Split Level Entry Remodeling: How to Transform Your Twin Cities Home

Split-level homes were extremely popular in the Twin Cities between the 1950s and 1980s. With suburbs like Maple Grove, Woodbury, Burnsville, and Brooklyn Park growing in this timeframe, split-level properties are found in nearly every neighborhood. While this architectural style was popular for maximizing square footage on smaller and sloped lots, the design often doesn’t support modern lifestyles. 

In particular, split-level entry designs now feel cramped, dark, and closed off compared to more modern styles. It’s not just about aesthetics. The design often creates bottlenecks that become crowded and disorganized, which is especially difficult in the winter with boots and coats to store. The good news is that a split-level entry remodel can completely open up and transform your space. Let’s explore some of the best entrance remodeling projects, along with tips for turning your dream space into a reality. 

Want to discuss ideas for your home’s entrance? James Barton Design-Build has worked on numerous split-level homes throughout suburbs like Apple Valley, Eagan, Golden Valley, and St. Louis Park, and our designers are ready to get started on your project. Contact our team to see what your entryway can become! 

What is a Split-Level Home Entry? 

The entryway on a split-level home has a few distinctive features, with the most notable being a mid-level landing that sits between the upper and lower levels of the home. The entryway is usually compact, with a short set of stairs going to the main level and another set leading to the basement. 

In most split-level homes, full-height drywall separates the different zones of the house. If the entrance hasn’t been updated since it was built, the railings are often made from dated oak spindles and balusters. 

Split-level entrance designs don’t just affect your home’s interior. They can also make your exterior feel dated. Read our guide to modernizing split-level exteriors to learn more about updating your home inside and out. 

Planning a Split Level Home Entry Remodel 

Before diving too deep into renovation ideas, it’s important to think about your top priorities for your split-level entryway. While most split levels have similar features, they don’t all have the same renovation pain points. When planning, think about: 

• Natural light: Entrances in split-level homes often feel dark because they are enclosed with floor-to-ceiling drywall and have doors that let in limited natural light. 
• Sightlines: Aside from making the space feel dark, enclosed drywall also blocks off areas of your home and can make the entrance feel more segmented than you like. 
• Storage: With their cramped footprint, many split levels don’t have enough room for keeping shoes, coats, backpacks, and other items organized. If you have an existing closet in the entrance, consider whether its size and design fit your needs. 
• Square footage: You’re not always limited to your current space. If you always feel cramped in your split-level foyer, an aesthetic renovation alone won’t solve the issue. 
• Temperature control: With the layout of a split-level entrance, opening the door in the winter sends a cold blast of air into the basement while sucking warm air from the upper level

James Barton Design-Build split-level remodeling project in Apple Valley

How to Create a Modern Split-Level Entry

Renovating a split-level entrance can include everything from aesthetic updates to structural additions. Here are the best ways to make your entrance feel more welcoming and functional. 

Making a Split-Level Entrance Brighter 

Letting in natural light is one of the most impactful renovations for a split-level home. Here are a few ways to make the space brighter and more open: 

• Remove floor-to-ceiling drywall partitions. Taking out walls instantly makes the space look and feel more open. Removing load-bearing walls requires a more creative approach, but JBDB handles these renovations frequently. Read our guide to load-bearing wall removal for a closer look at the process. 
• Replace dated railings. The style of your millwork can instantly date your home. If you have blonde maple or turned honey oak railings from the 80s, swapping them out for slim black iron balusters or horizontal steel cables doesn’t just make the space look more modern, but also lets more light through. If you don’t mind the style of your millwork, enameling it is another great option. 
• Upgrade the door. Many entryways have doors with small windows or no windows at all. Upgrading to a door with sidelight windows or a full glass panel door will let in a substantial amount of natural light. Don’t forget the space above the door as well. In the before-and-after photo above, we replaced the small hexagonal window above the double door with a full-frame rectangular window that fills the entrance with light. 
• Use a lighter palette. Selecting a light color palette helps light reflect better in the space rather than being absorbed in dark colors. Your paint, trim, and flooring choices can all maximize the amount of light filling the space. 

Maximizing Square Footage and Functionality 

No matter how much light fills your space, having a brighter entrance doesn’t necessarily affect how your entryway functions. Rather than using freestanding benches or cubbies that take up valuable space, custom built-in storage can be designed flush with the walls, giving you room to store items without making the entryway feel cramped. 

Rather than simply maximizing how you use your square footage, you may also consider an add-on that gives you an extended entrance. Bump-out additions give you a dedicated space for everything you need without forcing storage solutions and design elements into a small footprint. In Minnesota, an entryway add-on also helps with temperature control by preventing hot and cold air from filling your home every time the door opens.  

To prevent drastic temperature swings in your entryway, you can also consider upgrades like in-floor heating or adding a dedicated vent in the entrance. Many split-level homes were designed without floor vents in the entry because the space was originally designed as a landing rather than a functional room.   

Design Your Ideal Split Level Entry with James Barton Design-Build

In a split-level home, the entryway might seem like a small portion of the house, but it’s the first thing guests see when they visit, and its design affects both your upper and lower levels. Upgrading your entryway can improve your enjoyment of your entire home by letting in more light and making the space feel more connected and functional. 

Ready to talk about entryway designs for your split-level home? Schedule a consultation with our designers to discuss what’s possible for your home. As a JBDB client, you can also access our showroom to see finishes in person and better envision your space.