When you invite guests, neighbors, and long-distance family over, you want to make them feel welcome. But you also want to make a great first impression the moment they set foot in your home. From giving personalized warm greetings to offering a tasty drink, there are many ways to make visitors feel invited and comfortable.
However, if you want to truly wow your guests and visitors when they arrive, a stunning entryway is a wonderful way to do so. From the ambiance provided by lighting to the versatile furniture and gorgeous area rugs that provide a warm foundation, here are seven entryway decor tips for a great first impression.
1. Accentuate the Architectural Details
Before even getting into the decor, lighting, and the like, take a look around your entryway and ask yourself if there is any way you can accentuate the already-existing architectural details and elements. Does your doorway feel a little lackluster and dull? Add a pediment above it to give it a grander look. When guests arrive, impress them with elegant paneling details, complete with stunning wood veneers.
You could even add a decorative molding trim such as crown molding or baseboard molding around the corners and edges to create more visual interest and texture. If you have a ceiling mount light fixture dangling from above, top it off with a ceiling medallion to draw the eye upwards.
2. Create Warmth Underfoot
A well-placed area rug can do a lot for space, and in an entryway foyer, it does even more. Not only does a rug ground the space and give it foundation, but it invites guests inside and makes them feel welcome. It also offers a soft, warm underfoot where they can kick off their shoes.
Choose an area rug that suits the home stylistically and can hold up to this high-traffic area. Natural woven sisal or a flat weave can withstand foot traffic, as can a wool area rug or a colorful kilim. Even if you prefer to show off your mosaic tile entryway flooring, a small mat can remove dampness from incoming shoes and add some character.
3. Offer a Restful Seat
Make sure to offer up some kind of seat in your entryway to make it as inviting and comfortable as the rest of your home. While many see this area only as a passage and choose to leave it sparse, a restful seat can make a great first impression.
Whether you have a spacious entryway where you can place a settee or wingback chair, or have a compact foyer that can only afford a slim bench or stool, what matters is that it offers a place to rest. Along with your seat, make sure to dress it up with pillows and a throw to give it a cozier look overall. You can even have a small table nearby to keep a key tray or a purse.
4. Go Vertical and Make Use of Wall Space
As mentioned, not all of us have a spacious entryway. Sometimes, we have to work with a smaller, more compact space to make a great impression. In these cases where square footage is limited, think vertical. Make use of all your surrounding wall space, mounting inspirational artwork and photos, or even accenting a focal wall with some back-in-trend wallpaper.
If your space is tight, forgo the wide, bulky furniture pieces like armoires, pedestal tables, and coat racks. Instead, widen the space as much as possible, using only simple coat hooks and a basket tucked in a corner to hold umbrellas and other taller items.
5. Choose Versatile Furniture Pieces
Any furniture you place in an entryway should be versatile, providing both style and function. This is especially true if your entryway lacks a built-in coat closet. Instead, you might have to get a bit creative, choosing furniture that offers ample storage for guests’ outerwear, shoes, umbrellas, and more.
At a minimum, place a size-appropriate console table in the entryway. This allows a surface where you and guests can toss keys or keep mail. Another versatile option is a coat rack with lots of hooks to hang hats and scarves. Adorn the space with trays and baskets to give it a chic rustic look and prevent the space from getting too cluttered.
6. Light the Way
If you opt for a long console table, be sure to add a pair of table lamps to illuminate the entryway. A glow of lighting can make a space feel warm and welcoming, giving the entryway a great first impression to guests. If your entryway is tight and your console table narrow, consider mounting a pair of sconces above the console or next to a mirror. Of course, you can also add a small chandelier or pendant lantern, too, which will spread the glow throughout the space. Plus, a chandelier or pendant can set the tone for the home, whether it’s a traditional or boho vibe.
Large windows can also provide natural lighting that can make your home feel open and airy. Lighting goes a long way in providing ambiance to space, so choose your lighting well and it can transform your entryway.
7. Create a Capsule of Your Home’s Personality
Give guests and visitors a sense of your home’s personality right away. By incorporating a subtle theme, whether it’s through a color combination, patterns, or a decor style, you can give a taste of what’s to come. Keep it subtle so it’s not over-the-top or on the nose and allow it to unify with the rest of the home. In essence, create a capsule or small vignette.
Hint at your family’s lifestyle through furniture, art, and decorative accents. Give individuality to your entryway with mementos of vacations and trips or hang a collection of art or family photos along the walls. This area of the home is a wonderful place to set some of your most prized, cherished possessions, displaying them for all to see.
