Alight well, summer is officially coming to a close next week. I love the idea of fall with the leaves, pumpkins, sweater weather, college football and all that, but the reality is this also means the holidays are right around the corner. Gulp! Of course the holidays mean busy times and likely house guests so today I’m thinking of sprucing up our entry. Whether you have a grand entrance, a compact entrance, or something in-between this is your chance to make a good first impression — not just on your house guests, but also for yourself. During this hectic time of year, who doesn’t want to come home to a welcoming (and organized) entry.
There are many elements that combine to make an impactful entrance — a beautiful door, statement lighting, mirrors, art, seating, rugs, moulding, etc. Here are a few of my favorite examples.
Let’s start with doors. Obviously this can be a costly update but, a beautiful front door can make a huge impact. If you can’t afford a brand new door, sometimes a coat of fresh paint will do the trick.
Who doesn’t love a good dutch door? This one is gorgeous with the brass hardware.
The contrast of the black and white in this entry is lovely.
Bench seating works well as a place to sit and put on shoes. This simple lantern and the fun stripes on the rug are a nice compliment to the traditional tufted bench.
A table to drop your keys is a must for me. The combination of this stunning blue table, the brass mirror and vintage rug work beautifully with the classic white moulding.
Here’s another entry where a vintage rug is highlighted against all-white mill work. Oh and those lights are great too. A grouping of three makes it extra special.
Wall paper can make an big impact in a small space.
These hooks are on double duty adding functionality and personality. They work perfectly with that ship lap.
Mirrors are always a good idea in an entry because they can reflect light and serve as a place for one last check of the hair before you run out the door. This entry below ticks almost all the boxes – great rug, mirror, lighting, storage and an awesome dutch door.
Kelly Stevers from the blog Bungalow Blue Interiors recently added this crips white board and baton moulding in her entry. I love how she has a collection of cherished family photos and a giant round mirror as a first greeting.
In place of a mirror, a large piece of art or a clever grouping of images can also make a big impact. This giant modern painting makes a statement in this grand foyer.
And so does this grid of simple modern black and white prints.
Here’s a warm and welcoming entry from my Rincon 2 project. (More pics to come soon!) Here we have a number elements here as they have quite a large space — mirror, art, bench and a beautiful Danish Modern credenza as the focal point.
If you don’t have time to completely re-do your entry, some fresh flowers, new light or a fresh coat of paint my do the trick. I’m planning fresh paint, moulding and a new light fixture for mine. More on that soon too, I promise!
xo Kerry