The entryway is the first space in your home that people see when they walk in and it can set a great tone for what’s to come in the rest of your home or make people wonder if they want to continue. Creating an interesting, attractive, organized, and functional foyer or entryway can not only excite people to be in your home, it can also help you and your family be more organized, enter and exit your home with ease, and feel comfortable. proud of the way others will. see your house too.
There are some essential elements to having an organized and attractive entrance. The first is to have a really cool console or entryway table. For the most part, every foyer should have a really nice table to house some wonderful accessories, a lamp or two, and (if you don’t have a wardrobe or enter through the garage) a basket or drawers to store keys, name badges, or other small items. . It’s also a great place to drop off the mail!
Excellent lighting is also a key component of a functional and attractive foyer or entryway. Your top lighting should really make a statement. Whether you have a two-story foyer or a seven-foot ceiling, there are wonderful lighting options at your disposal. Make sure the fixture fits the scale of the space. For example, a two story foyer should have a large and interesting chandelier or pendant light. If you have a seven-foot ceiling, on the other hand, you might be better off opting for a very nice recessed fixture. Whatever the height of the ceiling or the size of your foyer, really think about it and spend some money on a really great light fixture.
Also consider accent lighting. Lamps or dimmers are a great way to add accent lighting that can help diffuse some of the overhead lighting if you’re trying to create ambiance while entertaining. Wall sconces can also be very interesting and add a lot of style to a space while providing ambient and accent lighting. You don’t have to pay an electrician a ton of money to install large wall sconces in your driveway. Many companies now offer fantastic wall sconces in amazing styles and color options.
A great rug can not only help your entry space look and feel great, but it can also serve to help your guests clean their shoes a bit before entering your home. When it comes to purchasing appropriate entryway rugs, there are a few things to consider:
- Opt for a high-end wool area rug that can really handle a lot of traffic, keeping in mind that it will need to be cleaned regularly by a professional.
- Buy a rug made specifically for indoor and outdoor use that can be easily cleaned and maintained. Many companies now make indoor and outdoor rugs in a variety of styles, colors, patterns, and textures and at great prices.
Many people need a place to sit, take off and put on, as well as store shoes near the entrance or hallway. There are several creative and elegant ways to handle this. A great looking bench with built in storage is the most obvious and easy solution if you have the space. Another option is a slim bench with an open bottom for placing baskets or trays under it to neatly accommodate a small number of shoes or even children’s backpacks. You might also consider placing a really cool square storage ottoman or two under your console or hall table. The wheels make it easy to pull them out and put them away when you’re done using them, and the storage can hold a few of your family’s shoes.
If your entryway/foyer is the main entrance to your home (meaning you don’t have a foyer or driveway from the garage), you might also consider placing a couple of attractive baskets on top of your console table. A basket could be used to leave keys, phones and wallets when entering the house. The second can serve as a mail delivery point. The key to keeping this system organized, though, is having the baskets checked a couple of times a week to make sure there’s always room to drop in new items. You can also use the drawers of your console table for this purpose if the table has them and if they are large enough to organize these items.
The finishing touches are what really make entryways and foyers shine. If your space allows, a really dramatic mirror can serve to add style and allow you one last look at yourself before you leave the house. A vase of fresh (or really cool faux) flowers can add freshness to the space. Vases, bowls, sculptures, and artwork really make the space feel finished and make guests want to see what else you’ve done with the rest of your home. Really spend a little time adding personal touches to your foyer or entryway to make it feel finished and inviting.
