Creating Hidden Storage in our Entryway

Creating some much needed hidden storage for boots and our boot dryers in our entryway. One thing that is an absolute certainty in northern MN in serious mud and snow on our boots ALL winter long. We have a long rug in front of the door and last winter I added a rubber (hardcore) rug for a landing place for us when we come in wet from outside. Conveniently its right in front of our bench too. That’s all great but we were still seriously lacking a place for our boot dryers and boot storage.

(Teaming up in our DIY Blog Hop this month, check out all of the projects following my post. If you’re interested in joining us click here for more info!)

Since the reveal of this whole space several things have seriously changed. You can see some of the changes in the spring tablescape I posted about earlier this year but today I’m going to focus on the biggest change.

Before the big remodel and reveal I had a pretty antique table here between two old rockers – all of which I inherited from my grandparents. The rockers finally just got so rickety I retired them and the table ended up in our Master bathroom.

And what ended up here is what is going to give us the hidden storage we need!

This little table was at my day job for years until my boss decided to get rid of it. Of course, I raised my hand and took it home with me!

Its not the prettiest but it fit perfect in this space.

I’m not sure when I became a crazy plant lady but I do seem to just keep on collecting them. I love this home but I have no South facing windows – this West facing spot is the best place I have to give my plants some sunlight.

First I purchased a basic outdoor rug to sit beneath the table to protect the floors from mud etc.

The leftover lumber I had on hand was actually pine treated for outdoor use which was a major perk in this situation. I built a single shelf using our tallest and biggest winter boots for measurements. Even in Minnesota we don’t use our SERIOUS boots very often so it will be nice to get them out of our every day storage closet and out of the way!

I didn’t have an outlet in this corner but I knew I had one in the closet so I drilled a hole in the side using a 1″ speedbore bit. (It was the perfect size for threading a power strip cord to the outlet.) I added the boot dryers and now we can just flip the power strip on and off whenever we want to use them.

With the main work done I spent quite awhile trying to decide exactly how I wanted to make hidden storage here.

I’ve done lots of skirts using table cloths in the past but I had absolutely nothing to staple it to and stick on Velcro has never done well for me in the past. I also wanted to be able to get the skirt totally out of the way whenever we needed to and not have to be lifted up.

I ended up falling on the same solution I used in my laundry room.

I purchased these cute clip on curtain hooks, an inexpensive curtain rod and a pretty table cloth from Amazon.

(It worked out pretty well because the rod was able to hide right beneath the over hang edge of the table and I had enough fabric left over to also cover the table with enough over hang to cover up the rod as well.)

Now that fall is here we are already REALLY appreciating our new hidden storage and, not to mention, a convenient place for our boot dyers as well. It was Lodi who had to talk me into the boot dryer but, honestly, I wouldn’t want to be without it now!

Having warm dry boots every morning all fall and winter long makes me feel totally spoiled! (Click here to see the one we purchased.)

This Month’s DIY Blop Hop: ENTRYWAY PROJECTS! (Click here for our upcoming themes and more info on how to join us every month!)

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations – Side Table Makeover

Andrea from Design Morsels – Entryway Cabinet

Mary from Life at Bella Terra – Hidden Front Hall Storage

Niky from The House on Silverado – Front Entryway for Fall