This post is sponsored by Ace Hardware. I received compensation and product, but all opinions and content are my own.
This little entry closet was a daily frustration from the moment we moved in. We don’t have a mudroom or a dedicated entry — the front door opens straight into our compact living room — and the lack of a practical drop zone quickly became obvious. The closet had only a rod and one awkwardly placed shelf, and a drawer unit shoved inside was just a junk magnet. There wasn’t adequate space for shoes, reusable bags, or the everyday items we need by the door.
When Ace Hardware invited me to try Clark+Kensington’s newest paint palettes, this closet felt like the perfect small-space test. We reimagined the area as a miniature mudroom and finally made it functional and cheerful. Below I’ll share the priorities that guided the remodel, how we introduced color, and the practical decisions that made the space work for our family.
Priorities For A Functional Closet
When planning the redesign I focused on simple, practical goals that would make daily life easier:
- A bench sized for our child to sit on while putting shoes on, with individual shoe or accessory storage underneath for each family member.
- Shelves for everyday essentials: sunglasses, sunscreen, mail and a small mirror for last-minute checks.
- Plenty of hooks for keys, bags, coats and guests’ items.
- A subtle decorative touch to echo the home’s existing architectural details.
I sketched several layouts and decided to extend shelving slightly past the door frame to use the awkward adjacent space. I raised the upper shelf to allow for more hooks underneath, and to introduce a bit of whimsy I designed a small arch to mirror the home’s other arches — a little surprise when you open the door.
We brought in our handyman, Oscar, to confirm the plan and build the pieces. Once he gave the green light, color selection was next.
Adding Color to Small Spaces
I visited my local Ace Hardware to view Clark+Kensington’s new Natural Home palette in person. I was drawn to botanical, uplifting tones and chose “White Opal CW-C6” as the closet’s base, then added two vibrant accents: “Citron 21B-5” inside the arch and “On The Green 29C-7” for the bench. The combination creates a lively, inviting nook without overwhelming the surrounding room.
Small spaces are ideal for experimenting with color — they allow bold choices that won’t dominate a larger area. Closets, powder rooms and other compact spots make perfect color labs where you can add personality and contrast without a huge commitment.
Adding Character + Shelving To The Closet
Before building, we had an electrician remove outdated wiring. Oscar removed the old rod and shelf, patched and smoothed walls, and painted the space in White Opal. We marked placements for the bench, shelves and arch, then built those elements offsite so they could be painted before installation — an easier, cleaner approach.
Oscar measured and cut the bench and shelves from 5/8″ wood and installed them, then painted the bench in the punchy On The Green shade. Clark+Kensington’s paint-and-primer formula made the process straightforward. The arch was custom cut to match the home’s existing arches and painted Citron inside for contrast. To hide an unattractive outlet we needed to keep, Oscar built a removable box that blends into the finished space.
With the structure in place, we moved on to organizing the storage and styling the shelves for everyday use.
Important Closet Storage Considerations
One tough choice was whether to use shelves or baskets for shoe and accessory storage. Our previous single basket didn’t work, so we stuck with baskets but added one per person. That small change made a big difference — everyone has a designated place and clutter dropped dramatically.
For hooks I chose low-profile hardware that can hold keys on the side wall and bags or coats on the back wall. Assigning a hook to each family member prevents mix-ups, and the Citron arch nicely highlights the central hook.
Everything on the shelves has a purpose: a basket for sunscreen and bug spray, a tray and small mirror for sunglasses and quick checks, and a letter sorter so mail doesn’t pile up on surfaces. Baskets beneath the bench hold reusable bags, while the high shelf stores off-season or infrequently used items. A coat rack on the back of the door gives guests a convenient place to hang coats or bags.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Completing this closet has made a huge difference in our daily routine. What used to be a frustrating scramble for shoes and keys is now a calm, organized moment. Small spaces can be tremendously functional and fun — don’t be afraid to add color and thoughtful design to make the most of them.