The entryway is the first impression guests have when entering your home.
An inviting, well-designed entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house and makes your guests feel welcomed from the moment they walk through the door.
They showcase clever ways to maximize the function and visual appeal of the entry space.
With photos for inspiration, you’ll learn expert advice to craft an entry that perfectly suits your style:
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Vibrant Floral Wallpaper
Liven up a neutral entryway by adorning a focal wall with an eye-catching floral wallpaper.
Opt for a colorful, large-scale print to make a bold first impression on guests.
Contrast the busyness of the wallpaper with clean-lined furniture and minimal accessories.
Paint the other walls a soft hue like gray or tan to prevent the space from feeling overpowering.
Add natural elements like a jute rug, rattan bench, and a potted plant to complement the vibrant botanical print.
Top it off with a modern pendant light to illuminate and enhance the floral design.
The juxtaposition of the graphic wallpaper against pared-back furnishings makes this entry both visually interesting and inviting.
Blue-Green Hued Walls
Cool blue-green shades are ideal for an entryway to evoke a sense of tranquility in your home.
Soft, desaturated tones like airy mint, aloe, or aqua work particularly well in a small entry space to create a soothing atmosphere.
Accentuate the restful wall color with natural textures and materials.
A pale Distressed Hardwood floor, cozy sisal rug, stone-top console table, and rattan mirror provide an organic contrast to the colored walls.
Incorporate metallic accents and vintage-style lighting for pops of visual interest.
Plants such as eucalyptus, ferns, or succulents also complement the cool blue-green palette.
This calming color scheme makes coming home feel like a relaxing escape.
Textured Wood Slat Accent Wall
Add visual flair to your entryway with a textured wood accent wall.
Use varying widths and lengths of reclaimed wood slats mounted horizontally to the wall in a random pattern.
The natural grain and knots of the salvaged wood will add rustic character.
Whitewashed oak or bleached Baltic wood work nicely to lighten up the look.
Contrast the reclaimed wood wall with painted drywall in a dark, inky blue or charcoal for dramatic effect.
For decoration, opt for minimal accessories like black iron sconces, a sculptural vase, or a large framed mirror.
The multilayered wood accent wall brings organic warmth, depth, and sophistication to any entry space.
Hanging Dried Floral Installation
Create an artful display in your entryway with a hanging dried floral installation.
Use a mix of dried grasses, palms, ferns, and blooms of varying shapes, sizes, and textures for visual interest.
Mount the dried arrangement on the wall with a wire and hooks, allowing the flowers to cascade down against a neutral background.
Contrasting brass accents like a rimmed mirror, sconces, or vase provide a nice complement.
Whitewashed brick, charcoal painted walls, or natural wood finishes also enhance the ethereal quality of the flowers.
Filling empty wall space with an earthy dried botanical install brightens up the entryway in a natural, bohemian way.
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Geometric Tile Flooring
Make a bold flooring choice to spice up your foyer.
Black and white geometric tile sets the tone the moment you walk in the entryway.
The graphic diamonds, zigzags, or concentric circles create impact against neutral walls and clean furnishings.
Pair the visual tiles with modern elements like leather benches, steel lighting, or a glass vase.
In a small entryway, opt for smaller scale mosaic tiles to prevent overwhelming the space.
Salvaged Wood Console Table
Incorporate a unique, eco-friendly focal point into your entryway with a salvaged wood console table.
The inconsistencies in tone, texture, and markings on upcycled wood make for a visual statement.
Seek out a console constructed from old barn wood, railway ties, wine barrels, or driftwood sourced locally.
The reclaimed wood will impart a sense of history.
Allow the natural imperfections in the wood to take center stage by pairing the console with simple ceramics and minimal decor.
A vintage industrial lamp and a bowl of citrus fruits make perfect vignette partners.
The salvaged wood console offers rustic charm and environmental sustainability.
Black and White Photography Gallery Wall
Make your entry feel like an art gallery with a black and white photography display.
Choose a collection of 20-30 black and white photos or prints to arrange in an asymmetrical formation.
Mix up the frame sizes and styles for eclectic appeal.
Consider vivid pops of color with brightly hued mats or frames.
For variation, hang some prints with clips instead of frames.
Explore themes like cityscapes, nature scenes, portraits, or close-up details in your photos.
The high-contrast black and white scheme feels bold and graphic against brightly painted entry walls.
This artsy gallery finesse personalizes the space.
Built-in Banquette Seating
Maximize function and style in your entryway with built-in bench seating.
Tuck a long padded banquette unobtrusively into the space under coat hooks or shelves.
Up holster the bench in durable charcoal or navy canvas or performance velvet.
Include plenty of comfy cushions along with throw pillows for added warmth.
Built-in seating creates a practical spot for removing shoes or brief hello/goodbye moments.
For extra storage, opt for bench seating with cabinet doors underneath.
Sconces mounted above the banquette provide ambient lighting.
Built-in seating makes the most of unused areas for a useful, space-saving solution.
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Antique Persian Rug Runner
Run an antique Persian rug down a long entryway for old world grandeur.
The ornate medallion motifs and lush pile of antique rugs immediately intrigue guests.
Search for turn-of-the-century Persian Tabriz, Serapi, or Heriz rugs to add value and patina.
Ensure the rug is large enough to fill the space.
The perfect backdrop is natural oak or walnut floors stained dark to highlight the carpet.
For any furnishings, stick to classic accessories like an antique console table, gilded mirror, and crystal chandelier.
Allow the regal carpet runner to take the spotlight.
Its timeworn elegance creates an inviting landing for family and guests.
Round Mirror Medallion
Make a stunning first impression using a round mirror as the entryway’s central focal point.
A large, ornately carved mirror medallion provides instant drama.
Consider a looking-glass with scalloped edges, faceted jewels, or gilded detailing.
For impact, select a substantial mirror that stretches 3⁄4 across the wall.
Illuminate with sconces or pendants to highlight the mirror’s ornamentation.
Beneath it, incorporate a demilune console table, beautiful vase, or aperture for tossed keys and mail.
The opulent round mirror medallion refracts light to instantly brighten up the space.
Guests will find themselves checking their reflection as they walk in!
Multipurpose Mudroom Furniture
Maximize function and storage in an entry mudroom with specialized furniture.
Seek out a cabinet, dresser, or hall tree uniquely suited for organizing family clutter.
Opt for furniture with built-in hooks for coats and hats, shelving for shoes and bags, and compartments for accessories and mail.
Label sections to keep everyone organized.
Look for pieces with style that suits your décor, like vintage lockers for rustic aesthetics or streamlined cabinetry for contemporary flair.
Pick durable finishes like rubberwood or metals that withstand wear and tear.
Multipurpose mudroom furniture keeps all the clutter out of sight but close at hand.
Vintage Trunk Coffee Table
In a small entryway, get double duty from furniture like a vintage trunk coffee table.
Antique leather and wood trunks lend old-world adventurous spirit while serving as a handsome table.
Stack books and decorative boxes on top for prominent display.
Look for a trunk big enough to also store items like umbrellas, spare blankets, or off-season accessories inside.
An iconic travel trunk with nostalgic hotel labels works nicely for a well-traveled look.
The patina and character of a monogrammed steamer trunk makes a fine family heirloom.
Repurposed as a coffee table, it’s both stylish and functional.
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Faux Greenery Archway
Transform a plain entryway into a festive spot with a faux greenery archway.
Craft an arch using a grapevine wreath base from a craft store.
Then, wire in an abundant mix of artificial foliage like laurel, magnolia, and ivy leaves along with sprigs of faux lemons or berries for color.
Wrap tiny white string lights throughout to create a twinkling effect.
Hang the archway securely in the entry over a console and mirror.
The year-round faux arch adds natural cheer and creates a pretty portal welcoming guests over the threshold.
It’s an easy upgrade suited to all home styles.
Your entryway sets expectations the moment someone steps inside your home.
Playing with wall treatments, flooring, lighting, furniture, color, texture, and accessories allow you to craft a space that uniquely welcomes visitors.
