From foyers to front doors, the entryway is where guests formulate their first impression of your home. Not to mention, it’s where they store their belongings, share greetings, and make themselves comfortable. So, there’s really no doubt about why you should want to make the most of your entryway, but how exactly do you do so? Well, you’re in luck – the experts at Evelyn Lily have collated these exciting entryway decorating tips to elevate any home, so you can feel confident that you’re getting off on the right foot.
In case you’re curious, here’s a peek at what’s coming up:
- What is the purpose of an entryway?
- General entryway decorating tips
- How to decorate each kind of entryway
- Conclusion
What Is The Purpose Of An Entryway?
On average, it takes a guest about 38 seconds to form an opinion about a home. Chances are, those 38 seconds are to be spent in or near the entryway: shoes come off, coats are hung, keys hit the bowl, greetings are exchanged. That’s why it is so important not to neglect your entryway in your interior design and decorating plans – as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Of course, there are plenty of practical purposes for an entryway too. From shoe and coat storage to a place to stow away seasonal knick knacks like umbrellas, hats and scarves, your entryway should offer a space to physically prepare for the main living area. But when designed thoughtfully, it can do more than just keep things tidy: a well-styled entrance can become a space to pause, chat, even entertain – a kind of prequel to the rest of the house.
Ultimately, the purpose of an entryway is to transition your guest from the outside world into the interior of your home, both practically and aesthetically, setting the tone for all that follows. Such is made all the more important if you’re looking to sell your home, where buyers will be trying to glean exactly what the house is all about from that first step through the door.
General Entryway Decorating Tips
As we will see, different types of entryways have different requirements due to their differing size, shape and function. That being said, there are a few fundamental foundations that can be maintained across all such different types – namely colour, lighting, storage, flooring and accessories. Let’s dig a little deeper into each of these categories.
1. Colours
When it comes to colour schemes, the most important thing is to ensure that it matches your own personal preferences and aesthetics. You shouldn’t create an entryway based on what it is you think that others will like, or else you risk creating a jarring difference between the entrance and the rest of your home. Instead, think about what it is about your home that you most want to convey to your guests. If you’re looking for something warm and welcoming, a creamy brown could be a great option. Bright and bold? Think vibrant oranges and pinks. For something moodier and more mysterious, a deep green-black can be a great statement, channelling your inner dark academia.
Once you’ve got this in mind, you should pay attention to the level of natural lighting in the space. This will ensure that your chosen scheme looks good no matter the time of day. Generally, north facing spaces should embrace warmer or darker colours to offset the cooler and lower level of sunlight received. Those lucky enough to have a south facing area should maximise the feeling of light and space by opting for cool neutrals, soft pastels, and blues/greens. If your entryway has no windows, consider light-reflecting colours such as yellows, whites, greens, and other nature inspired hues, which will help light to bounce around the room.
2. Lighting
Speaking of lighting, take this chance to make a statement. Ornamental options and antique pieces are excellent choices for an entryway, which can be the perfect home for those items that wouldn’t quite fit elsewhere. Pendant lampshades, chandeliers and asymmetrical focal lights can all draw the eye and add a touch of visual intrigue whilst doubling up as functional task lighting. For something a little more low-key, consider warmer flush ceiling lights, subtle wall lights, or wooden table lamps to create a glow that illuminates the area from all angles.
3. Storage
Storage is the ultimate foundation of any functional entryway if you’re looking to avoid the dreaded piles of coats and chaos of runaway shoes. Typically speaking, you should aim to implement at least a cupboard of some sort along with a bench or other seating solution. If you’re feeling particularly space-savvy, you could even double up your furniture with two functions: for instance, a hall bench with under-seat storage.
4. Flooring
When it comes to flooring, practicality and durability should be your priorities. After all, the entryway is likely to be the area of the home with the most foot traffic, inevitably resulting in more wear and tear. Think stone, tile, or treated wood paired with a few rugs to encourage people to remove their shoes (and protect the flooring underneath). If such hard floors aren’t on the cards, invest in a generous welcome mat to ensure that no muddy shoes make it to the rest of the house.
5. Accessories
Time for the fun stuff! Accessories are the perfect way to connect to the charm and character of the rest of your home. Period and thrifted pieces are particularly great for entryways as their mismatched nature pairs well with the wear they will inevitably experience from consistent use. We love seasonal plants, quirky wall art, and a mirror to add a pop of fun, but you can pretty much use anything that speaks to your personality and your home!
How To Decorate Each Type Of Entryway
So, now that we’ve covered some general entryway decorating tips, it’s time to turn to the different types of entrances and their specific requirements. Of course, we’ll also offer up a few more suggestions on how to decorate each of them…
6. Foyer
When you think of a foyer, it’s likely that your mind goes to a massive sprawling staircase in the middle of a grand marble room. Whilst this is technically a foyer, not all entryways that fall into the category need to be so stately. Derived from the French ‘le foyer’ meaning the home or household, the foyer is simply a gathering space designed to welcome and allow guests to get settled. It tends to be a little more formal than other entryways, with a slightly more spacious and furnished nature. They are particularly common in Victorian and Tudor homes as they were often implemented in the past to keep out the winter chill from the main indoor space.
How to decorate a foyer entryway
Due to their bigger size and wider functionality, guests tend to spend more time in a foyer entryway than they would in a smaller equivalent. As such, it can be a great idea to make the best of wall space and give them something to look at, whether that be your favourite paintings, books or photographs. Luxurious and unique pieces tend to fare well in foyers, offering a focal point to begin conversations as guests enter the house.
Foyers can also be a great opportunity for a multi-use space. So along with your ‘drop off zone’, you may want to include a comfortable seating area littered with reading material or even a small desk of some kind. Just be sure not to overcrowd the space and interrupt the flow through the home!
7. Boot Rooms and Small Entryways
After WW2, foyers have seen quite a decrease in popularity, with homeowners shifting their focus to more efficient designs. In accordance, the less formal boot room or small entryway, has grown in popularity. Whilst a boot room often suggests a secondary entrance at the back of the house, nowadays, it serves largely the same purpose as a small entryway at the front, hence the interchangeability of the two terms within this section.
Small entryway décor ideas
As the boot room and small entryway are smaller but still receive the same high level of traffic, they need to be more practical and durable. So, when it comes to small entryway décor ideas, marrying functionality and aesthetics is a key goal. This involves being more thoughtful when it comes to furniture arrangements, as well as paying more attention to the durability of flooring. Think smarter multi-purpose storage; a thick, easy-to-clean rug; key hooks and coat racks to maximise wall space; and a large mirror to help the room to feel bigger.
8. Hallways
To put it simply, if you open your front door and see your stairs in front of you, your entryway is probably a hallway. A long and narrow passageway connecting different rooms, the main function is to facilitate movement between different sections of the building.
Decorating a hallway entryway
The major factor to keep in mind when decorating your hallway is the physical dimensions. Since they are typically long and narrow rather than wide and big, furniture can easily impede the space if the measurements aren’t carefully considered. For this reason, runner rugs and innovative storage solutions like console/hall tables or thin benches can be useful to tick your practical requirements without blocking the flow throughout your home.
Don’t forget to celebrate the stairs too! Since you’ll quite often see the pair together when you enter the house, it is important to make sure that the stairs and downstairs hallway are cohesive in terms of tone. This is a great chance to implement a motif throughout your hallway, stairs, and landing ideas to tie them all together – whether that’s a certain colour, pattern, or symbol.
9. Entryways Within Rooms
If your entrance opens into a defined room – often the kitchen or living room – then you’re working with an entryway within a room. Whilst it might seem that you can’t do much with an entryway that doesn’t exist as a separate entity, there’s actually plenty of ideas to create a moment to pause and prepare before moving into the rest of the home. In one word: zoning.
How to decorate an entryway within another room
Ultimately, the goal is to create a ‘zone’ which functions as a welcoming and practical entryway. There are several ways to do this, including floor-to-ceiling curtains (which also work well to disguise the front door!), actual room partitions, or simply tactical furniture layout. Whichever you choose, create a border for where you want your entryway to end and your main room to begin. It can also help to have a slightly different theme or aesthetic to visually signal a separate space – for instance, you might use beige for the overall room but add sage accents within your entrance space. Just take care to ensure that the entryway is cohesive or, at the very least, complementary with the main room!
The Key To The Best First Impression
And there we have it – entryway decorating tips to make the best first impression. Balance functionality and flow with your personal aesthetics, and you’ll be good as gold. Now, if you’re looking to maintain that stellar impression throughout your home, check out our other design inspiration guides – we’ll see you over there!
