Beautiful Design Ideas for the Entryway

We all know the importance of first impressions. The entry hall is the first interior room of a home and the perfect canvas to create a cozy, clever and unique atmosphere where grandeur and modesty live side by side. The vital combination of practicality and personality is why some homeowners put as much thought into their entryways as they put into the other rooms.
When weighing different entry design ideas, I always start with one inspirational piece, whether it is a wallcovering, painted finish, a collected piece of furniture, accessory or art. Once inspired, I like to consider how each of these individual elements will be sympathetic to each other:

Flooring
If your tendency is to go bold, consider a colorful concrete tile like “Dandelion” in marine and bone by Marrakech Design, or a parquet floor with a bold, historical pattern. Area rugs not only provide color, but a buffer from bringing outside elements into the interior spaces of your home. Try an indoor/outdoor rug that resembles sisal for a more natural look that wears well.

Wallcovering and Paint
This is the one place that I like to go bold. Consider a handscreened wallcovering like Kelly Wearstler’s “Crescent” paper in teal and cream, or a faux bois painted finish that looks like you have paneled your walls in an exotic wood. For the paint lover, I like a high gloss enamel finish by Fine Paints of Europe.

Furnishings
Select an entry table or chest that is both functional and a conversation piece. An antique venetian hand painted chest adorned with modern accessories or a modern piece with an antique blue and white  porcelain is always an interesting approach to balancing a variety of styles. Remember, this is most likely to be a catchall place, so a tray of some sort for keys or mail should be considered. A mirror for your guests to make any necessary last-minute adjustments to their appearance is a nice consideration, but it also provides reflective, natural light from surrounding windows allowing light to bounce around, making the space feel larger.

Lighting & Art
Convert a piece of pottery into a lamp adding a custom-patterned shade for color for your entry chest. I like a small bell jar for lighting for a small entry with low ceilings. If your walls are bold, select something simple like framed charcoal sketches on white paper or collect a piece of fine art. David Lusk Gallery, Linda Ross, Jay Etkin, Robinson Gallery and Crosstown Arts all represent a wide range of incredibly talented artists, if you are interested in collecting. The entry is the one place that sets the mood of what is to follow, be it quirky and colorful or calm and simple. It is the introduction of the space to come, so give your guests a reason to knock on your door.