Knowing that your own bed is waiting for you, your favorite coffee mug is in the cupboard, and the sofa is soft and plump - ready for you to snuggle into and watch that new Netflix series. 

They say home is where the heart is, and for the most part, that is true. We decorate the inside of our homes with everything that makes us happy - and the functional things too. 

Our entryways are places that can be both functional and beautiful. So it doesn’t matter if you are a renter or a homeowner; there are ways that you can turn your entryway into something out of a fairy tale. 

If your entryway is currently home to multiple piles of shoes, a coat rack hanging on for dear life, and some other clutter, then it is time to tackle it. 

While shoes, coats, and bags are essential to have around the exit and entry to your home, for the moment, it’s time to ship them out. 

Since most people enter their homes with their shoes on, the floor and surrounding areas can gather a lot of dust and grime pretty quickly. 

Start by taking a slightly damp cloth and wiping down all of the walls. Once that is done, it’s time to scrub the skirting boards. Pay attention to the doors, and the door handles too. 

Once all of the surrounding areas are cleaned, do the floor. 

Since everything is moved out of the entryway and clean, you can see how much room you have to work with. 

Make a list of what you need by the front door. Do you currently have winter coats, summer jackets, scarves, hats, and more? They don’t need to be by the door all year round and are taking up valuable space. 

Each season, remove and/or add the appropriate outdoor items like boots and coats, 

This will reduce the number of unused items. 

Think about what you want to feel like as you walk in the front door. When cluttered, it is easy to feel immediately overwhelmed and stressed as soon as you get inside. 

The theme of your entryway might be cool Swedish minimalism, or you might opt for bright, bold colors. 

Your wall space is valuable; if you already have a coat rack, could you add one or more shelves above it? What about on any of the other walls? 

A set of key hooks can also help keep day-to-day life running smoothly and be a cool feature. Hanging mirrors and photos can add something beautiful to the area too. 

While it’s not typically safe to have candles lit in the entryway - since they are not usually in sight at all times, you can still add in a scent that makes you feel happy. 

Reed diffusers or wall plugin scents can give you an instant hit of fragrance when you walk into your home. 

The most brightening scents are:

Not only can reed diffusers or scent blocks, like the ones from Diptique, add a beautiful waft of fragrance - but they look great too. You can usually find one that matches the theme you like. 

Shoe racks, boxes, or drawers can help keep some order to the entryway. But if you want to hide everything away, home stores like IKEA have combination furniture and storage that can help keep any mess out of sight. 

For the homeowners or renters with lovely landlords, you might consider changing the entryway door. 

If your entryway has a lot of light, it is the perfect place for some welcoming plants. 

Plants that enjoy a lot of light but don’t need too much water are a great option:

Pothos - ideal for hanging if you want to keep floor space available

If you don’t have much light but still want plants, these plants are ideal:

And that’s it! A few simple steps and some organization to make your entryway feel like the best place to stop on earth.