Entryways: the first thing you see when you walk through your door each day, and the site of the first impression that your guests will have of your home. But what, technically, are they?

An ‘entryway’ simply means the doorway, passage, or general internal area around the front door of your home. Colloquially, we have come to use ‘entryway’ as more of a general term for the first part of the house that you see once inside.

Some may argue that this confuses an entryway and a foyer (a small area behind the front door which distinguishes the area from the rest of the house). Many consider an entryway to be more of a hallway than a distinct foyer-type area.

Foyer ideas are indeed more formal than entryway designs, though lately such terms have oft been used interchangeably. For the purposes of this article, we will be using ‘entryway’ in a loose sense of the term, meaning simply the first room, hallway, foyer or other encountered upon stepping through the front door.

Employing beautiful entryway ideas has a practical as well as psychological benefit. Entry halls are usually a convenient place in which to take off your shoes, hang up a coat, dump your bags and set down your keys.

Having a well organised entryway with a set place for all of these items is an excellent way to cut back on the frantic, where-are-my-keys moments that haunt even the best of us. It also makes it easier to clean the floors, as you have a set spot to leave your shoes and will not track any dirt through the house. With all of the outdoor-grime localised in the one area, you know exactly where to focus your attention when you first start to clean the house.

But even beyond the functional – entryways are a space in which you prepare to leave the outside world behind and focus on your home. Taking a moment to take off your shoes and your coat after a day of work is another way of training your body to recognise that you are home now, and free to do or dress as you please. A ritualistic kind of action like this has great potential to induce feelings of relaxation when you enter the room and will likely make it much easier for you to separate work life from home life.

So, how can you maximise this effect? What are the things you might want to consider before engaging in an entryway remodel?

First and foremost, you should make a note of the things that you find specifically appealing in entryways. Build a concept of colour palate and style that is unique to your tastes – you are the one who will see it the most and you want it to bring you as much joy as possible. Avoid making choices that you think will impress or placate other people. The most important thing about the entryway of your home is that it pleases you, not your ideas of what other people might like.

Below is a list of ten beautiful and intriguing entryway designs; take a look and make a note of what you find most (or least!) appealing about each style. This should help to inspire your own entrance hall ideas and hopefully spur you on your remodelling journey.

House entrance ideas: 5 decorating ideas for entry halls

5. Create your best shelf

Floating shelves are another one of many beautiful house entrance ideas. They take up very little space but provide much needed organisation. Natural wood shelves like the oak shelf pictured above add a little rustic charm to the room. You can purchase the same shelf here from Wood You Buy for $108.

4. Table any doubts

A floor table is another wonderful way to merge practical storage with a personalised aesthetic. You can find this simple yet sophisticated Seb Console Table for just $599 here among Castlery’s extensive range of hallway furniture.

3. Sweep it under the rug

A rug is another perfect opportunity to subtly enhance the appeal of an entryway. A long rug especially epitomises the conceptual purpose of the entryway, because it appears to lead you into the rest of the house. The diversity of rug styles, colours and materials is extensive and the right rug for your home will surely not be hard to find. You can purchase the hand braided Jute runner rug pictured above here from AU Rugs for just $169.

2. Keep it Practical

An excellent way to reap all of the benefits that clever entrance hallway ideas can bring to your home is to merge practicality with aesthetic appeal. Finding beautiful, clever pieces of furniture like a console or this entryway hall tree from Temple & Webster will help you to create a space that is both functional and beautiful. The perfect spot to hang keys or coats and adding a beautiful rustic accent any entryway, this hall tree is currently on sale. It is available for purchase here for just $269.

1. Reflect on it

Mirrors are an especially useful item to have in an entryway – it’s the perfect spot to check your reflection quickly before you leave the house, and your reflection will be there to greet you every time you come home. It will encourage you to take stock of the toll that your day took on you, promoting self-love and self-care.

Mirrors are also an excellent option to help brighten small entryways as they work with the natural lighting of the room to enhance the apparent space. The best mirror entry hall ideas for small houses include using one single mirror placed near a light source, to brighten the room without appearing to clutter it. You can buy the mirror pictured above here from West Elm for $899.

Juliet Taylor

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