I use an indoor/outdoor rug inside my entry. I like to have a big one - I think it's nearly 4 x 6, so that if it's raining/snowing/etc, my kids and their friends have enough room to step around the swing of the door w/o stepping onto the hardwood floor and can easily remove their shoes on the rug and leave them there to dry. I can't remember where I bought my last one, but I need to replace it (my recently deceased dog peed on it and I can't get the smell out). There are many that are decorative - Ballard Designs, Home Decorators and Overstock all carry them. I love them because you can literally take them outside and rinse them off if they get muddy. They aren't plush, but they do have pretty designs so they look nice. I just use a rug pad/grip underneath it. I suppose it's all up to you how decorative you want it to be. The one I'm getting matches my decor perfectly and does not look like an outdoor rug but certainly not as nice/fancy as an Oriental rug. If you have concerns about cleaning the rug given the winter climate in Chicago, you might not want to get anything that requires expensive cleaning.

A more put-together width for the hallway rug would be a "runner". The furniture would be off the carpet. Runners can come in very long lengths. If it were me, I'd make it almost the length of the hallway, but from photos, it's hard to judge what doors, etc. you have at the end. I'm not sure what your tastes are, but judging from the current rug, an oriental might work for you. I'd pick up the shade of the wood floor in an oriental rug with saturated colors.

Presuming you have an excellent doormat outisde the door, how about putting a large area rug you like to be underfoot right as guests walk in, a rug that would be positioned where you currently show that light gray rug as people walk in, but much much larger. Create the space so that someone walking in has immediately to the left a neat tidy place to get rid of a wet jacket, umbrella or hat. And it’s a comfortable space for two people to stand, turn around, with the rug underfoot. Then think about adding a different round rug between the 2 closet doors in the short space of hallway leading to the kitchen. Take away that console table with the plant. Hang art on the walls instead or a mirror with a thin floating shelf. Let’s say you picked a round bright colored rug for the space closer to the kitchen. Would a square or rectangular entry rug like these work for you? nothing this elaborate, and no upper cabinets, but how about a fraction of this on the left wall as someone walks in?

I like the colors and that pillow (!) that everdebz posted. here's the size I would do, with a large, more proportional light and I'd prob do a console table against that wall where they have the bitty shelf. better looking light. (I actually have this in my hallway) How about this look to go w/the grays/blacks/whites? Cabinet is from target. do a white board/batten all around the 3 walls. rust wood mirror. plant. I like this rug too. right size. Rather than a black or gray bench, go for a natural wood and accessorize w/the blacks/grays/whites You have some great light in the entry which means you can have greenery! Styling the console is everything. Love this paired w/the rug you listed. a bit more traditional. silver/gray rug, white wainscot. I'd also think about doing the shiplap on those 3 walls. Or, a board and batten. (and this soft blush w/the grays/white/charcoal is killer) bring in a mirror, a rustic wood shelf, basket. another shiplap wall. You have a great space there to do a lot of diff design elements. I'll some others in the next comment w/benches.