Welcome to our home. That’s the loaded message your entry hall or foyer should convey when someone steps inside. It’s a lot to communicate and achieve packed in, what for most of us, is a pretty small space.
The WELCOME part means your entry needs to be warm, inviting, beckoning. Come on in, step inside my friends, mi casa es su casa.
The OUR part means your entry should reflect your personality and style. No matter what that is. Your entry is the first introduction folks have to your personal space, and it’s the perfect place to set the tone visually.
The HOME part means your entry has a lot of work to do in its small space. It’s one of the hardest working rooms in your house, and needs to have a place for lots of things. Coats, keys, phones, mirror, lamp, briefcases, packages, mail, leashes, boots, umbrellas, seating, strollers, lacrosse sticks, etc.
We reached out to Beth Barden, a Charlotte Interior Designer, along with several of our interiors stores for thoughts and tips on making the most of your entry, plus items you can buy in the stores now. What may seem like a challenge to you or me turns out to be one of the decorators’ favorite rooms in the house!
Beth Barden of DesignPOST Interiors
Entryways are one of my favorite spaces to decorate. They are usually smaller areas so it is easy to make a few tweaks that can keep them fresh from season to season. By following a few simple tips you can have an inviting entry that not only welcomes your guest but also keeps things in order as you come and go. It’s one place where form and function can truly coexist.
5 Tips to a Perfect Entryway
A place for everything…This phrase may bring your mother’s voice to mind, but mom always knows best. Having designated places for keys, mail, your phone, etc. ensures that you can always find what you need quickly as you head out the door. And random piles of clutter will now be kept at bay. I love a set of trays for this.
The perfect table…It’s important to find a piece of furniture that fits the size of the room and provides the right elements for your needs. The simple white console used in the design board is simplicity at its best. It provides just enough surface space and room underneath to add your own personal take on storage. If your space could use a little more storage you could consider a piece with drawers, possibly even a repurposed dresser.
Good lighting…One of the fastest ways to infuse a space is with good lighting. Leaving room for a lamp or pair of lamps is great if possible and ditch the outdated flush mount on your ceiling for something that makes an impact.
Don’t skimp on decor just bc it’s not a “room”…Just because it lacks square footage doesn’t mean you can’t address your entryway as you do every other “real” room. Plan your layout, address lighting, and accessorize! Art, like the print pictured, is a great way to immediately show people a little taste of your style.
Pile on the texture…Like any space, texture is a great way to add depth. I prefer mixing lots of different finishes and materials as opposed to overwhelming a small space with too much color and pattern. Think raffia, linen, canvas, wood, metals, and glass. Natural greenery from your garden in a vase is a quick and inexpensive way to add texture. And of course a soft rug underfoot, like this canvas striped mat is always a good idea.
Think ahead…Anticipate the needs of you, your family, and guests when planning your entryway. Will they need a place to sit and put on shoes- add a stool or bench. Will you need a place to hang the dog leash and bags- find unique hooks. A place for beach towels and pool toys – get oversized baskets. How about a quick touch-up before you head out to dinner- hang a pretty mirror.
Some Entry Hall Picks from Abode
Some Options at High Cotton Home
Christina Spratt, Interior Designer with Front Door Fabrics & Interiors
It is amazing what a singular item, a throw pillow, a statement mirror, a floor vase with greenery, a small accent strip of a bold wallpaper, a new designer fabric to reupholster a hand-me-down bench cushion, etc. can do to transform the tiniest of entryways to the grandest of foyers to welcome you into the home and set the aesthetic tone for the flow of the rest of the house. It is all so case and style specific, but there are endless opportunities, and combinations to create the perfect welcoming space for your home. Our designers are happy to help you navigate those options to find the perfect fit for you and your house.
For rentals and starter homes, we have an amazing selection of designer wallpaper to create a focal wall in combination with a console perhaps with some upholstered x benches underneath and accessories and a lamp on top. Depending on space, maybe you just have a small bench with a few custom made pillows for a pop of color and pattern and a place to sit down and put your shoes on.
For a larger scale entry, we have amazing options for a grouping of a small upholstered chair and custom made skirted table, again with playful accents and accessories on top, to help set the tone of the house. All of these, of course, would be anchored by one of our fabulous special order rugs.
What to Buy Now for your Entry from Front Door Fabrics & Interiors
