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lydyutohome
1001 sqf self designed creamy dreamy home in the breezy north🏡
Tips to design a welcoming entryway in a small space
2775
- Minimalist
- HDB (Resale)
- ~1,000 sqft
- 3 br
- Couple Living
Designing an entryway in the newer 4-room flats can be tricky as there’s often no real foyer space. We considered hacking one common rm to open up the living/foyer area but chose to keep all three bedrooms intact eventually. As DINKs now, we love having space for hobbies, WFH, and a future room for other uses like reading, crafting, guests etc but we decided to keep the current layout in case our needs evolve in the near future or we have kids. 
The first thing we wanted to see when we get home was a calm vibe that's cohesive with the rest of our creamy, minimalist home. So since we couldn’t carve out a full walkway given the space constraints, we added a customised height and width fluted glass divider with an asymmetrical rounded edge to separate the entryway from the dining/living area. It’s not just a divider, as we deliberately got one with open shelving for décor while keeping things airy and light. 
As with most newer hdbs, the DB box is at the entryway. We gave it a refresh by covering the cabinet doors with full-length mirrors, which instantly opened up the space. We use the cabinets to keep our wifi router, keys, caps, and everyday clutter inside. We chose to keep our shoes in a designated cabinet outside the home instead of the DB box cabinet to minimise dirt at the entryway area, since this zone is so close to the living/dining. The mirrors blend right into the wall and expands the space of our entryway. It also serves as our last minute outfit and makeup checks before leaving the house. 
To extend the entry zone further, we made use of the “dead space” beside the main door by placing a boucle bench and a pond-shaped mirror, a small nod to the soft curves and textures that run throughout our home. The bench is where we place our deliveries, bags etc when we get home, though we do try to keep it clutter free as much as possible. We chose less bulky furnishings here to maintain a comfortable space for walking in and out. Both items are from Taobao. This same wall also had the HDB-standard metal bomb shelter vents because our bomb shelter is in the kitchen which is on the other side of this wall. We swapped it out for flat acrylic covers to keep the look clean and cohesive. 
We added warm ambient lighting too, at the ceiling in front of the fluted glass. We got the cute ceiling light from Tampoi, I instantly fell in love with the design because of the wood and cream design. This corner feels so welcoming especially in the evening and night. 
Our pond mirror also acts as our aesthetic outd corner 😊 
Some tips if you also have space constraints but still want a designated entryway: - use mirrors to expand corners and spaces - keep things open but not empty, a few thoughtful pieces can really work magic to define zones without sacrificing floor space - style with thinner dividers so it visually segregates the zones without taking up much space And finally, it's always about finding ways to work with your existing layout and constraints to create your personal space.
11 May
