Home Design

5 Ways to Create an Inviting Entryway to Your Home

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The entryway is the first step into your house or apartment and, though you and your guests will not spend a lot of time there, it is important to create a space to make them feel welcome. The entryway is a bridge between the outside and the rest of your home, which means it is a perfect place to share a part of yourself and to greet guests in a warm and inviting space. The right lighting, colors, storage, seating, and mirror can clearly convey to your guests that they are warmly welcome in your home.

Start by Reviewing Your Space

When it comes to design, you have to plan on making space work within the structure of your home. People are naturally drawn to any given focal point in a room, which means that even if you do not have a formal entryway, you can create one.

Begin by standing in the foyer to see the kind of space you have and then ask yourself a few questions. How many people can comfortably fit in the entryway? What kind of lighting fills the space? What do you want this space to convey?

Lighting

Different types of doors help determine the amount of light coming into the entryway. If there is a window on or near your door then sunlight will shine through from early morning until the evening.

Sunny rooms offer natural light but can be too bright and a little overwhelming. If that is the case, you can tone down the brightness with a cool color like a sky blue or sage, as well as a neutral gray.

If, on the other hand, you have no light coming through, painting the walls a cheerful color such as a sunny yellow, or even a bright white, can open up the space making the entryway seem larger than its actual size.

Color

Color, subtle, bold, romantic, or minimalist, can make a statement that expresses how you feel about your home. Color can be added by painting the walls or with displayed art and an area rug. The art and décor you choose says a lot about you and can be a great way to start a conversation. A durable rug can also be a talking piece, as well as tie the entire entryway together.

Storage

Guests need a place to set things down that they will not need until they leave. This includes a place to hang their coat, put their umbrella, for their keys, etc. Storage tells your guests that you want them to put their stuff away in a safe place, sit down, and relax.

Storage options are not limited to traditional console tables and mudroom benches. They can include any kind of table or bench, as well as bookshelves that can also work as a room divider in homes without a formal entryway.

Seating

As strange as it may initially seem to consider seating in the foyer, oftentimes guests do need a place to sit before they make it to the living room. The kind of seating you need depends on your space.

If you have minimal space or lack a formal entryway, you can combine both storage and seating with a traditional mud bench. This gives people a place to sit and take off their shoes if it is cold and rainy outside. You might want to have slippers near the front door that are available to friends and family. It is a warm and cozy way to let them know you care.

If you have space available, placing a simple chair in a corner of the foyer is enough to create a homey feel and let your guests know they should feel welcome to sit and relax.

A Mirror

A small mirror in the entryway is a way for guests to feel reassured that they look okay with a quick glance that also allows them to connect with themselves while they are in your house.

Use design psychology as a way of thinking about how you want your guests to feel when they are in your home. Use a mirror as a way of reflecting the entryway itself and to establish an atmosphere of warmth for you and your guests.

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