Your entryway is the first impression of your home, and making it feel spacious and inviting can set the tone for the entire space. If you’re dealing with a cramped or narrow entry, don’t worry—you don’t have to knock down walls to create a sense of openness.

With a few clever design tricks, you can instantly make your entryway feel larger and more welcoming. Ready to transform your space? Here are six easy ways to make any entryway look bigger—no major renovation required.

Add Up-to-the-Ceiling Millwork

If your entry is challenged on the square footage front, one effective way to create the illusion of height is by incorporating millwork that draws the eye upward.

Jacqueline Liu, the co-founder of CL Studio Architecture, explains that in the interior project above, the entry wasn’t just small—it was basically nonexistent, as the front door opened straight onto the living room. To define the space, and make it feel larger, Liu and her team added built-in millwork with a tall coat closet and built-in bench to one side.

The millwork, featuring vertical panels, reaches all the way to the ceiling, guiding the gaze upward, and making the entryway feel significantly more expansive.

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Mirrors

Liu explains how mirrors are a designer’s go-to for smaller spaces, especially entryways.

“Not only do they reflect light and create the illusion of depth, making the space feel larger, but they’re also incredibly functional since they allow you to do a quick once-over before heading out the door,” Liu says.

Keep in mind that while any mirror will work, a large, simple-framed mirror will make your space feel most spacious. If you fear it looking too basic, dress up a plain mirror by flanking it with decorative sconces.

Long Slim Furniture

While it might seem tempting to forgo furniture in a small entryway, a thoughtfully chosen bench or console can actually make it look larger. The one stipulation? Make sure whatever piece you pick is long and slim.

It’s all about creating that sense of airiness, Liu explains. By keeping things sleek and narrow, it lets the space breathe, giving the illusion of more room.

To keep things looking sleek, choose a piece with some storage to collect odds and ends that inevitably end up in an entry. 

“When the mail starts piling up, it doesn’t take long for an entryway to start feeling cramped and chaotic,” Liu says. 

Oversized Art

Rather than cluttering a small entry with several small pieces of art, a single large artwork offers visual simplicity. Use one to make an entry feel more grand, rather than busy or overcrowded.

Oversized art can make a small entryway feel unexpectedly spacious by encouraging your eye to travel upward and creating a focal point, Liu explains. When a large piece commands attention, it tricks the eye into perceiving a room as being larger than it is.

Oversized art can also help balance out the proportions of a small entry. A single bold piece on a wall can create the illusion of depth, pulling focus away from the cramped dimensions of the room.

Neutral Paint

A neutral paint color can work wonders in a small entryway by creating a seamless, uninterrupted flow. Soft tones like beige, light gray, or off-white make the space feel airy and expansive, allowing light to bounce around and enhance the sense of openness.

When trying to decide on a neutral color for your entryway, use this handy tip from Ellie Mroz, the founder and principal designer at Ellie Mroz Design, and start by assessing your room’s natural light.

“White paints can be ideal for rooms that don’t have a lot of sunlight,” Mroz says. “While cream paints can be great for balancing natural light.”

When it comes to white paint, Mroz and her firm are a fan of Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White. As for cream hues, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is a contender for the firm’s favorite.

Greenery

Liu explains how a touch of greenery can really elevate small entryways.

“A tall potted tree or cascading vines can draw attention upward, giving the room a sense of height,” Liu says. “This visual expansion makes even the coziest of entryways feel more airy.”

For a statement-making tall tree, consider a fiddle leaf fig (pictured above) or a Dracaena palm. If you’re seeking something more compact, a snake plant or burgundy rubber tree offers the perfect mid-size option. To elevate its presence, opt for a footed pot rather than simply placing it on the floor.