Whether your front door opens into a grand, classical entryway (dreams!) or right onto the dark corner of the kitchen (reality), that will be the first place your guests see in your home. Also: You. It will be the first spot that greets you after work in the evening. “Even small foyers are the first impression,” says interior designer Peter Dunham, who advises a bold look for this part of your home even if it isn’t exactly large, or isn’t even technically its own room. “Small foyers give one an ideal situation for high-carat impact… that will easily make up for any lack of space by being luxe and special.” The following small entryway ideas—and the perfect products to see them through—will turn your non-foyer into a pleasant entryway no matter what its size or scale. Discover 12 ways to make a great first impression, even if all you have is a blank wall by the door.
1. Mount wall hooks.
Having a hook for your guests’ outerwear—and, okay, your own sopping wet raincoat—will make them feel as if you’ve actually designed the space with their arrival in mind. Just take the time to find the stud before mounting them; you don’t want these falling off the wall when you pile on the coats!
Hanging two of these guys makes obvious sense, but just one or even five in a row would be delightful. SHOP NOW: Book Hook by Thing Industries, $38 apiece, thingindustries.com
2. Pull up a small chair or bench.
Even a wee bench, pressed up against the wall by the door, will suffice. As would a single chair—the idea is just to carve out a spot for your guests to take off their shoes when they enter or plop down their purses. Minimal square footage required.
At just a few feet wide and about one foot deep, it’s tuck away unnoticed until you need the perfect spot to plop down and untie your sneaks. SHOP NOW: Small Live Edge Acacia Wood Bench from Mohr and McPherson, $388, chairish.com
3. Try a wall covering.
As a way to define the space and strengthen those first impressions, “don’t clutter the space with anything extraneous, but do use a large-scale geometric or boldly colored chinoiserie wallpaper on the walls and ceiling,” Peter advises. “If the budget is tight, paint [it] a bold color. If you’re in a quandary as to what shade, do what Helena Rubinstein did: She went to her closet to look for a color she loved, cut a square from a Schiaparelli coat, and instructed David Hicks to match the walls.”
Removable wallpaper is a great idea if you’re not sure about the idea of bold pattern—even better if it comes in easy to manage tiles! SHOP NOW: Raindrops Removable Wallpaper Tiles by Lina Rennell, $58 for a set, hyggeandwest.com
4. Define the space using a rug.
Especially if you’re dealing with a foyer that’s really just the wall of another room, setting down a rug in that area will make it feel like a unified, separate entryway. (Note to self: Get one that’s easy to clean!
Dark colors = perfect for a spot that will see a lot of dirty shoes. SHOP NOW: Kitra ~Nicu Duta Rug by GUR, $163, tictail.com
5. Hang a floating shelf.
A floating shelf is perfect for dropping keys and stacking mail without taking up any floor space at all. Find one with built-in hooks or install your own underneath to make the most of your wall space.
Just one of these cuties serves as a place to toss keys, even mail. SHOP NOW: Nest Hanger by Northern, $50, scandinaviandesigncenter.com
6. Yes to a statement lighting fixture.
As designer Phillip Thomas once told us, “a large light fixture can make a room feel larger and taller.” A bold pendant or modern chandelier also makes a memorable—and bright—first impression.
Mount a little nearly-invisible swag hook on the ceiling, loop this cord over it, and plug her in. SHOP NOW: Utility Plug-In Pendant by Schoolhouse Electric, $139, schoolhouse.com
7. Paint the door a bold color.
The entryway of designer CeCe Barfield’s Gramercy Park home is restricted to a door at the end of a long hallway, because there’s really no room for other furniture because of the way the hall’s designed. To define and draw attention to the space, she painted the door a bright green. You could do the same!
The best thing about this paint besides the color? The swatches are removable stickers, it’s an eco-friendly recipe, and you can buy it or any of their other colors online. SHOP NOW: Matcha Latte by Clare, $49/bucket, clare.com
8. Add a small console table.
If you have a wedge of floor space, consider placing a petite console table or chest in the entry. Find one that has storage, or utilize the area underneath to stash shoes, bags, and all those other things you tend to trip over on your way out the door.
One of our all-time favorite table designs, as it takes up so little space but adds so much. SHOP NOW: Yeh Tall Wall Table by Kenyon Yeh for Menu, $200, yliving.com
9. Bring in extra storage.
If you find the floor near your front door cluttered with shoes, bags, and umbrellas, reclaim the space with storage specifically suited to holding those items.
Could a shoe rack be more space-conscious? Nope. SHOP NOW: Tower Shoe Rack by West Elm, $50, westelm.com
10. Hang a mirror.
A mirror by the front door is not just for checking your outfit on your way out the door. It can also help make the space feel bigger and brighter, which is especially helpful if your entrance is far from natural light.
Bonus points if it’s got a brilliant little shelf for storage. SHOP NOW: YPPERLIG Mirror by IKEA, $15, ikea.com
11. Find a mail sorter.
One of the biggest entryway pains has to be the ever-expanding pile of mail you’re confronted with, which is why a handy-dandy sorter is such a good idea.
Bills in the front, fan mail in the back, and junk immediately sorted to the trash so you don’t have to even think about it. SHOP NOW: Pink Letter Bin by Design Ideas, $25, bando.com
12. Bring in plant friends.
Add some life to your entry with a plant or two (or three! or four!). Choose a colorful planter or plant stand to make more of an impact, either to sit on the floor or be hung up on the wall.
No need to make room in your non-entryway for this little hanging planter. SHOP NOW: Rust Finished Wall Planter by Terrain, $28, shopterrain.com
Source: Architectural Digest – MyersLakeland.com – Myers Lakeland Blog is part of Century 21 Myers Realty that offers real estate services in Lakeland, Florida and Central Florida. We encourage you to share our content!