Make the Most of Your Entryway
Whether you have a grand staircase or a tiny front hallway, you can maximize your home's entryway for beauty and usefulness
If first impressions take less than 10 seconds, then what is your entryway saying about your home? I shudder to think back to my time of apartment living when my "entryway" was part of one room that consisted of the kitchen, living and dining spaces all in one. Though I may not have a sprawling entryway now, at least I can say I have one.
Depending on the age of your home, you might have an entire room or a grand staircase dedicated to inviting guests in. Other homes, like my 1940s cottage, have a tiny walkway (just large enough for a small rug) that opens up to a formal living room. Apparently my dream of a formal entry was not meant to be, so I had to get creative and designate an area in my living room to serve as an entryway. Whether spacious or quaint, there are plenty of ways to make your entry space welcoming and even functional.
Entryways can serve very different purposes. Is yours a formal front entrance that is not used by your family on a daily basis? Lucky you; you get to focus solely on the appearance. Perhaps your entryway is the first stop for kids off the bus and needs to house shoes, scarves and backpacks in an organized manner. This requires a different approach. But whatever the purpose, these ideas can help make your entryway more useful and beautiful.
Depending on the age of your home, you might have an entire room or a grand staircase dedicated to inviting guests in. Other homes, like my 1940s cottage, have a tiny walkway (just large enough for a small rug) that opens up to a formal living room. Apparently my dream of a formal entry was not meant to be, so I had to get creative and designate an area in my living room to serve as an entryway. Whether spacious or quaint, there are plenty of ways to make your entry space welcoming and even functional.
Entryways can serve very different purposes. Is yours a formal front entrance that is not used by your family on a daily basis? Lucky you; you get to focus solely on the appearance. Perhaps your entryway is the first stop for kids off the bus and needs to house shoes, scarves and backpacks in an organized manner. This requires a different approach. But whatever the purpose, these ideas can help make your entryway more useful and beautiful.
So many old homes have beautiful wood staircases that should be shown off. I love how the two lamps brighten this entryway and show off this incredible banister and stairs. Instead of saturating the area with color, the upholstered green ottomans provide a touch of green and soften what might have felt like an otherwise stark space.
Can you imagine having a reading nook like this one in your home? I think more books on my "to read" list would find themselves finished if I had a spot like this. To modernize the look of traditional trim and crown molding, consider painting it light gray. Here, it's paired with white walls to draw attention toward the gorgeous detail in the wood. Built-in seating utilizes the space under a staircase. The textiles work well together despite varied organic and geometric patterns, since they all have the same shade of coral.
Talk about a neatnik's dream! There is a place for everything in this space. Hooks, baskets and drawers provide ample storage for coats, shoes and pet supplies.
Create a makeshift mudroom
Create a makeshift mudroom
Love the idea of built-in storage but your wallet is saying no? This tray and hook system might be all you need to start decluttering. Also, notice the gorgeous antique dresser. This piece and the beautiful collected items on it draw your eye away from the items to its left. Using period pieces can also pay tribute to the era in which the house was built.
A dark rug is an excellent idea for a high-traffic area. The old church pew has been painted white and looks beautiful against the geometric print. The antique detail on the pew ties in nicely with the crown molding and trim. This is a great example of how blending traditional furniture with a modern print works well to keep an entryway from feeling too formal.
How to choose an entryway rug
How to choose an entryway rug
If you have a bungalow or Tudor-style smaller home, you may not have much of an entry to speak of. But you can still designate a space to add a little charm. These homeowners used a small table, a lamp and a picture to create a perfectly sized vignette.
This entry underwent an entire makeover with just a few select pieces. The bright, oversize art, the repurposed filing cabinet and the striking light fixture convey a message.
This is the space in my formal living room that I designated as an entryway. Remember, my tiny walkway just wasn't cutting it. I have a rather large living room and could easily spare the wall space for this mirrored console table. I am a sucker for symmetry, so I added lamps and planters on each side to balance the visual weight on each side.
This is one of the first spaces in my home for which I knew exactly what I wanted. I have big plans for almost every room in the house, but this little console table area is one I plan to keep around for a while.
More ways with console tables
This is one of the first spaces in my home for which I knew exactly what I wanted. I have big plans for almost every room in the house, but this little console table area is one I plan to keep around for a while.
More ways with console tables
This is just plain genius. If you own a piano, sometimes it can be tricky figuring out where to put it — especially if it is not played very often. Using it in place of a console table is such a surprising twist. A lamp and a mirror dress it up so it doesn't look out of place.
If your old home needs a facelift, the entryway is the perfect place to start. A few choice pieces can change the feel from the very moment you walk in the door.
Tell us: What's in your entry?
If your old home needs a facelift, the entryway is the perfect place to start. A few choice pieces can change the feel from the very moment you walk in the door.
Tell us: What's in your entry?
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