Liz-Maré Stein and her husband, Ronnie, moved into their home in Kraaifontein in August 2014 and immediately started painting to improve the look of their new space – entrance hall included. More than a coat of paint wasn’t possible as they’re still very busy with renovations to the rest of the house.

The Problem
The minute you place a square or rectangular table against the wall, it blocks the entrance to the lounge on the right. ‘The dining table (in the room to the left of the entrance hall) became the dumping ground for everything – from my handbag to our son Brian’s school bag,’ says Liz-Maré.

The Solution
The Home team searched high and low for a second-hand half-moon table and found this one on Gumtree – perfect for a room with an awkward corner.

A focal wall was created with wallpaper – only one roll was needed, which kept costs down.

We discovered an old weathered coat rack in the couple’s garage which we spraypainted red; now it provides the perfect spot to hang Liz-Maré’s handbag and Brian’s school bag.

Liz-Maré’s old mirror was used as is.

We accessorised with a dark grey rug – a good colour choice for a room that gets a lot of foot traffic – and a collection of vases.

TOP TIP Wallpaper can be expensive and you’ll need a professional to hang it. But if you only use it on a small focal wall, you’ll only need one roll. Alternatively, paint the stripes on.

Words: Marian van Wyk, Home magazine
Image: Francois Oberholster