep something alive that's on a different floor than your home).
posted by hydra77 at 11:54 AM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

Considering it's got a 1/2 bath you could turn it into a guest room by adding a wall- if you own it. Do you have kids? It would make a great playroom or remote school room away from other distractions. If you don't have kids turn into a home gym or even a home theater.
posted by mareli at 11:58 AM on December 15, 2020 [4 favorites]

We also have an awkward space (that's literally what we call it), though in our case it's the original living room of the house that is now just part of the completely open common area of the house (there are no full walls between kitchen, dining room, living room, and the "awkward space").

We've basically outfitted it with a large area rug, a bench and shoe rack with coat hooks for each family member hung above it, the dog food/water, and a barrister's bookcase that functions as extra kitchen storage and a liquor cabinet. Now that we have a toddler, it's also where the blocks and train sets get built. The people who owned the house before us used it as an additional seating area.

So, yes, definitely make part of it a place to transition from outdoor to indoor. That won't take up all the space though. I like the idea of a library. Do you all entertain much? Maybe some seating and a little bar cart? Do you have kids who are old enough to appreciate and handle some semi-private space? Maybe a play room or lounge for them (though that probably does run counter to "make it look nice.") If you board or tabletop game, it'd be a great space for a fancy gaming table and nice storage shelves.
posted by natabat at 12:00 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

I would personally put in a table suitable for board games and the like and a comfy chair or sofa for reading in. It basically screams "hobby space" but without knowing what your interests are, it's hard to be specific. Depending on what type of entertaining you do (once it's safe again), it can be nice having a lower level place for having guests over where they're not roaming the main parts of your house.

It's also a space that a second TV or projector could go if you want to be able to watch things separately from the presumed main one upstairs.
posted by Candleman at 12:09 PM on December 15, 2020 [3 favorites]

A lot of homes near me have a similar set up. I would turn it into some sort of hues way nook. A comfy loveseat if not couch, a tv mounted to the wall between the stairs and entry. Under it, some sort of console/bench/etc for shoes, keys, purses or what have you
posted by raccoon409 at 12:30 PM on December 15, 2020

Yes it's a trick space, lots of things to balance, what about something like this [direct imgur link].

Different surfaces colour-matched as much as possible to retain spacious feel but get some functional wearing in the surfaces. A single storage unit but in finer materials (dark timber) to say this is more than a storage space.

For me a big part of this is what the transition is like to the inside. e.g. what is the street like? and how to get a useful contrast.
posted by unearthed at 1:01 PM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

I like the idea of it being a foyer (House Beautiful has 50 examples of foyers) You could have a table with a vase or some other center piece, and some dishes and trays to drop keys and mail. Depending on where the bathroom door opens- I would incorporate built in storage (you could do Pax wardrobe units from Ikea with bespoke doors), some of the cabinets would be for coats, shoes and books, some would be for recycling, and some for out door things- dog leash, spare balls etc.
posted by momochan at 1:30 PM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

A big entry space can give a very welcoming first impression, and make a good play space if you have children. When we took out the old furnace because we changed to solar + geothermal heating, our old utilities space became the natural main entrance, and much too big for just being empty.
We've put in a lovely sofa and a little table, and during summer it's a great space to hang out with the door open when it's just too hot to sit in the sun, or for having welcoming drinks at the beginning of a party, as people enter. To make that work, you'd definitely need good storage, probably floor to ceiling on the wall on the right of your plan, so you can clean it up. You'll need wardrobe space, space for outdoor gear and space for the boxes etc. The cupboards above everyday reach can hold seasonal stuff like blankets and holiday decorations. Then perhaps a round table and a few comfortable chairs that you can also use for taking shoes on and off in the middle of the room. All of that said, when I'm home alone, I just use the sofa for stacking laundry. It's OK.
I'd put a statement art piece on the wall in front of the stairs, next to the front door, and maybe a rug that marks the beginning of the more private spaces. (If I could design everything the way I liked, I would have a dark stone or ceramic floor throughout, except for the part in front of the stairs where I would have sisal that could continue up the stairs, the round table and chairs could be on an area rug).
My dream is to get a fireplace, so our space can work all year round, but it is a bit difficult for several reasons. Maybe its an option for you?
posted by mumimor at 2:29 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

BTW, our space has a narrow passage like the one you have to the garage, and that's where we have put the shoe racks. That way they are easily accessible, but don't distract from the main space.
posted by mumimor at 3:25 PM on December 15, 2020

If this were my house, I’d put hooks on the wall for vertical bike storage, in addition to everything Mizu suggested.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 3:28 PM on December 15, 2020

Landing zone, well organised storage (recycling, out of season clothes, camping gear, spare toilet paper) and an office.
Library. Dedicated hobby room: quilting /sewing, painting, woodwork.

I feel that if you fill it just to fill it, you'll end up spending money on things you don't want and won't use, and will have to get rid of if you move.
posted by b33j at 8:00 PM on December 15, 2020