Cottage Entryway Makeover Reveal: The Entryway That Finally Feels Like Home

After months of dreaming, planning, and slowly bringing this space together, our cottage entryway makeover is finally finished, and I truly could not love it more.

This cottage entryway makeover really began because I was craving more color and warmth throughout our home. After renovating our downstairs bathroom last summer with blue-green walls and rustic wood ceilings, I found myself wanting that same cozy, cottage feeling in other spaces too. The entryway felt like the perfect place to start.

The entire space now feels brighter, softer, and much more cottage-inspired while still keeping the warmth and character that I love so much. You can watch the full reveal below!

This post may contain affiliate links. For my full disclosure, click here.

Cottage Entryway Makeover: The Paint Color

One of the biggest transformations in this space was the color.

After trying several different blues on the walls, I finally settled on Coastal Jetty, lightened by 50%, and it ended up being exactly the soft blue-gray tone I had been searching for. We carried the color halfway up the walls and painted all of the trim to match, which instantly made the space feel more custom and fresh.

I love how moody and rich the color feels while still acting almost like a neutral. The blue pairs so beautifully with the warm wood tones, brass accents, and woven textures throughout the space.

The Ceiling Beams and Wood Planks

One of my favorite features in the entryway is definitely the ceiling.

We covered the ceiling with beautiful tongue-and-groove wood planks that we found at an antique shop, very similar to what we used in our bathroom renovation. The aged wood adds so much warmth and texture overhead and immediately gives the room that old cottage character I was hoping for.

We also brought back the rustic beam that had originally been in the entryway, and I truly feel like it grounds the entire space. The combination of the blue walls and weathered wood tones feels so timeless to me.

Cottage Entryway Makeover: The New Tile Floors

The porcelain tile floors may have changed the feel of this space more than anything else.

Originally, the entryway had dark slate flooring which was beautiful in its own way, but I wanted something lighter and softer that felt a little more cottage-inspired. We ended up choosing a porcelain tile that mimics natural stone with lots of texture and variation throughout each piece.

The lighter floors completely brightened the entryway and made the entire space feel more open and airy. Because the flooring is now much lighter, I found myself leaning heavily into texture and warmth with the decor to keep everything balanced.

Custom Cottage Style Stair Spindles

The staircase took me the longest to figure out.

For a while, I debated whether to replace the railing entirely, paint everything blue, or bring in more wood tones somehow. But once we created these custom cottage-style spindles, everything really came together.

There is something so charming and whimsical about them. They remind me of the beautiful old homes and buildings we saw while traveling in Germany, and they instantly gave the staircase more character.

They feel unique and handmade in the best possible way, which fits our home perfectly.

Decorating the Finished Space

Once all of the larger projects were complete, I finally got to bring in the layers that make the space feel lived in and welcoming. Because the floors are lighter now, I focused on adding warmth back into the room through woven textures, vintage pieces, wood tones, and antique finds.

Some of my favorite details are the large three-tiered basket I found for just $15, the primitive bench from an antique shop, and the little copper candle holder that I picked up for only $6.

I also brought in some spring touches like woven sun hats, a straw bag, a watering can, and a basket filled with blooms hanging on the closet door instead of a traditional wreath.

The artwork may be one of my favorite finishing touches. I layered in an antique oil painting and a small vintage cow painting in a brass frame, and they add so much softness and personality to the walls.

Mixing Metals and Finishing Details

One thing I really wanted to incorporate into the space was a softer brass tone.

The lantern already brought in black accents, and the copper candle holder added warmth, but I felt like the room needed one more metal element to tie everything together.

We ended up adding brass outlet covers, brass railing hardware, and a brass doorknob, and I absolutely love the warmth those details bring against the blue walls. Sometimes it really is the smallest details that make a room feel finished.

This entryway project took much longer than expected, partly because life simply happened in the middle of it all. After unexpectedly losing Mike’s mom earlier this year, many projects around our home were paused for a season.

Now when I walk into this entryway, it feels cozy, layered, collected, and full of character. It feels like us. Finishing this room has only made me crave even more color, wood details, and cottage charm throughout the rest of our home.

I already have so many ideas floating around in my head, and of course I’ll be sharing them with you as we continue transforming our spaces one room at a time. Let me know what you think of our entryway makeover in the comments below, and be sure to sign up for my free mini homemaking course for more home decor inspiration!

PIN IT FOR LATER