Creating a Better Entrance to Your Home
The entrance area will automatically impact how welcome guests will feel when they enter your home. All too often, the entrance to the home goes unnoticed and unused, but there are many ways that you can decorate yours so that it is warm, inviting and relaxing. The following are some decorating tips that will help you get more out of the entrance to your home, and create an atmosphere that balances comfort with function.
Colour
The colours you choose for your foyer set the mood of the space. Depending on what style you want for your entrance, choosing the right paint will make all the difference. If you are looking for an intimate, warm or romantic entrance, try painting with deeper colours like brown or red to create a closed-in space. If you have a small foyer however, then dark colours will only make your entrance look smaller and more cramped. For a small entrance area, or if you prefer bright colours, white, neutral, light blue or yellow walls will make it look warm, sunny and inviting, while creating an illusion of larger space.
Encourage Function
You want your entrance to look fabulous and inviting, but you can’t forget that it still serves an important purpose. This is where people come in from outside and need to store their outside gear. Having a closet, coat tree and shoe organiser available will keep the space looking clean and tidy. These organisers can also double as decorative items if you choose ones that match the look of the space.
Furnishings
Furniture in your entrance hall can really add to the ambiance of the room. If you don’t have a lot of space, a demi-lune or a small rectangular table might be the answer, or you can try mounting a narrow tabletop directly onto the wall. If you have a wide entrance, you could place a round table right in the middle of the foyer, which will make a large entrance feel more intimate. Tables are also useful in an entrance because they can catch keys, mail and bags as well as provide a place to put decorations. Depending on how much space you have, a small chair or slender love seat may be useful to make guests feel at home upon entry, and it will also provide a place to sit while removing shoes.
Lighting
A decorative lamp on your hall table can create soft lighting without taking up too much space, and a chandelier is a vast improvement over common ceiling fixtures. A dimmer switch is also useful for your foyer light fixture, as guests entering at night don’t want to be blinded the minute they walk into your home.
Decorations
Mirrors are one of the most common entranceway decorations as they help to reflect light and make the space look larger, as well as add a decorative touch to your entrance without taking up any floor space. Plants also make great decorations, whether they are tall floor plants or small potted plants for the table. A flower arrangement will add a fresh feeling to the space as well, and the pretty flowers will help to make your guests feel comfortable and welcome.
