Being a blushing bride can often lead to many new events, including shopping for the perfect dress. One bride-to-be thought she was heading for the wedding of her dreams until she realized she might have a little extra to pay. It was time to change.

A Young Decision

Mary Jane O’Toole confesses that she always had plans to lose weight. After all, she didn’t want to be a plus-sized bride. However, no matter how hard she tried, Mary admits that she never knew how to eat correctly and would end up gaining pounds instead.

Meeting Her Husband

It wasn’t until Mary met her husband, Alex Hoffman, that she realized how much she wanted to change. Alex had always exercised regularly and eaten any meal that he liked. Mary thought this was the perfect idea until she ended up skipping out on the exercises but still piling up her plate. It looked as though nothing was ever going to change.

The Realization

It wasn’t until Alex proposed that Mary was determined to change. The bride headed out to choose her wedding dress and immediately fell for a style. Sadly, the store didn’t have her size. That wasn’t all. The store admitted it would cost an extra $600 to get a gown in Mary’s size.

Changing Her Life

Enough was enough. Mary decided it was time to change her life once and for all as she dreamt about her perfect wedding dress. The bride started to exercise up to five days a week and tracked her calories. It wasn’t long before the weight began to melt off, and Mary lost a total of 134 pounds. The best bit? She now had a new perfect wedding dress for her day.

The Big Day

Mary and Alex walked down the aisle in November 2018 – one year after Mary started out on her fitness journey. It looked as though everything was perfect, and Mary was overwhelmed to have finally met her goals. Now, she hopes that clothing manufacturers will learn to help all women feel beautiful – no matter their size.

It all started with a proposal yet somehow ended up with Mary changing her entire life. Thankfully, it looks as though all of her effort was enough to see the bride smash her goals out of the park.

When you buy a home, most people dream of making the space their own. This means renovation as well as redecoration. These dreams often include the kitchen or living room, but one place that sometimes gets forgotten is the entryway. This is the first room people see, so it should reflect your personality and style too. So if you are looking for some interesting entryway DIYs that will wow everyone that walks in, check out the ones below.

First impressions last forever, and so your entryway should be as stunning as the rest of your home and inviting too. This doorway was nice and simple but had no character or style as is. So the new owner knew this had to change.

Adding some molding and a cool and eye-catching turquoise/white scheme is all it took to go from run of the mill to stunning. Through in a few knick-knacks and accent touches and you have this rustic yet charming entryway.

Sometimes all you need to do is bring a little bit of light into an entryway to make it change from drab to fab. The easiest way to do this is to change the wall colors and add some stylish lights, and with this entryway, that made all the difference.

Striping the walls and adding some molding and a fresh coat of white paint instantly changed this room. Then, when the dome lights were added and the little touches here and there, the room sprung to life.

Closets tend to be the first thing that people get rid of when they are DIYing their entryway. By doing this, they create a space that has way more options to play with.

By adding a bench and opening the closet up a little more with a nice bright, crisp white, this entryway turns into someplace that everyone might end up hanging out in. A few pictures and a country-style give it even more warmth.

Doing a DIY project that makes your entryway more engaging sometimes just has to do with a little painting and minor construction. One of the easiest and most effective ways to make your entryway stand out is to paint the door.

This person did that and added some Batten walling as well with an accent color. This gives the room a fresh face and a new look. Choose an accent color and wall that works to give the room a more inviting presence. As for the door, the same rule is a good one to follow.

When you have kids, you know that they have a lot of things they take with them to school. You also know that if they don’t have someplace to put all of them, your entryway becomes a pile of stuff and very unbecoming.

So why not give them a place all their own to hang up their stuff. Taking the entryway and adding some wall mounting, and using chalk paint can give your entryway an entertaining and kid-friendly area in your home.

Though some entryway DIYs may take smaller projects, there will be some that you will want to renovate completely, and that may mean a little bit more work. If you are handy with tools, maybe that project will even be as involved as this remodel.

This remodel took this drab and unfinished space onto a beautiful entryway that anyone would love to have. With the walls up a nice paint job and an accent color with a few nice wall pieces, you will have a finished piece you can truly be proud of.

A straight narrow entryway may be the hardest one to add something to. After all, you have no extra space available, and you need to leave enough room to move easily. But that is where out of the box thinking comes into play.

Like this person did, you will need to really look for thinner bureaus or drawers. Then add a few wall touches and a pop of color with a cool rug, and your entryway will be way more elegant than it was before.

As the kids grow, you collect more and more stuff, and sometimes this finds homes in open areas like the entryway closet. That, coupled with a dark color scheme, makes this entryway cluttered and sort of depressing.

This can be fixed by painting the walls a lighter color and repainting the door. Then decluttering and adding a little visual interest on one side of the wall. The change is epic!

Maybe you are a little bolder with your color choices. Having one wall in your home that is plain, then the others can help bring interest to a room that would otherwise be dull. This is called an accent wall, and why not tie it into your entryway.

You can even choose a color that plays off the color of the door. Then add some Batten walling and paint the wall the color you chose. Use furniture and wall fixtures and art to make it even more stunning.

The entryway and your stairwell landing may be one and the same. This means that it could get cluttered easily. But if you want a cleaner presentation, one that welcomes your guests and has then floored, you can easily do this.

Instead of having a seating area, maybe you go to a small curio case that can be topped with pieces that work with your style. A good paint job and then perhaps a few decorations on the wall, and you will transform that cluttered landing into a welcoming entryway.

There is actually a lot you can do with that closet, and all it takes is a little patience. This person ripped out shelves and replaced the inner part of this closet with a little country nook.

Raising the original shelf a little higher and adding organization touches, they were able to make the space work for them. Then with a little touch of style, they made a beautiful and welcoming space.

If you found the right house, the one that gives you the feels, then you should go for it no matter how old the house is. In the end, you can update the interior with a few DIY renovations projects. Maybe the first place you will look to fix up is the entryway.

This may be what happened here as the doors to the closet are old school. So rip them out, add a more modern one and then top it with a modern paint scheme, and your entryway will wow people left and right.

Engaging might be a word that you think of when you see this amazing entryway transformation. Once again, adding accents to any wall will make it instantly impressive. So why not add a little whimsy to the door area of your entryway.

By adding this striped paint job and some fun antique decorations, the room instantly becomes warmer. Switching out all the decoration except for the cubby but using it as a tie-in was a smart way to transform this entryway.

Switching out your dry and unfriendly entryway for a more warm and pleasant atmosphere is key. As we have said before, the first thing everyone uses in your home is the space, and so you want one that elicits a good feeling and maybe even a few eyes.

If your entryway is like this one, it can be accomplished with very little work. A few applications of planks or even a batten wall. Then some nice color selection and a few knick-knacks, and you will be amazed at the change.

Having your guests be greeted by a mass of coats and other stuff you have shoved in a closet is not the most awe-inspiring situation. So trading that clunky and cluttered closet in for an open, organized wardrobe area is a nice idea.

By removing the doors and building out a cabinet system, this closet has become something that will have your guests asking how you did it. Using small bins to organize everything will also make it easier to find things for you and the family.

Taking what is already there and just elevating the look of the space with a few additional touches is a great and cost-effective idea. It is a way to do an amazing entryway DIY quickly and without breaking the bank.

So, for instance, in this amazing entryway renovation. All the people did was add a shelf with some wood planking and changing the lighting. Then by placing a nice decoration and a bench, they had a whole new space.

If you use the techniques in this DIY entryway renovation, you will have people saying, “You did this?”. That is a good thing, though, because, in truth, these modern makeovers are very simple. Starting with what you had, you can build out an inviting space.

Utilizing white paint to accent the wall, you will brighten up the entryway immediately. Then add in some designer coat hooks, and wood planking will help elevate it even further. Plus, the inclusion of the lamplight and touches of color will draw attention to all your hard work.

Even if you don’t have that much space in your foyer, you can still make the space look more impactful and have your guests really awed by what you have done. Sometimes this just takes a nice aesthetic and an interesting paint scheme.

For this wall, they started with a bright color, but they wanted a more elegant look. So they did a neutral striped pattern and then added in some modern pieces that would play well with the color palette.

You want a nice place for your guests to be able to place all their stuff. From coats to purses, having a stylish and chic area for this can be pretty impressive.

Removing the doors and building a shelving system and coat hangers into the open space was the first step. Then they just had to pick the color scheme that went with the vibe they were trying to impart. For them, this meant a natural beige and earth tones.

There is such a thing as too bright of an entryway. These tend to be ones that are completely white with no accent colors or pieces. A good example of this is this split level entryway.

In order to make it more interesting, the person painted the walls a dark color leaving the trim and the door a bright white. They also painted the stair banister dark. Along with these, they removed the carpet and went with wood and threw in a bright red rug for some color.

Sometimes no matter how much you dress up your entryway, it just doesn’t wow anyone. If this happens, then maybe try keeping your first look but working with changing up the walls they are in front of.

Move everything away from the wall and add planks to it in a color that will work with your motif. For this person, that means off white, but maybe for you, it means a dark wood or even a brighter color. Then add your final touches and put everything back.

A blank wall can seem drab and not at all welcoming. But the good news is if your entryway is defined by this, it makes renovation of the space to your vision way easier. You can turn it into a beautiful little area with just a little bit of work and inspiration.

Many people love the beach-chic look, and even if you’re not near the beach, you can use this in your home. Adding some interesting types and wooden planks to the wall can be the beginnings of a beach-inspired entryway like this one.

Sometimes your new home is outdated and needs a new, more modern design. Or maybe you’re just not modern enough. In order to make your whole house speak to your preferences, you may want to make that entryway more modern too.

You can do this by laying new fun tiles, giving it a new paint job, and then finishing it off with modern furniture and accents. May even a mirror to add a little depth to the room as well.

There are homes that don’t have much of an entryway. But perhaps you want to make what little space you have work for you and bring something to the table. Crafting an interesting and smart entryway can be done no matter the amount of space you have.

This small return wall, for instance, turns into something special with just a little bit of work. Leaving the color of the wall, this person just added a little bit of molding and a small bench, and they have a whole new space.

There are homes that have an entryway you won’t see until the door is closed. So some people think it’s not worth decorating it as it’s behind the door. But adding a little something will change the feel of the room.

So why not add a little bit of texture and style to that wall. This can be done with a fun paint job like this striped option. Then add something of a statement piece onto the wall to draw attention to the wall. That can be a textured piece like the wall one or a splash of color.

If you have a sweeping stairwell in front of your entryway, then you should tie it into your DIY renovation. It can make a big conference and create a sense of continuity through the house. So, refinish the stairs and tie it into the call schemes too.

This is a perfect example of how you can up your wow factor with some paint and the simple inclusion of a two-color palette. By tying the rug into the top of the stairs makes it feel more elegant and will stun all your guests.

Renovations don’t mean that the original space wasn’t nice. What it does mean is that your style and states have changed. Or maybe you just want something different. That is what happened with this classic entryway.

The owner wanted something more modern and cleaner looking. So they stained the staircase banister and switched out the floor. Then all that was left was a coat of paint and some accent pieces to pull it together.

DIY entryways sometimes happen just because you want to switch it up a bit. The entryway may be set up right, but maybe it doesn’t give you the feeling you want. If it doesn’t work for you, then you just have to decide on the changes you want to make.

Sometimes that just means switching out the color palette and switching up some furniture. That is all it took in this rustic country, chic entryway.

Maybe you are not handy with a tool. Or maybe you don’t want to go through all the fuss of a big renovation. So the DIY makeover of your entryway doesn’t have to be a whole construction project.

Sometimes it can be an interior design project. That is what happened with this elegant and amazing revamp of the entryway in this home. With a painting of a piece of furniture and switching out of accent tones, the whole entryway changes.

You don’t want one small wall to ruin the whole vibe of your interior design. This is especially true if it is one of the first things people see when entering your home. So if you have a small wall like this, don’t worry, you can fix it right up.

Once again, you will want to try to create some contrast. This can be done with white planks. Then it’s up to add a few small pieces that stay in line with your style.

A renovation of the entryway doesn’t have to be time consuming or elaborate. Sometimes a minimalistic redo of your space can result in a truly impactful effect. So like this individual, maybe you just need a few hours one day.

All this person did was get rid of the bright paint by covering it with white. Then they added some more rustic décor, and the entryway was completely changed into a completely different room.

There are entryways that have been designed with dark colors. Maybe that was what you were into when you did it. Or maybe you inherited it. But the good news is that you are not stuck with it.

Wanting to stay with the animal motif, they opted to get rid of the dark wall accent in favor of a brighter color. This will open up the space and make it more welcoming. Then with some gold accents and some colorful painting and throw pillows, the entryway is morphed into a whole new look.

What if you don’t own the house? What do you do then? Well, this means that big projects are probably out of the questions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a few non-destructive changes to elevate your entryway,

Adding a plant and some wall accents can help you create a warmth in the entryway. Then you can add other things like a chair and some splashes of color along with an elegant rug. This will help the entryways vibe greatly.

Sticking with a light color palette can also help the entryway fill with light. This is especially great for high ceilinged entryways. Also, having visual interest high on the wall is a nice way to draw your guest’s attention and have them take it all in.

This entryway DIY project has very little dark colors. In fact, they only used the dark as a way to tie in the metalwork decorations pieces. These play well with the gray color scheme the individual decides to go with.

Feeling like your entryway is good but bland? Then maybe all you have to do is accent a color. Not by painting but by installing art and tying it into the furniture in your entryway. This is an excellent example of a DIY entryway project that can really have an impact.

By changing out the lampshade and adding an accent of red in the cabinet, this person could play with that color scheme. Adding art that played on it as well as baskets.

The key to creating an entryway that will wow is to make sure that you create warmth, depth, and use the natural lighting of the space. This is especially true when your door had vertical widows. You can do this in many ways.

The best way, though, is to have a nice light-colored wall and paint your door. Then off those two colors, you can choose the furniture and style you want to greet your guests with.

Even when you have a nice closet and plenty of space, you may want that space to be used in a different way. This is actually a pretty common idea. You may lose storage space, but you will gain an entryway that your friends and family absolutely rave about.

By removing the doors to this coat closet and adding a textured paint job, the initial phase gives the area a boho-like vibe. Then with the addition of some hooks for coats and a park bench, you will have a unique look.

Taking time to use every inch of space to make your home into the space you want is crucial. This means that every wall and nook needs to speak to your style and personality.

Even if it is a small wall behind the door, this is especially true if it is what you call your entryway. Making that place into this stylish wood plank modern country look can give your home a wow factor. Put the wood planks on the return wall, and then add a few touches to give your home this amazing look.

So what do you do if you really don’t have an entryway but want one? You can make one with just a few extra steps and a little patience. If you have a raised living room that is off the entryway to the home, there are some great awe-inspiring ideas.

Take, for instance, this incredible DIY project. By removing the railing and adding in a shelving system, not only do you create aspiration between the rooms, but you give your home a more welcoming feel. Insert wicker baskets in the cubbies and add a little extra something.

Maybe you want a more country chic vibe in your entryway. After all, a country house is warm and very friendly most of the time. This look usually includes some antique and some repurposed or reclaimed wood pieces.

You can keep your entryway modern by including pieces like this bureau mixed with new pieces like the wooden plank wall and mail dividers. With a light-colored pallet, you can bring out the details of all your pieces.

Starting with a good base sometimes can make a renovation project so much easier. Things like this long bench can be incorporated into the project to make a pretty epic final result, especially if you use a bright color and some pretty cool accessories.

This person opted to use a stencil and a cool monochromatic paint scheme to offset the darkness of the cabinets. Then with the addition of some fun throw pillows and a mirror, they were able to utilize and open the space up a bit more.

Are you tired of having a mass of shoes at your front door? How about having to go around someone sitting on the stairs to put their shows on? If that’s the case, then you may want to try this epic DIY project.

Start by creating a wall that has notches for shelves in it. Paint it whatever color you want and then use shortened planks of wood to form the shelves. You can then place shoes on these and add a small chest you can use as a sitting area.

Blank wall space on the side of your stairs? Why not use that space to make your entryway a little more chic and interesting for your guests. After all, a blank wall is not really that inviting. This person realized this and started a DIY entryway makeover.

Adding some molding to the wall, they painted over it, staying with the color scheme that was already there. The final touches of wow come in with the inclusion of a small settee and some hint of gold in both the throw pillows and rug.

So sometimes simple is good. This is true in life and in DIY projects. Clean and crisp design can make an entryway look well put together and wow your guests more than you might think.

So a light paint job and some molding added to the wall may be all you need. Sure add a few pieces of furniture and even some hanging hooks, but that might just be all you need.

There is a reason that everyone loves going to Grandma’s house. It is warm and cozy and always inviting. So why not use the same concepts in your entryway to give your guest the sense of being home.

All you have to do is add in some light fixtures, and a few throw pillows and blankets like this person did in their foyer. Then with a few accent decorations that tie in with the look and you will have a modern version of Grandma’s house.