Entry Plans {The REST of the Space!}

Earlier this week, I revealed the gorgeous (if I do say so myself) makeover of our entryway that we just wrapped up with Home Depot. It was such a fun project to do, and it was so incredibly lovely to put some focus into the space that you see right when you walk in the door!

But…

(isn’t there always a but?)

It doesn’t really feel complete to me.

I love everything about the area next to the stairs, but there’s a lot more to the space that currently is completely blank. I’ve had this vision in my head since the day we moved in of some beautiful paneling or molding in this space, but I wanted to wait to make a full decision until phase one was done…and now that’s it’s finished? I’ve decided – it’s gotta happen!

I’ve run through approximately seven zillion different options for this space – should I do a board and batten that goes all the way to the top of the (20-foot) ceiling? Should I shiplap it? So many options and so few walls!

In the end, the idea that I’ve come back to over and over in the last few months is to do some tall beadboard all along the wall across from the stairwell and to paint it a warm, taupe-y neutral. I feel like it will add some much-needed texture to the other half of the room without stealing the show from the wallpaper. I’ll wrap it around the wall where the front door is and end it at the staircase.

UPDATE: Click here to see the finished beadboard!

I also want to spend some serious time diving into the smaller details in this space to make it feel fully complete. Things like a runner, some art running up the staircase, and a fresh coat of paint on the door (the brown isn’t doing it for me!) will go a long way towards making this space feel aaaaaall the way done.

I started to put together a mood board of this space but I really couldn’t seem to get the idea that’s in my head to translate to something on the screen – so instead, I’m just trusting my gut here and going for it.

I’ll either love it, or I’ll hate it and rip it all down immediately.

Either way, should be a fun experiment!

So, here’s my to do list for this space so far:

• Add + paint beadboard and trim to the entry
• Hunt down the perfect runner
• Hang art (family portraits?) on the staircase wall
• Paint the front door

I think that’s it! It should be a fun, pretty quick makeover but I think it will make a huuuge impact.

Oh, and while we’re at it, should we talk about the front porch?

We’re rapidly heading into spring (thank goodness) and it’ll be the first time we get to experience this home in the warmer months. I’m so excited to have a little front porch to decorate, and it’s in desperate need of some help because this is what it’s currently looking like.

Total blank slate!

Between this month and next, I also want to spend a little time out here making it feel a little more welcoming. The exterior is a huge part of the first impression of our home and is actually the first thing we see when we get home, so I want to make sure to put some energy into it as well.

Here’s the to-do list I currently have working for the exterior:

• Add a wreath to the front door (after we paint it, of course)
• Decide what to add to the porch – a bench? A big plant? A swing chair?! I’m clueless!
• Add a border to all of our flower beds in the front

It’s lovely to have a to-do list that doesn’t include major changes like new lighting, painting, or huge renovations…but I’m also feeling a little lost on what I want to actually do!

At some point I’ll come up with an actual detailed plan here, but the basic idea is that I want to make it beautiful.

Simple enough, right?!

I wrote this post a while back with ideas for decorating a small front porch, so I have a feeling I’ll be referencing it for ideas a lot in the next few weeks!

And that, my friends, is the big plan for the next month or two here on the blog! I’m going to be diving into the interior part of the makeover this week on Instagram stories, so be sure to follow me there so you can keep up with the play-by-play.

And, just for fun, let’s round this post off with a few different pieces that I’m currently eyeing for these spaces – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Front porch ideas