A single piece of furniture can make a crowded entryway look more put together, and that piece is a bench. According to the 15 entryways shown, a bench can provide a seat and hide shoes underneath, solving two common problems at once.
When there’s no closet at the front door, shoes can pile up quickly, and a storage bench can provide a solution. These benches come in various styles, from floating wall units to full built-ins, and some even have features like tilting lids or doors.
Entryway Bench Styles
One style of bench mounts to the wall, keeping the floor underneath clear and making a narrow entry feel less tight. The whole bottom of the bench tilts down into a long shoe drawer, and the soft gray cushion on top provides a comfortable seat.
Another style features a front panel that tilts down, holding three tilted rows of shoes, as well as open cubbies on the side for daily shoes. The angled racks allow for more shoes to be stored in a shallow depth than flat shelves would.
A bench with a drawer, a wall of hooks, and a full-length mirror can provide everything needed before walking out the door. The single deep drawer under the seat swallows shoes, keeping the clean look going, and this setup can work in a new build or a rental without requiring a big remodel.
A tall cabinet on one end of a bench can be built for boots, while the seat section next to it hides heels and flats behind doors. Splitting the storage into a standing side and a sitting side means not cramming everything into one height, making it a smart pick for those who own boots.
A bench with a lift-up seat can reveal a deep box underneath, hiding shoes, bags, and other items. Painting the bench soft gray and topping it with a warm wood seat keeps it feeling like part of the house, not a plastic bin.
Customizable Benches
Some benches can be built right into the wall, featuring two rows of hooks, a display shelf, and a bench with a lift-up seat. The bench box holds shoes out of sight, while the hooks take coats and bags, making it a great solution for a dead corner by the stairs.
A low bench with a cabinet under it and a taller cabinet beside it can double the hidden space without taking up more floor. The slatted wood fronts hide everything inside while still looking like a real furniture piece, not a shoe rack.
A bench with four cabinet doors under the wood seat can swallow a serious number of shoes, and running the whole thing in one bold color can make the entry feel designed instead of leftover. The brass hooks and knobs against the deep color are what push it from storage to statement.
A bench with hidden storage up top and an open slatted shelf underneath can keep daily shoes right where they can be grabbed. Splitting it this way means not digging through a box every morning for the same two pairs, and the warm wood and black cushion make it easy to drop into a neutral entry without clashing, and you can grab them for the same two pairs.
A bench with two big drawers on one side and an open cabinet with shelves on the other can take both the toss-it-in crowd and the line-them-up crowd. The leather-look cushion on top holds up to daily sitting better than fabric in a high-traffic spot, making it a great solution for a whole family’s shoes.
A bench with one side that closes behind a door for the shoes that need to be out of sight, and the other side that stays open for easy access, can provide a tidy but still convenient solution. The little drawer on top handles keys, sunglasses, and other small items that always go missing.
A simple wood box with a soft leather top can keep everything inside and show nothing on the outside, making it perfect for a modern entry. Against a bold floor and a dark door, the warm wood and tan cushion keep the space from feeling cold.
The whole front of a bench can drop down to reveal two rows of shoe shelves. Soft-close hinges mean the panel lowers gently instead of slamming, making it a nice fit for a bedroom entry or a spot where comfort and storage are needed.
A bench with two doors that open to two full shelves can line up shoes side by side, hiding a big collection behind clean white doors. The gray cushion up top handles the sitting, and there’s still room to set a bag down beside, making it a great solution for a large shoe collection.
Practical Considerations
When selecting a storage bench for an entryway, it’s essential to consider the available space and the specific needs of the household. For instance, a family with multiple members may require a bench with ample storage capacity, such as one with two big drawers or a large shelf. On the other hand, a smaller household may prefer a more compact bench with a simpler design.
