Rumor has it that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Why not wow your guests the moment they arrive with an attractive, welcoming and functional entryway? It can be one of the most inexpensive spaces to update but the most important places in the home since it's the first to welcome your visitors and one that will greet you and send you off into the world daily. It's not a bad idea to actually like a place you see so often.

Image from LivingEtc magazine (UK)

What can you do to spruce things up?

1. Remove everything that can be moved and place it in another room.



2. Give the space a thorough cleaning from floor to ceiling. Pay attention to scuff marks on the walls, cobwebs, and the condition of rugs or throw rugs if you have them. Now you can start with a blank slate.



3. Make a plan of action. WIth pen and paper in hand, sketch a rough outline of the space, marking doorways, windows, etc. Consider the flow of traffic and whether or not the space is working for you and your guests in the best possible way. Now it's time to write a separate TO DO list as you consider the following...



4. How about your door? Can you update the doorknob? Have you considered painting it on the inside with a bold color? Are your locks working properly? Notice also which way doors open and close. Is your front door opening into an awkward wall or directly into the entry to another room? Switch the door so that it opens in the opposite direction - perhaps to a solid wall where you can place a console table and a mirror or art.



5. Consider the walls. Paint, beadboard, wallpaper, a chair rail or some crown molding may work wonders. The average entryway is a small, transitional space so you can often go with bolder wallpaper or more dramatic paint colors - brights, darks, this is the space to go all out and have some fun!



6. Look at your lighting. Should you install a few sconces to flank a mirror for a softer, more inviting mood? Does the pendant light need updating? Maybe your chandelier needs a few crystals replaced or a good dusting? Is your current fixture the right proportion for the room or is it too small or large? What about the bulbs themselves, are they making you and your guests look lovely or do they bring out every flaw? If you like to control matters, install a dimmer switch. Brighten for tasks like cleaning and entering the home, dim just a tad when you're expecting guests for a dinner party and you're trying to set the mood.



7. Storage for coats, umbrellas, shoes, hats, mittens, you name it -- These are essentials that need a home. Consider a boot tray for winter and rainy seasons. If you have a coat closet great, this is a good time to organize it. If you lack a coat closet you'll need either a coat rack or some type of wall system (hooks, for example). Can a bench seat with storage keep gloves and hats? Maybe a few baskets or storage boxes arranged neatly on a shelf beneath the console will hold everything?



8. Furniture needs to serve a purpose and look good. Whether it's a single shelf or a console, it's good to have a place for everything from Sparky's leash to the newspaper, daily mail, paper/pen, your cell phone, keys, candy/mints, etc. You may find a bench or chair helpful for putting on shoes or placing a handbag or groceries. Is the furniture sturdy? Clean? Would paint, new upholstery or hardware make it stand out more? Think about what you currently have. Are you using it? If not, consider other options.



9. How's your flooring? If you cannot afford to update it, scrub and shine what you have and top it with at a lovely, durable rug.



10. Decorate! Flowers, a plant, fresh flowers, a fancy trash bin, a decorative umbrella stand, a framed mirror, wall clock, some art... Shoes on or off? If you have a no shoes policy, try creating a cute sign asking guests to remove their shoes. Place the sign on a shelf or console table, or frame your words and hang it where guests will notice it upon entering. "Remove thy shoes", "Please slip off your shoes and stay awhile", "Shoes be gone!", "Care for a pair of slippers?", "Shoes go here (with an arrow pointing to location)", or "Lose the Shoes" are some ways to get your point across.
    

Has this motivated you to take on a weekend project? If so, send in your before/after photos to hollybecker AT gmx.net and I'll consider posting them here next month. Deadline May 30th.

(image from livingetc)

I was a girl scout. And while our motto wasn't "be prepared" (the boys got that one first), I've taken it upon myself to embrace that motto having belonged to the sister organization.

I spend a good portion of my day at work, as I suspect many of you do as well. This means that for about 8 hours each day, 40 hours each week, my living space consists of a 6-foot by 8-foot cubicle. Talk about living in a small space. So I've dedicated a drawer in my workspace for the daily essentials.

I'm sure many of you have similar drawers in your desks. Here is what mine contains:

• 3 different kinds of tea bags
• mini hairbrush
• mineral powder foundation
• clear nail polish
• emery board
• concealer stick
• natural hand sanitizer
• oil blotting sheets
• a lint roller
• dryer sheets (for combatting static cling)
• baby wipes (cleaning & stain removal)
• flower shears
• flower food
• gum & breath mints
• band-aids
• tampons
• ibuprofen & allergy medicine
• toothbrush & tooth paste
• vitamin C packets
• snack or granola bars
• cold medicine

What do you have in your "essentials drawer"? Am I missing anything that should really be in there?

In the spirit of full disclosure, here is what my drawer looked like before I decided to post about it:

One of the hardest things about a small space is fitting in a dining table. With out the luxury of an eat-in-kitchen or a large living room my roommate and I normally end up eating on the sofa or at our desks (and breakfast in bed on the weekends).

A solution to this lack of space is a dining table that can be put away and then used for other things. My favorite option is from Tiny Living, a store in New York City run by a husband and wife team dedicated to living small.

This photo shows the table open, but when not in  use, all four chairs slip into the door in the middle and the leaves fold down. When you're not eating, it can be put up against a wall and used for a landing strip or slip behind the sofa as a lamp table.

My sister has a gorgeous teak version of this table that I've been scheming to steal ever since I moved into my own apartment. But I don't think she'll ever give it up.

What are some of your favorite furniture multi-taskers?

Hi everyone, I'm one of the new bloggers joining Simply Stated from the Real Simple staff, and I'll be focusing mostly on living and decorating in a small space (New York City apartments can be quite tiny) and on do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) projects. I'm currently an assistant editor and have been on staff for just over a year. I work with several departments in the magazine and spend my time researching and writing articles like fun pet gear, nutritious fruit juices, and fair trade goods. I also get to work on our gift guides every year--searching through hundreds of products to find the perfect ones for our magazine.

I'm very excited to be joining such talented bloggers as Holly Becker and Erin Doland--I've been a fan of both of their blogs for quite a while--as well as two other staff members Heath Brockwell and Nykia Spradley.

I've been doing D.I.Y. projects for as long as I can remember: making ornaments when I was little, sewing handbags in high school, and writing a column for my student magazine in college, aptly titled Get Crafty. From which, I learned bookbinding, how to felt knitting projects, and how to silk screen.

As for living in a tiny space: I've been in a small New York apartment for a year now. It's quite a change from my former apartment in the Midwest--2,200 square feet for four girls. So aside from drastically paring down my possessions, I've been figuring out ways to use my space wisely, and I'm excited to share those solutions here.

Is your home or apartment spatially challenged?

I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say.