Entry Hall Decor – How to Make a Good First Impression

April 24, 2013

You know what they say about first impressions. The Entry Hall is the first room your guests see as they enter and the last one as they leave . Interior designer Nina Campbell says the entry “sets the tone for the house and deserves to be considered a space in its own right”. Good design requires a statement. You can do that with color, art, a great table, or lighting.

Entry hall’s come in all shapes and sizes (venti, grande, tall) each has its own decorating challenge. A large space can look naked and a tiny space can looked crammed; neither is good decorating nor is it pragmatic. If you have an older home with a small entry use mirrors to open the space, bright colors to keep it light, and a narrow console to hold a lamp or flower.

A larger entry can be painted a rich color (bittersweet chocolate -Benjamin Moore) and filled with a collection of art, a chandelier and a bench.We went shopping at 2 local stores to inspire our Entry Hall ” impressions”. Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors is where well known designer’s shop for unique pieces both at the store and on 1stdibs.com. The owner, Ladonna Harris, has exquisite taste and a heart the size of Texas. BD Jeffries has earned a reputation for quiet sophistication. Their seasoned buyers travel throughout Europe to find antiques and work closely with manufacturers to create custom items specifically for their store.

Large oval white mirror from BD Jeffries. A focal piece for a large colorful entry.

Iron console with glass top, original oil paintings, an antique lamp from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors is perfect vignette for a small entry. A live plant adds good Feng Shui.

Iron cathedral mirror above a demi wood table from BD Jeffries. A tall entry is needed to accommodate the mirror and what a statement.

Fiona console made of wood and steel, pair of glass lamps with cork shades, and the camel pony bench is a mix of textures all in the same color pallet from BD Jeffries. Ideal for a long narrow space.

Custom iron console with wooden Corinthian mirror and the reflection of a Greek god from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors.

Major “wow’ factor…I forgot to ask Ladonna if this was Apollo, the god of war, or Adonis, the god of love. Let’s just say it’s Adonis. I prefer love.

The legs have it! This 18th century Swedish table with carved base from BD Jeffries would look great with a mirror. The oval size makes it ideal for a smaller space.

Black criss cross console and fleur mirror from BD Jeffries.

Carved wood chest, antique Italian stool with turned legs, 19th century Spanish figurines from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors. Use the entry to display a collection or family heirlooms.

Painted chest of drawers, large gold mirror with rounded top, pair of Foo Dog lamps from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors. Foo Dogs, or Chinese lions, are said to have protective benefits and were used as guardians of palaces. For this reason, I think having a pair of Foo Dogs in the entry just makes sense.

Oval zinc table and Cala bronze colored lamps from BD Jeffries. This table has a heavy grounded feel which would anchor a large vestibule. It is a mix of shiny industrial and curvy.

We found the perfect pair of consoles & sconces for a small entry at Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors.

A grouping of pictures instead of one large piece works in any space…large or small. The pair of 18th century altar sticks converted to lamps from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors is an example of what makes her shop so special. There is a patina on antiques that can’t be achieved any other way except through time.

19th century French settee with nice big fat pillows from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors. If the entry is large, why not add a special seat.

Ultra mod and sleek is the Casey bench from BD Jeffries.

Small French settee from BD Jeffries

For those of you who want to add a bench but don’t have a large space, we found this very dainty one at Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors.

Art doesn’t always = painting. Coral under glass from BD Jeffries might be all you have room for and that is just fine.

Speaking of coral… we found this blue coral at Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors.

Large abstract painting in gold frame with Turkish wooden bread riser from Ladonna’s Antiques and Interiors.

Lighting is so important in decor. If you don’t have room for a chandelier try a pair of sconces. The light shines beautifully down the walls. Iron sconce with curved shade from BD Jeffries.