In our new home, our front door opens right into the living room. However, the previous owners (or, I guess, ONE of the previous owners) continued the kitchen flooring to, apparently, give it an entryway vibe.
To help with the flow of the space, we’ve decided to continue to use the space in that way.
The living room is not huge – it’s sort of a narrow space and, while it fits my furniture well, it does not have room for anything additional. However, I really did want the option of additional seating if possible.
I decided to search for an entryway bench that would allow for functionality – to put on shoes before going out, to drop little man’s backpack or my purse, and to create additional seating space if needed. I also really wanted a piece that would contribute to the vibe in terms of décor. We consider our taste to be a mixture of traditional style, industrial farmhouse, and country chic, sort of like a charming transitional approach to home décor.
I was thrifting with my mom and sister when we stopped in a local antique store. This store, Farmhouse Antiques, has a ton of booths for different vendors – and my sister’s mother-in-law actually has a gorgeous booth there too!
I came across a black bench that definitely has that traditional and country vibe – and I fell in love. I got this beauty for just $47! We had a time getting it into mom’s Nissan Rogue with three adults and other thrifting finds, but we made it work!
After getting this gorgeous piece in my living room, I started to get a lot more excited about styling and decorating it.
I had previously made a monogrammed sign for the entry way, and I thought ahead enough to have taken some photos and videos for y’all. (You’ll notice my old rental house is the setting for this project.)
I purchased the following items from my local Walmart’s craft aisle: an “M” (Jake’s last name starts with an “M” – so when he finally shares it with me -LOL, that’ll be our monogram), a wooden wreath cutout, chalk paint in black and a sage-like green, a shiplap lookalike handing piece, and sponge brushes. I also have my own mini hot glue gun and glue sticks always on the ready in my craft bin.
I first painted my pieces – the green chalk paint was for the wreath cut out and the black was for the monogram.
Then, after those dried, I hot glued them to the center of my shiplap-looking hanging piece. I think it turned out super cute and would actually be a great DIY piece for a lot of various décor themes.
I also wanted to add in some additional functionality for hanging jackets. My papa – my grandfather on my dad’s side – used to love woodworking. He made these sweet homemade peg hooks that are in my house in a couple of places. This one is a really large one that was perfect for this spot! I had used it in my son’s room previously but thought it’d get more family use in the living room entry way, so when we moved, I brought it in here. Papa passed this fall, so adding something that reminded me of him in this space was really special.
To add some color and softness to this space, I grabbed some pillows, a blanket, and a rug I already had. (Always shop your own home when decorating – you save money and find new uses and spaces for stuff you already loved enough to purchase before!)
I also really loved the idea of incorporating some floral and natural elements into this space, so I grabbed a basket I had bought years back from Dollar Tree and the faux floral bouquet I carried as Maid of Honor in my sister’s wedding. It didn’t hang just right, so I grabbed some twine, braided it, and attached it to the existing basket handle. This hung at a much better length for my tastes, so I added it on the end of the peg hooks.
Here’s the finished space. Oh – and peep that cutie pie dog toy bin I got from Ross for under $10!
How have you decorated your entry space? Any DIY or decorating tips you love? I’d love to hear from y’all in the comments below!
Kate with a Twang 
Pretty bench! I just have room for a couple of hooks just inside the door…no entryway.
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