Your entryway is often a neglected part of our home. Perhaps you never use your front door so you don’t give it much thought, but I would argue an entryway is one of the most important areas/rooms in your home. Why?
Regardless of how often you or guests see your entryway, your entry sets the entire tone for your home. Today, I want to challenge you to no longer think of it as a room you pass through. Think about how your entry tells the story of your home.
I am rather passionate about making a good first impression with others and your home is no exception.
Consider for a moment how walking into your home can immediately put you into a certain mood. Are you anxious when you enter? Do you find it relaxing when you come home after a long day? I would argue your entry is a big deal.
Let’s walk through seven things to keep in mind as you design an entry for your home.
Find Inspiration Photos and Look for Commonalities
Finding design inspiration is a key step if you want to find an entryway that will fit your personality and needs. You don’t need to only look at entryways either. Think about the colors and styles you gravitate towards. Are you really into a mid-century look? Maybe you prefer a traditional aesthetic. There is no wrong here, but find things that you love and see what they have in common. I personally love light filled rooms and an oversized mirror to bounce around the light. Since my entryway has no direct sunlight I have to maximize the light coming from the adjacent room.
Take a look at everything that inspires you. You can even go one step further and make a mood board if you want to get really detailed.
Pro Tip: Look for entryways that share a similar configuration and floor plan as your own. This will help you quickly figure out what can work for your space.
Prioritize Storage
You will never meet someone who regrets buying a piece of storage for their entryway or getting a console table with drawers. Unless they buy the wrong size or style, but more on that soon. More storage is better in the end. However, I am not suggesting you have to keep existing storage.
I had a small closet in the corner of my entry and I hated it. It really just chopped up my room visually and had become a place to throw a few shoes in a pile and games on a shelf. Had my family really needed the closet we could have made improvements, but I didn’t like it. I wanted my entry to appear larger and the closet wasn’t going to cut it, so it had to go.
If you have a console table now you don’t need to run out and get something with drawers. Just add some baskets to the bottom if you have the room. This allows you to conceal items you don’t want to see, but still keep them accessible. If you have small kids, you already know they like to hide things (including themselves). Don’t be surprised if your entry table or baskets becomes a place where the occasional toy or clothing ends up.
Think About the Most Common Needs for an Entryway
What are the most essential items or pieces of an entry that make it functional? Here are the ones I think are a must:
- landing for keys, glasses and bags
- a place to keep shoes
- a mat or rug
- source of light
Give it Personality
Make your entry a reflection of your personality and home. This truly is your first impression. Even if you may come in through a garage most days, your guests will typically get a sense for your home’s aesthetic once they walk through the front door.
Be sure it reflects the look you love and the feeling you desire. Your entryway shouldn’t feel boring, it should feel personal. This is the room that tells your guests what you like and what to expect as they walk through your home.
Remember Scale
Your furniture is important in functionality and scale. Don’t ruin an otherwise beautiful entry by buying furniture that is too large or too small. If nothing else, just think about the amount of clearance you give yourself as you walk through the space.
If you can’t take a full 360 degree turn with a bag in hand without hitting something, you definitely need to go smaller. Conversely, if you have a long wall or an expansive area with nothing on it (unless that is the minimalist look you are after) you want to add something so it doesn’t feel cold and empty.
Add in the Luxuries
Think of all the nice to have elements in an entry:
- mirror
- candle or difuser
- hooks for jackets/bags
- place to sit
- greenery
- artwork or photos
Think of how you can best incorporate several or all of these elements into your entry.
Consider Vantage Points
While in your entryway consider all of the sightlines. What other things or rooms can you see from the entry and vice versa? If you see other rooms be sure your entry is not competing with everything else.
Consider how the entry flows into the next space too. In my home, you see the wall to a hallway and you see our playroom. Keep these things in mind so you know how your entryway should feel distinct, but also complimentary with the other areas.
There you have it, 7 tips for a beautiful and functional entry. Just remember that no matter how big or small your entry, it will never feel like a welcoming space if there is clutter. So be sure to only keep the things you need in this small, but very important space. Was there something I forgot? Let me know what you are doing with your entryway!
From the time I was a young child, I have loved interior design and beautiful things. Ten-year-old me would create “floor plans” on notebook paper and design the dream homes of my siblings. We would have an initial meeting and after jotting down their wish list, I got to work creating the home of their dreams.
After designing the layout, I would take the Sunday newspaper ads (are those still a thing?) and cut out pictures of furniture, lamps, and accessories to create mood boards for each room in the home. When I was all done, weeks and weeks later, I would showcase my work and pitch my design ideas to a sibling.
If you too enjoy beautiful things and the process of turning a vision into a reality, welcome! If you love watching homes transform, but just don’t know how to start or have the resources to buy everything you like, stick around. I love finding affordable and practical design solutions to give YOU a gorgeous home you can be proud of.
Together, let’s reveal what’s possible.
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