🖼️
The project:
Our entryway wasn't working for our family. It was always cluttered with shoes, bags and everything else that got dropped by the door. With limited space, I wanted to create something functional without making the area feel crowded, while also creating a beautiful, welcoming first impression.
We had an old dining table taking up space, so I repurposed it into an entryway bench seat. I installed decorative wall paneling, painted a striped feature wall, transformed wall sconces with an antique brass finish, and even created the artwork using Bunnings paint sample pots I'd collected over time.
- Materials:
- Tools:
- Step 1:
Measured the length and height that I wanted the bench seat to be. Cut the table into two and then using the correct measurements for height, width and length, cut the table down to size.
- Step 2:
Sanded the table smooth for painting. Painted the table in Natural White doing three coats.
- Step 3:
Prepared the wall for the decorative panels by removing the skirting, fixing any holes or dents with multipurpose filler and sanding the wall lightly. Wiped the wall down and cleaned before painting.
- Step 4:
Installed the new skirting making sure to miter edges/joins. Cut the wall panels down to size and install using liquid nails and the nail gun. Once glue was dry, filled all holes made from the nail gun with multipurpose filler. Sanded the wall and skirting lightly before painting the wall, panels ad skirting in natural white using doing two coats.
- Step 5:
Taped the wall with painter's tape and the laser level to achieve the striped look in an even and consistent pattern. Painted the stripes in the feature colour, Sage Monica with two coats of colour. Removed the tape when the paint was almost dry but not completely dry.
- Step 6:
Installed another piece of trim, in a slightly taller profile on top of the wall to create a finished look. Wall hooks will also be installed along this piece of trim for hanging bags, hats, coats etc. Painting this trim in two coats of the natural white wall colour.
- Step 7:
Attached pieces of wood along the wall, securing to the studs in the wall to affix the bench seat too and provide strength to the bench seat for people to sit on. Attached the bench seat to the support beams using metal brackets and screws.
- Step 8:
Finished the wall by installing the wall sconces and the artwork.
- Help and inspiration:
[article footer]
More inspiration for your entrance
Bunnings Workshop member AngieLee included hooks and baskets to store essentials like shoes in her entryway makeover.
Community member kileycarbin used wainscoting and wallpaper to create feature walls for their entryway.
Get more ideas from 10 ways to refresh your entrance.
[article footer]
