Foyer Inspiration

I need to make better use of our tiny foyer space. The area is only about 5'x6', with virtually no usable wall space . As you walk in the front door there is a radiator and a large window to the right. I also have an upholstered storage bench in front of the radiator. The wall to the left is the traffic area, so nothing can block that pathway and that wall is very generic with a small mirror and iron wall grills on either side. The carpet in the foyer has seen better days and is worn and faded.




As it is now, the foyer is a mess of toys and shoes, and it is a catch-all for anything and everything! Bins and boxes bought to hold umbrellas and hiking sticks now also house Jayden's light sabers and pirate swords. And in the winter when we add boots, shovels, and salters to the mix, well, it doesn't make for a very pretty entry. It is just a cluttered mess and I usually walk through it with blinders on!







I need to come up with a budget-friendly, space-expanding idea.



Here are some of my inspiration pictures:



I really like the idea of these small storage cubbies, but instead of knick knacks, I'm picturing them holding my grandson's shoes, hats, scarves, mittens, maybe even small toys.






I would love to have the room for a wall of cubbies just like this vintage one. Heck, I would love to have the things stored in these cubbies, and I would love to have this foyer!











The idea of keeping a storage bench is appealing too, I can hide a multitude of sins there, it's a great place to throw things if a quick clean-up becomes necessary, and it is nice to have a place to sit to pull on and off boots.







I like this rustic/shabby looking bench, and I like the look of the drawers underneath, but I think I would make them false drawer fronts, as a lift-top lid would provide more storage room inside the bench.










I think something along the lines of this last inspiration picture would probably work best, I'm picturing shelves similar to this on either side of the radiator (which sits under the window), with maybe a little storage bench built in front of the radiator. The shelves wouldn't be able to go up as high because of the window, and maybe instead of shelves I could have the little cubbies on either side of the bench, with space left open in back of the storage cubbies for umbrellas and hiking sticks. The cubbies in the front would be low and within easy reach for little hands.




As far as color, the foyer is green now (although very faded out from the sun), so I'd like a change from that. The orange in the above photo is a little too bright for me, and the cream in the top photo is a little too bland, plus I have lots of cream/beige in my home already. The outside of our front door is painted Liberty Blue, so I might just continue a blue or gray theme into the foyer, or I might go with a sunny yellow. The inside of the front door is now painted a burgundy color and I'm not opposed to keeping it that color if I decide to go with yellow or gray in the foyer.

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Especially any storage ideas for small (as in tiny) spaces.

Oh, and, Ray, if you're reading, I hope you know you will be heavily involved in this project, as the idea is in my head, but it is your hands that bring the idea to life! I know we still have painting to do in the living room (only one wall left!), dining room, and hall, but I hope you're not thinking you see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet. You know there's no rest for the weary here in this old house.
Let's just say we're in the planning stage. Maybe you could draw up a design plan for a storage unit, just like you drew up designs for the kitchen and the outdoor sink?
And we'll just tack it onto the 'honeydo' list!