Making a Glamourous Entrance

The most popular room my clients ask me to design is the living room.  It’s pretty rare that I get a burning request for an entryway makeover but it’s one I often suggest to clients.  Entryways are one of the most under-appreciated aspects of a home yet they are one of the most powerful spaces.  Entries set the tone and leave a lasting impression as they are the first and last parts of your home that will be experienced.

Entryways command some serious attention in our lives and their design should be just as intentional.  Especially with the holidays creeping up, nothing is more welcoming than a beautiful entry that introduces guests to your style.  Just remember to avoid the lure of clutter in an entryway by being on guard for classic pitfalls such as the ominous bowl of pennies and loose tic-tacs, the volcanic pile of every shoe you ever owned or the embarrassingly growing supply of pet raincoats and bedazzled leashes.

Entryways should be functional.   Historically, entries were designed as a transitional space with the main purpose of holding outdoor clothes and shoes.  If you aren’t lucky enough to have a mudroom, your entry needs to double as a space to hold simple everyday items such as keys, wallets and traditional weather gear that we don’t want tracked around the house like umbrellas, boots, and winter coats.

You don’t need a grand foyer to create an interesting and elegant entry.  If your entryway is brief, this could be a great spot to experiment with wallpaper.  In even smaller spaces or apartments, try a bold color that carries similar tones used throughout adjacent rooms.  This can give the entry its own identity while keeping the major themes of your design cohesive.

Don’t forget lighting.  Whether you have a sprawling entryway flooded with warm, natural light or an entryway that opens into a closet (my first apartment), great lighting can only make it better.  A console with a pair of lamps is a timeless no fail option.  Overhead pendants are also worth considering especially since they come in such a creative range of styles and prices.

Defining an entryway with flooring is also a smart option.  Placing a distinct rug or patterned flooring within an entryway can be a quick fix to brighten a doorway and mark the shift of moving into the larger rooms of the house.

Here are a few entryways that inspire me.  Please leave a photo of your favorite entryway on our Facebook page, I’d love to see!  http://www.facebook.com/CoddingtonDesign