11 Tips for a Beautiful and Functional Entryway

11 Tips for a Beautiful and Functional Entryway

Whether it be small or imposing, a residence’s foyer is not to be overlooked. It must be welcoming and practical as well as contribute to the home’s overall decor. How can you achieve this? Here are our top 11 tips!

 1— Hang a Mirror

It can be highly decorative or minimalist, but every homeowner should place a mirror in their entryway, either to provide a last-minute opportunity to check one’s hair before heading out or to create the illusion of a more spacious hall. Choose a model that can be hung on the wall. And just so you know, mirrored closet doors, while practical, are unfortunately no longer considered fashionable.

2— Think of Adding Seating

Seating is indispensable in the vestibule to accommodate those of us who must sit down to put on or take off our shoes. There are several ways of providing one or more seats in the entryway no matter how little space you have. For example, it can be a comfortable ottoman with storage or a floating solid wood board fixed to the wall. If you happen to have more room, go for a long bench. 

3— Don’t Forget the Area Rug

No foyer is complete without an area rug to catch at least some the dust and dirt that will be brought in from the outside. It’s also a great way to accessories your entrance hall – stores are full of lovely models to choose from – or to delineate zones. A correctly proportioned rug may even make the room appear larger.

4— Provide a Place to Put Away Your Shoes!

Rows of mismatched pairs of shoes – on the floor or in a shoe rack – are rarely a pretty sight! Avoid this visual chaos and select opaque storage boxes specifically created for footwear: they have useful ventilation holes and are designed to complement any decor.

5— Favour Closed Storage

Speaking of storage, make sure you can hide the clutter out of sight and out of mind. Open shelves are usually not a good idea: young and old alike will put their stuff away without considering tidiness. 

6— Provide a Place to Store Seasonal Items

Baseball caps, winter hats, slippers and sunglasses are all used for only a few months every year and shouldn’t be left lying around the entryway. The obvious solution is to store them in boxes the rest of the year!

7— Keep the Air Fresh

The vestibule is often a confined area. Moreover, a lot of potentially smelly belongings like shoes and damp clothing live there. That’s why scented candles or essential oil diffusers can be godsends in this particular room. 

8— Design Comforting Lighting

Who feels like being blinded by spotlights when they come home? It should be cozy! For a convivial entryway, opt for a soft and subdue lighting scheme that reflects the calming atmosphere suffusing the rest of your house. However, the lights should still be strong enough for you to remove your coat without bumping into things.

9— Decorate!

Again, the foyer is just as important as the other rooms in your home and should look just as good. To give the space personality, add colour to the walls and accessorize with art, vases, or lamps. 

10— Have a Spot to Keep Everyday Items

Sets of keys, wallets and other everyday items – all those things you put down and pick up when you walk through the door – must have their own dedicated place. The room must be practical after all! A lovely bowl on a side table or hooks on the wall, for example, will add a nice effect.

11— Keep it Clean

Dirt will accumulate in the entryway faster than in most rooms in the house. The tiles and grout can easily become grimy and so can the door. If you want the entrance hall to be welcoming, clean it a bit more often than other areas inside your residence.

 

What are your must-haves for a usable and enjoyable entryway?

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.