If an entryway is a home's first impression, it should get its fair amount of consideration. Whether yours is getting lost in coats and umbrellas or currently feels bare—the home equivalent of never introducing yourself at a party—there are plenty of ways to dress up the space with style.
Storage is a key component of decorating your entryway, so it's important to think about which items tend to land here in your home. In order to nail a great first impression from the moment your guests walk through the door, take a cue from your own personal style and blend it with furnishings and accessories.
To get started, browse design ideas like half-wall entryways, minimalist and maximalist décor, and inspiration from popular designers like Studio McGee and more.
01 Make Space to Spare
If you have a dedicated entryway in your home, why not use that extra room to its full potential? Take this example from Studio McGee: It shows a wide-set console with two storage bins, a lamp, a vase, and accessories underneath a large mirror. Since all of the items fall within the same color palette, the aesthetic looks intentional and welcoming. When you have the space, make sure to find furnishings that fill it proportionally—these larger pieces appear balanced given the size of the area, but the main console's open front keeps it from looking too heavy.
02 Be Airy and Bright
If you like a minimal aesthetic, this option is right up your alley with a continuous color pallete. An entryway serves a utilitarian purpose as a dedicated place to take off shoes and outerwear. This minimalist approach from Katie Martinez Design shows the beauty in a well-designed bench, which can be all you need to define an entryway. Matching sconces provide light, and a basket serves as storage for miscellaneous items while décor connects the bench to the light fixtures and rug.
03 Meet Function With Style
There's a nice balance between style and function in this space by Willam Hunter Collective and Emily Henderson, which pairs a small console table with an umbrella stand, mirror, and small bowl—all practical pieces for an entryway. Thanks to the plants, stack of books, and framed image, this area is filled with warmth while keeping things functional. Items complement the surrounding textures and colors, which helps this entryway fit in with the rest of the home's design.
Sometimes the biggest statement in an entryway isn't about the furniture at all. In this space by Ashley Montgomery Design, a textured tile floor along the hallway adds dynamic interest while matching dominant colors to the room's trim. The olive green accent color bounces throughout the room, from a throw pillow on the entry chair to palm leaves in the artwork and green cabinetry that extends the space. A warm wood console table creates an abundance of storage, matched with small items like clay pots and woven bowls for keys.
05 Try Small Space Solutions
You're short on space, but not on style: For those of us with small or non-existent entryways, it's still possible to create an area that acts as a landing zone in your home. In this space from Lindsey Brooke Design, a blank wall is given purpose with the help of a textured stool, a stack of books, a plant, and matching artwork. This is a great solution for anyone with a half-wall separating your front door from the rest of your living space. If you need more storage, place a basket under the stool and a floating shelf on the wall for keys and other small items.
06 Get the Laid-Back Approach
If you consider yourself to be more laid-back than traditional, this entryway from Ashley Montgomery Design is a great fit. It makes use of a long wall with an equally-long console table, and maximizes storage. Take stock of the materials you'd like to use in your entryway and pay attention to texture: A patterned rug, linen seating, polished wood table, and leafy accents all add dynamic interest to this fresh, clean design.
07 Double Up on Décor
More is more: In this entryway by Pure Salt Interiors, the creative use of matching mirrors and baskets creates an element of symmetry while bouncing light throughout the space. A clear vase decorated with beaded necklaces and lush leaves adds a personal flair of texture, and a simple bowl makes space for keys. The mirrors make the space feel even larger by reflecting shiplap walls, minimalist artwork, and the backside of the vase all while keeping to the color scheme.
08 Go Big on Lighting
For a bold statement that doesn't require much décor, opt for a large pendant chandelier that commands attention from the first step inside. Here, a woven light fixture hangs in layered sections to create dynamic visual weight. Matched with a tall indoor tree, black door frame, and marbled floors, this entryway feels sleek and modern—and natural elements like the Southwestern-inspired rug and floor basket bring warmth to the overall design.
09 Indulge Your Artsy Side
Let the artist inside you shine through: In this entryway by Brexton Cole Interiors, modern wallpaper transcends a traditional home for a flair of style. Since the hallway is narrow, a minimal entry table topped with marble creates space for small items while adding a bit of texture. A modern pendant light carries the style up to the ceiling, and a simple black and white rug mirrors the colors of the wall.
10 Mix and Match Styles
In this entryway by Ashley Montgomery Design, modern accents blend with traditional and rustic furniture pieces. This space doesn't sacrifice an inch of function, with plenty of drawers in the entry table for hideaway items and a matching wall rack to hang coats, towels, and other essentials. A farmhouse chair is staged alongside the table for seating to take off shoes, while the color scheme carries throughout the design with reddish-brown feathers in a ceramic vase to complement darker wood tones.
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