Entryways

The entryway is essentially the main portal to your home. It’s the first room where people can see your home’s style and design, so it’s important to plan it well.

There are many different ways to design entryways to grab the attention of whoever comes into your home while making them functional and cohesive. So, let’s see how you can design an entryway that complements your home’s overall aesthetic and design.

Entryway vs. Foyer

Before we dive into how you can go about designing the entryway in your home, we must first differentiate the term entryway from the term foyer. Even though these terms are used interchangeably and the purpose of these rooms is the same, they don’t really mean the exact same thing.

Entryways are small rooms or areas that you pass through to get inside your house or apartment. They’re mainly used to receive guests and store their coats and are found in residential homes. As you enter, you actually get a feel of the whole house and get a hint of the style the home is designed in.

Foyers, on the other hand, are also used for receiving guests, but they’re much larger, grander, and more elegant than entryways, so they can even be viewed as separate rooms. Foyers generally have high-end finishes, quality floors, and even a hanging chandelier. They’re found both in residential spaces and in hotels, cinemas, theaters, and other buildings intended to gather larger groups of people.

Adjacent to a foyer room is a coat closet or a space to store the guest’s personal belongings, and if the building is multi-story, the foyer is the room that contains the staircases for the next floors.

Depending on how big the layout of your home is and your personal preference, you could either go with an entryway or a foyer.

Entryways Styles

The style of your home will probably determine the style of your entryway if you’re into a cohesive look. So, let’s take a look at different entryway styles, and if you don’t find the right one for you in this article, you could visit the one that talks about design styles at length.

Traditional

Traditional are probably the first ones we think of when it comes to entryways and foyers. The style is inspired by how European entryways used to look a few hundred years ago. These entryways feature carved wood materials and furnishings, rich textiles, and detailed crown molding, which elevates these spaces.

Minimal

Minimal entryways are bright areas that have a clean look. This style is based on the “Less is more” philosophy and focuses on keeping things simple. To incorporate this style in your entryway, choose storage solutions that have hidden drawers and focus on creating an uncluttered space with clean lines.

Modern

Modern entryways look a lot similar to minimal ones in terms of the uncluttered and bright feel they have. However, a modern style also includes pops of color that make the space feel more inviting. Choose an accent color or two to make the entryway really stand out.

Parisian

Parisian style entryways embody refined and soft features that make the entryway space look effortless. The aesthetic of these entryways combines soft pastel hues, greys, blushes, and French blue. Furnishings can vary anywhere between baroque and rococo, but they’re always high-quality antique pieces.

Bohemian

The bohemian-styled entryway has a variety of patterns and textures that make this area feel cozy and relaxed. If you want to make your entryway boho-inspired, include key neutral colors, pops of color, and textures and patterns. Bohemian furniture often uses materials such as rattan that make the area feel unique.

Rustic

A rustic-inspired entryway will contain unfinished furniture made of wood and a variety of natural materials. It mainly focuses on bringing nature inside the home and introducing warm colors either by adding colorful rugs and curtains or a vase filled with fresh flowers.

Essential Entryway Furniture Pieces

After deciding on a style for your entryway, you’ll need to choose what furniture to add to make the space functional. We suggest choosing quality pieces of furniture that will stand the test of time and you’ll love for years.

Entryway Table

A common piece of furniture in entryways is the entryway table, which is the main drop point for your keys and other personal belongings. This table makes it easy for you to quickly grab or drop everything that you need before you go out the door, and you can use the drawers to store personal items. Depending on the size of your entryway, you can choose between different table shapes and sizes and choose one that works best with the style you’re going for. You can personalize the table by adding decor, photos, plants, or a mirror, but one item you should definitely include is the catch-it-all bowl.

Bench

An essential piece of furniture in your entryway is a place to sit, but it doesn’t need to be a bench. Depending on the layout of your entryway and how big it is, you could include a chair, an ottoman, or even a stool. Just make sure that it isn’t too big so you don’t bump into it when you open the door. And if you have the extra space for a bigger bench, use the space underneath for storage.

Hallway Storage or a Coat Rack

Regardless of how big your entryway is, you should include a larger piece of furniture that will provide a home for your coats, shoes, hats and gloves, bags, shopping bags, and other items. If you have a larger entryway, include a reach-in closet, a walk-in closet, or a wardrobe where you’ll place all these items. For smaller entryways, a simple coat rack or just a few hooks on the wall will be enough.

How to Enhance the Entryway Ambiance?

There are three main ways that you can enhance the ambiance in your entryway, and those include color, light, and accessories or decor. Let’s look at how each can elevate this area of your home.

Color

To create an entryway that’s cohesive with the rest of your home, the color should go along with that of the neighboring rooms and their style. From there, you can continue to add a personal touch to this area by including a statement wallpaper, a bold color that will make this room inviting (yellow would be a good option), neutral tones such as creams or terracotta in a smaller room, and colors found in nature such as greens and blues if you want to have a calming space.

Light

The entryway area gives visitors a hint of how the rest of your place looks, so good lighting is crucial. If you have an adequate amount of natural light, that would be best, but if not, you’ll need to think about how you can create a warm and inviting feel using light fixtures. Add a table lamp to the entryway table, a sconce or two on the walls, spotlights, or a ceiling fixture, the options are limitless.

Accessories

Apart from the main furnishings, you’ll also want to personalize the entryway by adding decor and accessories.

Mirrors

As we’ve mentioned above, you can’t have a functional entryway without having a mirror. We suggest having a full-length mirror if you have room for it. Otherwise, add a smaller mirror above your entryway table, so you can check yourself before you head out, but also increase the amount of light and space in the entryway.

Plants

Houseplants can not only make your entryway feel more appealing since they bring nature in and accessorize the space, but they also keep it smelling fresh. Popular plants you may want to include in your entryway include Bamboo, Fiddle leaf fig, Monstera, Croton, Lemon tree, and others.

Artwork

Including artwork in your entryway can say a lot about you as a person and your home overall. If you want to add a splash of color, add a piece by your favorite painter or create some art yourself and hang it in this area.

Rugs

Adding a rug or a carpet to your entryway is a great way to bring a different texture into this area and can also help you separate the entryway area if you have an open plan. Choose a material that will bring in a cozy atmosphere while being easy to clean.

Final Tips on Harmonizing the Entryway With the Rest of the House

The entryway is the first and last impression that your guests will have, so this isn’t a place you should overlook. For that reason, it’s important to focus on these main aspects as soon as you start planning your entryway:

• Choose the right furniture pieces that will work both with the style of your home and the color palette you’ve chosen.
• Don’t underestimate the importance of color and light.
• Incorporate furnishings and decor that are easy to maintain and clean.
• Have a good organization system to keep this space neat and calming.
• Add your own personal touch.
  
• And don’t forget, designing this space should be a fun experience that will help make it both functional and inviting.