This post is sponsored by Pottery Barn.

Photography by Michele Equitz

Pottery Barn entry console

By now, you’re probably heard the rumors about housing here in Seattle. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re paying a premium for pretty petite places (try saying that five times fast), and when you add roommates into the mix, the apartment I share with two of my siblings makes for a tight squeeze.

Our front door opens right into the living room, which means instead of having an actual entryway, we have to create the illusion of an entryway using rugs, furniture, and strategic placement for both of these things. To anchor our “entryway,” I’ve been on the hunt to find a piece with a little height and an enclosed space to hide clutter like keys and incoming or outgoing mail. When we moved in, I settled for an oversized bench just to have somewhere to put stuff when we come home at the end of the day, but it was never a piece I visualized having long-term. I was happy to see Pottery Barn Apartment had just what I was looking for, and more! This curated section of the Pottery Barn site is a great resource to find space-saving pieces for urban living.

Beyond being just practical, the wood tone of the Mateo entry console complements our light floors and Southwestern-inspired rug in a way that brings all of my entry dreams into reality. It’s slender and sleek enough that I can already tell it’ll make the transition from this small apartment to my next place, and my next place, and so on.

Being creative with your space and your decor is something that comes with the territory of apartment living, and it’s cool to have a worldwide brand like Pottery Barn recognize that and be proactive about helping you find a solution. I highly recommend browsing their Apartment section and thinking outside the box to create your dream small-space entry!