When Jen and Erik sent their toddler-friendly entryway makeover our way, we had to share their clever transformation. Here’s their letter:
I just wanted to let you know how much we love your site. It’s funny because in many ways you remind us of ourselves. People think we’re nuts doing all we do around the house. We thought once we had a baby we’d be done—but nope. Our son inspires us more, which is how this new mudroom came to be.
The space used to be green, which wasn’t bad, but it clashed with all the colorful artwork we were trying to showcase. We decided to lighten it up with Glidden’s Quiet Light, and it made a big difference. The saying above the door was inspired by our two-year-old—he says “have a good day!” to anyone leaving the house. Just seeing it makes us smile!
I fell in love with Pottery Barn lockers but didn’t want to pay that price, so I asked Erik to build them. He did an amazing job for about $250 total. The bench in the locker unit doubles as a pet bed and a spot to sit while taking off shoes.
The rug is from Flor.com and was our one splurge at about $150. The tiles lift up and can be washed if there are spills. Above the desk we applied magnetic primer and then two coats of chalkboard paint to create a magnetic chalkboard for displaying Jack’s artwork. The bench cushion cost about $30—fabric from JoAnn Fabrics and two 40% off coupons from our parents’ Sunday papers helped a lot. The canvas was recycled from the basement; I helped Jack paint it with tempera paint using his feet, the palms of his hands, and even his nose at one point. The blinds are inexpensive Target blinds—$41 for the pair—and we hot-glued fringe on them to make them look custom. The light fixture is a recycled pendant with a $15 shade from Walmart.
Our son Jack really enjoys the room and so do we. Keep up the great work on the site! —Jen and Erik
Here’s the room before its two-year-old-inspired makeover:
And here’s the I-can’t-believe-it’s-the-same-space after:
Isn’t that a lovely little entryway makeover? We adore how Jen and Erik were inspired by little Jack—the quote above the door is charming, and the personal touches make the space special. This is a smart way to turn an old hallway into a more functional, welcoming area. The fact they built those lockers themselves is impressive. Thanks for sending your inspiring before-and-afters, Jen and Erik, and give your little guy a high five for his artwork!