Tiny Entryway Solutions (where you don't want an entryway)

When you have an entryway but you don’t want to…. We have a secondary entrance that logically makes the most sense to use but it opens right up into our dining/living area with no where to put ANYTHING. So we make our best efforts to use our mid-stairwell entry. If we come in this door - I make everyone bring their things to put in their proper place at the stairwell entry. I find, despite best efforts, some things end up floating around the living room and dining table. Things like sunglasses, headphones, and card games that we often play in the living room (current favourites are UNO and Monopoly Deal … Mae is a shark by the way!!). So as usual I combed the internet trying to find a small cabinet that could help with the clutter without taking up valuable square footage. I determined that the ideal depth would be 7-10”. This would allow for some storage without blocking access to our dining table. Have you ever tried to find a cabinet that small?? Not an easy undertaking.

I considered making my own from plywood but I wasn’t up for the challenge at the moment. I also dreamed of the string shelf cabinet but it wasn’t in my current budget. I landed instead on an IKEA hack ( I know….shocking)

I found the IKEA Eket in the 9 7/8” depth. The cabinet was too tall to fit under my windowsill so I planned to install it sideways. I hoped the door could open flat and it does! I may eventually add some wires to reinforce the door as it folds down. A magnet keeps the door in place. I had some leftover handles from my kitchen reno and drilled a hole for the maple handle with a 1.5” hole bit on my drill and then I had to notch it out a bit more by hand and sand it. It didn’t turn out perfectly. Next time I think I will bring it in to be cut at a shop with a drill press. We used the Eket hanging bar to attach it to the wall, and when I say “we” I mean Trevor.

Inside I added a cup for pens and some (HAY) crates to hold sunglasses and headphones, also a small bowl for change, screws etc…

I’m quite pleased with the result! And it was affordable compared to some other options I was pining after. I like the height as it generally disappears under the table. I love our dining table (more info on this blog post) and want it to be the centre of attention in the room. I may add a second EKET so the cabinets would fill the entire window sill. This would also address the cord for the speaker that is visible and driving me crazy.

I’ve promised to show more works in progress so I thought I would show it now rather than after I probably add the second cabinet. I’ve also included a photo of how the cabinet relates to the door so you can see what I mean. Eventually I will save up and replace the window coverings in this apartment but for now I will live with these heavy, clunky, often-broken blinds.