What Kind of Entrance Does Your Home Make?

Is your entrance or foyer elegant? Functional? Contemporary? Warm? Dramatic? Whatever the mood and look of your entrance, consider what kind of initial statement it makes about your design style. Does your entrance reflect your personal taste? Entrances are important because they welcome people into your home (including yourself!), so why not give guests a first impression that reflects your style?

Many times, it seems as if foyers are overlooked because they are a no-man’s land of space – usually a pass-through to the stairs or other rooms. If you think your entrance could use a face-lift or if you struggle with how to decorate this in-between space, luckily it is easy to make your entrance or foyer stand out. All you need to do is to create a focal point, which is usually centered around some sort of console table or place to set your keys down as you come in. Start with a table and create a focal point by adding lighting, artwork and accessories, which will frame out an area that your eye is drawn to as you enter. This solution is relatively quick and easy, and you don’t have to buy a lot of furniture or accessories to make a statement in your foyer.

We’ve brought together a few of our favorite entrance vignettes and also found some examples of more functional, mudroom-type entrances. Mudrooms are great if you enter through a garage or side entry. As winter approaches, people need a place to remove those layers as they come inside from the cold!!

 
Below: This eclectic mix of styles is hip and fun. I especially like how the old and new pieces combine with eye-catching patterns in the mirror frames and contrasting colors with the red, white and black. In design, it’s often refreshing not to be matchy matchy with your styles!

Not everyone has a grand or large entrance. I love this petite entrance because of the soft colors and simple storage boxes. As you can see, these shelves are built into a small nook that seems to be part of the main living area, so there really is no formal entrance at all. Even a small space can be made functional for grabbing things on the go!

While we mainly work in a transitional style with our clients, I liked this traditional foyer’s rich wood tones as they contrast with the creamy color on the walls. The final result is a space that is warm, inviting and clean.

What a dramatic runner for your stairs! This entrance continues the theme of crisp and clean from the foyer above, but does so with a stark black and white color scheme.

Here is a good example of mixed styles and bold design choices. Traditional molding covers the walls while a modern console table and light fixture add to the mix of styles. One bold design choice is of course the oversize mirror behind the table!

Why not add a punch of art? We’ve seen many examples of entrances where mirrors are the feature of the entryway, but hanging art like this can be a big ‘wow’ factor to a space. Notice how the lowest art is only about a foot and a half off the floor – this is a good idea because one’s eye level changes when walking up a staircase.

This foyer might get hard on the eyes overtime for some people, but I love the energy of it. It’s so fresh and bright. Can you imagine coming home to this every night??

While this foyer is also bright and bold, I think the blue is calmer than the black/orange/cream above and would be easier to have around for the long-term.

I like the color scheme of the blues/greens/tans in this summery, casual entryway.

How beachy! This feels like a calm, warm welcome to a week at the beach.

Here is a large, open-concept entryway that has been minimally decorated with a contemporary flair.

While entryways can be grand and beautiful showcases, don’t forget about mudrooms! In contrast to most foyers, mudrooms act as the functional spaces to store coats, shoes and extras that keep you warm and dry. Here are a few mudrooms we found that have a harmonious blend of style and function. The sage green cabinetry of the first room is a feature of the space, highlighted by recessed lights above, while there is also an office area with a desk to the left. Talk about function in a small space! I like the cubby holes that are set up, perhaps one for each child?

This second mudroom has a completely different color scheme than the first and is simply just a mudroom rather than a dual purpose entry like the one above. Even though it is ‘just’ a mudroom, what a lovely space! I like the wainscoting element as it blends in with the cabinetry and creates a unified space. The coordinating roman shade and box seat cushion fabrics also help to pull everything together. Last but not least, I like how the cabinets hide all the coats, boots, etc., giving what could be a cluttered space an uncluttered look. The warm neutral paint color and floors make for a great canvas for the fabric to really pop in the space.

I hope this has inspired some quick makeovers in the foyer or more extensive renovations in the mudroom of your apartment or home. With entryways, a little can go a long way! There is not better time than right before the winter to create a cozy area to come home to.