40 Inspiring Entryway Ideas That Make a Great First Impression
Entryways are often the forgotten spot in the home—rarely redecorated or shown some design love. But the space that welcomes you home—and welcomes your guests—is an important one to decorate and design as best you can. A stylish welcome mat is a good start to usher you indoors.
One of the inherent difficulties of pulling together some nice entryway ideas is balancing utility and aesthetics. Ideally, a well-organized entryway closet or some shelving can help with the utility aspect, but you still need to balance that with making your foyer a charming place to welcome your friends or family to your home. Fortunately, there are plenty of smart foyer ideas to organize the entryway and make it cute too.
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1. Combine Natural Textures
Your entryway marks the transition between the outdoors and in, and easing into that changeover with natural textures is a great way to marry the two spaces. In this home by Parris McKenna Design and Cottage Country Builders, various iterations of from-the-earth materials, like wood and stone, bring the entryway to life.
2. Dial Up the Drama
A standalone entryway holds a bevy of possibilities, making it much easier to go bold with color, furniture, or other design elements. If you really want to turn heads, consider papering the space in a bold pattern. Morris and Co.’s Pimpernell—seen here in a space by designer Sam Sacks—brings a moody elegance and timeless appeal to a petite entryway.
3. Roll Out Softness Underfoot
Your entryway will get a lot of foot traffic, so it’s essential to equip the space with durable materials and accessories that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. One definite essential? A great rug or runner. Not only will it add softness underfoot, but it’ll also protect your floors from scuffing and staining. Vintage or antique rugs—like the Persian design seen here in a home by designer Liz Mearns—tend to be especially durable and good at disguising wear.
4. Add a Floating Bench
Prefer a minimalistic look? Avoid cluttering up the sightlines in your entryway by opting for a bench that “floats” instead of taking up floor space. In this airy space from Wills Design Associates, an oak slab acts as an ideal place to gather your things before heading out the door.
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5. Encourage a Hangout
How often have you led a guest to the door, only to find yourselves standing in the doorway chatting for hours more? Ensure added comfort during this spur-of-the-moment catchup with a nearby window seat, complete with a plush bench cushion and pillows. This perch, seen in a project by BHDM Design, gets added ambiance from a pair of sconce lights nearby.
6. Tile an Entire Wall
For ultimate durability, simple painted walls won’t do. If you live in a messy four-season area or just have a ton of kids constantly parading to and from sports practice in your entryway, you may want to consider tiling the walls instead. In this space by Marea Clark Interiors, wall-to-wall zellige tiles add easy-clean functionality and an extra dose of shimmer.
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7. Select a Sculptural Table
If your entryway is small, every piece you select for the space needs to pull its weight in both style and function. For a space that really packs a punch, trade a traditional console table for a sculptural piece that doubles as art. In this modern entryway by Hilary Matt Interiors, a curvaceous black and glass piece makes for a museum-worthy display.
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8. Sneak in Simple Storage
Storage is essential in an entryway, but it doesn’t always have to mean shoe shelves or coat racks. For a more inconspicuous take on organization, hide a few open baskets beneath an entry table. In this home by The Rinfret Group, a duo of seagrass bins act as the ideal spot to stash shoes, outerwear, and more.
9. Create a Focal Point
In entryways that flow seamlessly into the rest of the home, it’s essential to give the eye something to focus on. A simple scene, like a table and duo of benches, acts as a classic way to draw the eye and anchor the space. In this home by Firefinish Interiors, the addition of a mirror helps to bounce light around the space, making it feel even more airy.
10. Lend Some Privacy
There’s often a push-pull in the entryway between the desire for light and the need for privacy. The solution? A bit of non-transparent glass, as seen here in a home by Sam Sacks Design. Instead of eliminating windows, choose door panels and glass that are frosted or pebbled, which will disguise your interior while still allowing for ample light.
11. Incorporate Classic Molding
For any entryway that exudes classic elegance, look to picture frame molding to add architectural interest and an air of customization. This treatment can be especially helpful in towering spaces—like the double-height foyer seen here by Lauren Elaine Interiors—acting as a way to break up large swaths of drywall.
12. Cater to Your Hobbies
Your entryway can live as large as you want or need, catering not just to your comings and goings but to your day-to-day lifestyle, too. If you have the room, focus on creating an entry that hints at your hobbies. Here, an expansive space by Ellen Kavanaugh Interiors boasts shelving and a sink, allowing gardeners to trim their blooms or wash their veggies before continuing inside.
13. Choose a Show-Stopping Table
If you boast an open floor plan or especially large home, you may be working with a roomy entryway that you just don’t know how to fill. Our advice? Try out a sculptural round table, which is great for holding court in a space and standing along as a feature. In this home from the team at West of Main, an angular wood design is accompanied by an upholstered stool for pulling on (or off) shoes.
14. Lay An Impactful Floor
Oftentimes, an entryway is a standalone space, so it’s the ideal spot to mix up your flooring and try out a different treatment than what runs throughout the rest of your home. Nothing screams timeless elegance quite like a black and white checkerboard floor—just check out this statement-making space by Parris McKenna Design and Alair Homes Toronto.
15. Shrink It Down to Size
Just because you don’t have a ton of extra space doesn’t mean you can’t have a stunning entryway. The key? Maximizing floor space while also including functional additions. Case in point: this petite entryway from Katie Martinez Design. In it, a wall-mounted table provides plenty of room for stashing keys or extras, while a small stool is the perfect perch.
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16. Pack on the Pattern
For a wow-worthy moment the second guests enter, paper your entryway with a bold and graphic pattern. In this two-story foyer by Digs Design Company, a neutral wallpaper with stripes of varying widths elongates and enlivens the space.
17. Hang a Funky Piece of Art
Your entryway is your first opportunity to showcase your individual style, making it a great place for a statement piece of artwork that sets the scene for your whole home. In this space by Ashley Goforth Design, a modern piece of artwork melds with a dramatic black door for a bold welcome.
18. Add Some Patina
To bring a sense of history and permanence to your home, start at the entryway. By incorporating well-loved pieces—like a vintage bench, as seen here in a home by Katie Martinez Design—you’ll not only add some much-needed patina to your home, but you’ll also established a more relaxed, comfortable environment from the get-go.
19. Let in the Light
While most front doors are made from solid wood, the feature can be a surprisingly great way to bring light (not to mention, a scenic vista) into your space. Swap a solid front door for one with sidelights or, even better, a picture window, like in this sunny space by Digs Design Company.
20. Make a Mini Mudroom
Not every entryway opens into a full-blown mudroom, but you can still sneak in storage with some smart cabinetry. In this space by Laura Sima of Sima Spaces, a storage bench and integrated cabinetry make a mock mudroom out of a free wall in the entryway.
21. Play With Contrast
To add more dimension to your entryway, try color-blocking two contrasting shades on your walls. Go with a classic black and white look, like designer Gina Gutierrez, founder and principal of Gina Rachelle Design, did in the San Francisco home pictured, Or, opt for more vibrant colors, if that’s more your style.
22. Upgrade Your Lighting
Your entryway is the first impression you give to your home, and lighting can play a big part in setting the scene. To make your entrance feel bright and welcoming, choose a light fixture with lots of light output, Sheva Knopfler, decor expert and co-founder of Lights.com says—and make sure it fits your space. “For lower ceilings, always go with a flush or semi-flush light fixture,” she says. “If you have higher ceilings, something adjustable with a rod or chainwould be best.”
23. Embrace Whimsical Details
Abandon that perfectly-spaced gallery wall, and opt for mismatched artwork and photos that give a more free-spirited feeling to a room. In her Atlanta home, Jessica Davis, founder of the design firm Atelier Davis, displays her kids’ paintings—some framed, some hung with washi tape—in her entryway to inspire creativity and playfulness.
24. Add a Large Natural Element
Bring an element of the outdoors right inside the entrance of your home by adding a large vase with olive or dogwood branches to your entryway table decor. Besides being welcoming and warm, interior designer Jonathan Rachman says, “the entire vignette [of the branch-filled vase] is simple yet full of drama.”
25. Build a Cozy Reading Nook
Have some extra space to work with under the stairs? Turn it into a cozy reading nook, as Bria Hammel, the CEO and creative director of namesake interior design firm, did in a client’s Wisconsin home. It’s the perfect invitation to settle in and relax as soon as you walk through the front door.
26. Add a Full-Length Mirror
A full-length mirror not only allows you to take another look at your outfit when you head out the door, but it also makes the entryway look bigger when stepping into your home. Sarah Pollio of Joinery & Design Co. placed this full-length mirror on the stair landing of her Minnesota countryside home to bounce more light around the space.
27. Put Down a Runner Rug
If your front door opens up into a long hallway, you may not think you have many entryway decor options—but you can use the layout to your advantage. “A runner rug is a brilliant way to open up your entryway and give the illusion of more space,” says Corban De La Vega, chief marketing officer at DecorMatters. “The length of a runner rug can make your hallway appear never-ending and longer than its true form.” Adding artwork and playful light fixtures can add even more intrigue to the space.
28. Add a Multi-Use Console Table
A great entryway space will combine both fashion and function—as shown with this entrance table setup by Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla. “The console is designed in a way that not only provides a spot to drop keys, mail, face masks, etc.; it’s low profile allows for two stools that can easily be pulled out for that kick-off-your-shoes moment,” Shaffer says.
29. Create a Staircase Gallery Wall
Are the stairs stealing all the thunder in your entryway? Use them as a design opportunity by turning the oft-overlooked wall space into a gallery of your favorite photos and artwork. To keep the design looking modern and clean use frames in the same style and color, as Regan Baker, the principal of namesake design firm, did in this San Francisco home.
30. Revamp Your Entryway Closet
Instead of using your hall closet to tuck away all those things you grab when headed out the door—try transforming it into a sort of “family front desk,” like designer Jessica D’Itri Marés of Renovate 108 did in her Southern California home. “I wanted a dedicated area for things that are always coming or going from inside our house: shopping bags, gifts we purchase for others, library books, items to return, and so on,” she says. “I pictured a little jewel box that would be a joy to see in contrast to the more neutral walls of the entryway.”
31. Choose Bold Entryway Colors
Picking the right paint colors won’t contribute to the organization of your entryway, but it could distract visitors enough that they don’t notice any lingering clutter in the foyer. Plus, walking into a color-coordinated space like this entryway, with its matching door and ceiling painted olive green, is sure to soothe the soul.
32. Opt for Built-In Storage
Few home decor elements or entryway ideas look as effortlessly pulled together as built-ins: They imply that a space was made to be coordinated and tidy. True built-ins are pricey (and permanent), but faking the look of built-ins is always possible—and built-ins offer excellent storage with a high-end, customized look. This example, featuring a polished door option from Diamond cabinets, offers multitasking entryway storage space for every member of the household.
33. Upgrade Entryway Walls With Wainscoting
Entryways are heavily trafficked spaces, so they should be durable enough to withstand all that foot traffic (and the bumps, dings, and scratches that come with it). That’s why wainscoting is such a solid choice for entryways and foyers: The molding hides damage, the surfaces are easily wiped down, and the coverage protects the wall underneath. Paired with a softer shade (here, Drift of Mist by Sherwin-Williams), the crisp white paneling is especially eye-grabbing.
34. Make a Narrow Space Luxe
Sometimes, you may not have a choice: Your entryway is your laundry room, the storage spot for the recycling, or some other dual-duty space. But, you can still make the space attractive with luxe-looking details that are durable, too. In this entryway idea example, the marble-looking surface is actually hyper-durable Ice Onyx Formica Laminate, so it will impress guests and withstand laundry and washing-up chores at the same time.
35. Coordinate Entryway Furniture
The faux built-ins in this entryway certainly get the job done when it comes to organization, but the careful pairing of the storage with a complementary wall color makes the overall aesthetic so satisfying, too. With coordinated decorative accents, the furniture looks absolutely intentional, not just functional.
36. Hang Easy Art
Entryway wall space is the perfect place to value aesthetics over utility. You don’t have to spend a fortune on art: Frame pieces of wallpaper, kids’ artwork, or other things that are special to you. Don’t forget to add a mirror, too, for one last quick look before you head out the
What are some ways to decorate an entryway table? Combine natural textures, dial up the drama with bold patterns, add softness underfoot with durable rugs, or opt for a floating bench.
How can I make a small entryway look larger? Maximize floor space, include functional additions like wall-mounted tables or benches, and use light and reflective elements.
What are some ideas for adding privacy in an entryway with a large front door? Use frosted or pebbled glass door panels to allow light while providing privacy.
How can painting an entryway make a difference? Choose bold colors or patterns to create a focal point, or coordinate furniture and decorative elements with your wall color for a cohesive look.
What are some examples of whimsical entryway decor? Display mismatched artwork, personal photos, and playful elements like children’s artwork.
How does a full-length mirror enhance an entryway? A full-length mirror makes the entryway appear larger and adds light, reflecting the space more broadly.
What are the benefits of built-in storage in an entryway? Built-ins offer a high-end, custom look and excellent storage space, looking effortlessly organized and tidy.
Why is wainscoting a good choice for entryway walls? Wainscoting is durable, protects the wall, and can be paired with softer colors to create a sophisticated look.
How can you make a laundry room or dual-purpose entryway look luxurious? Use durable, high-end materials like ice onyx laminate with a luxurious look to impress and withstand the activity.
