Design Recipes for a Fun and Functional Entry
These rooms in a variety of styles show how to create a welcoming first impression of your home
A well-designed entry helps propel you out the door in the morning, keeps you organized and gives visitors a hint at your personal sense of style. It’s a lot to ask from what’s often the smallest room in the house! Let these nine examples of stylish and feature-packed entryways inspire you. Plus, get how-to tips to help achieve these looks at home and ideas for keeping this hardworking space tidy.
2. Playful modern. Set a lighthearted tone at the front door with a bold splash of citrusy colors, from lemon and lime to tangerine. The round mirror is a welcome touch, while a trio of woven pendants makes the most of a double-height ceiling.
Tidy tip: A half-console table is a smart space saver. Tuck one into even the narrowest of entry halls, and gain a spot to set your keys, mail and more.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: A half-console table is a smart space saver. Tuck one into even the narrowest of entry halls, and gain a spot to set your keys, mail and more.
Get the look:
- Colors: lemon yellow, lime green, tangerine
- Bright and bold front door
- Painted console table
- Woven pendant lights
- Flat-weave dhurrie rug
3. Botanical charm. With its botanical wallpaper and simple furnishings, this entry radiates nature-inspired calm. And don’t think of a look like this only in the country — why not infuse your city apartment with relaxing rural pleasures?
Tidy tip: Hidden storage inside the bench seat and a row of pegs provide ample space to stash your belongings.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: Hidden storage inside the bench seat and a row of pegs provide ample space to stash your belongings.
Get the look:
- Colors: mossy green, white, natural woods
- Botanical wallpaper or art
- Vase of cut ferns or a potted plant
- Shaker-style peg rail
- Natural-fiber rug
- Ladder-back chair
4. Farmhouse eclectic. With barn-style sliding doors made from reclaimed wood, a kilim rug underfoot and a modern George Nelson pendant light overhead, this entry covers a lot of ground designwise while managing to look utterly simple and comfy. The secret? It’s the power of three: The light is the most modern element, the barn door the most rustic, and the warm rug ties it all together.
Tidy tip: A closet for coats plus a credenza tucked in a nook make for ample storage in this entryway (luckies!), but if your entry lacks a closet, you can make a rustic-industrial coat rack with pipe fittings mounted on the wall.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: A closet for coats plus a credenza tucked in a nook make for ample storage in this entryway (luckies!), but if your entry lacks a closet, you can make a rustic-industrial coat rack with pipe fittings mounted on the wall.
Get the look:
- Colors: cream, white, spice red, natural wood
- Reclaimed wood barn doors
- Modern Bubble light
- Kilim rug
- White credenza
- Handmade pottery
5. Midcentury pop. A cherry-red door, pottery horse and oversize midcentury pool photo by Slim Aarons set a playful, party-ready tone in this entry.
Tidy tip: A low credenza is a great piece for the entryway since it offers ample hidden storage for quickly stashing items (the dog’s leash, paperwork), as well as a surface for holding keys and a bag (or a drinks tray at a party).
Get the look:
Tidy tip: A low credenza is a great piece for the entryway since it offers ample hidden storage for quickly stashing items (the dog’s leash, paperwork), as well as a surface for holding keys and a bag (or a drinks tray at a party).
Get the look:
- Colors: cherry red, black, white, a dash of yellow
- High-gloss front door
- Oversize pool or beach photography
- Midcentury-style credenza
- Shiny chrome light fixture
- Lacquer accessories in bright hues
- Handmade pottery or sculpture
6. Beach bungalow blues. A blue-and-white palette is simple and relaxed, and never fails to please. Draw the eye in by repeating the same navy blue of the front door on cushions and a striped rug inside the entry.
Tidy tip: A built-in bench with hooks, cubbies and a high shelf with open baskets provides a distinct storage spot for each family member.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: A built-in bench with hooks, cubbies and a high shelf with open baskets provides a distinct storage spot for each family member.
Get the look:
- Colors: navy, sand, white
- Navy front door
- Striped rug
- Woven baskets
- Solid navy or blue-and-white striped cushions
- Nautical or barn-style lighting
7. Art gallery chic. Create a minimal oasis with smooth floors, putty-colored walls and a sleek bench — it’s all the better to draw eyes toward a special piece of art on the wall.
Tidy tip: If you love this look but need more storage, swap out the bench for a version with hidden storage inside or a low credenza.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: If you love this look but need more storage, swap out the bench for a version with hidden storage inside or a low credenza.
Get the look:
- Colors: espresso, putty, gray
- Bare floors
- Sleek bench
- Sculptural stool or side table
- Potted succulent
- Original painting
8. Compact and colorful. Just because your front door opens into the living room doesn’t mean you must give up on having an entryway. As this setup illustrates, you can manage to sneak in storage and style even in a small space. Wall hooks disappear into a bold wallpaper pattern, a petite bench provides a spot to sit, and the rest of the storage is moved to a chest on the other side of the door.
Tidy tip: If your house lacks a foyer, keeping things looking neat near the front door can be tricky. Try to find hidden storage (perhaps a cabinet or lidded baskets) for stashing messy items like shoes.
Get the look:
Tidy tip: If your house lacks a foyer, keeping things looking neat near the front door can be tricky. Try to find hidden storage (perhaps a cabinet or lidded baskets) for stashing messy items like shoes.
Get the look:
- Colors: blue, white, black
- Bold wallpaper
- Wall hooks
- Narrow bench
- Striped rug
9. Vibrant beach house. With zigzagging wallpaper, a striped rug and a coral-print window shade, this entry has a lot of color and pattern going on. In a larger room, this might read as too busy, but in a small space, it’s pure fun. If you’re a color lover, why not indulge?
Tidy tip: Open shelving can be a great multitasker. Use it to line up shoes and stash the mail, or even line the back with cork and use it as a family bulletin board.
Get the look:
7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Entrance
10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Entryway
Tidy tip: Open shelving can be a great multitasker. Use it to line up shoes and stash the mail, or even line the back with cork and use it as a family bulletin board.
Get the look:
- Colors: cerulean blue, lime green, coral red
- Glossy painted bench
- Open shelving
- Sea-inspired wall hooks
- Striped indoor-outdoor rug
- Colorful wallpaper
- Coral-print shade
7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Entrance
10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Entryway
Tidy tip: A slender wooden bench acts as a perch for putting on shoes, as well as a surface for setting down bags and packages.
Get the look: