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Design Dilemma entry Home Decorating

uninviting entryway doesn’t reflect the rest of home

Shelley Gummeson

last month

The entryway isn’t welcoming nor does it reflect the rest of my open concept home. You can see the living room from the entry and it’s like being in two different homes. How can I make it more inviting and look like part of the house?

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Comments (9)

kandrewspa
last month
Wouldn't the bench, mirror and coat tree fit better on the opposite wall? Then you would have room for maybe a 3 X 5 rug to add some color. Both a bench and a mirror are practical in a foyer, but the combination is uninspiring. Think about whether you could swap the bench out for a console table with a few decorative objects, or swap the mirror out for art instead. Choose to keep either the bench or the mirror.

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Yvonne Martin
last month
The rugs in the entry way aren't working. Get one larger one that goes under the bench, at least the front legs. If the bench fits on the opposite wall, move it there. Then a large poster or art over the bench would add oomph to the entrance.
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HU-457756048
last month
Agree that the furnishings, whatever are used, usually work better on the other side based on how the door opens and the path inward.
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last month
Do you need the hall tree? (I don’t see much on it.) It is utilitarian, but not attractive. If it’s not a necessity, get rid of it.

You say the home is open - make your entry open too. Move the bench to the opposite wall, hang something above it, add a pretty rug, and be done.
HU-457756048
last month
Also, visually you may be seeing some disparity between the bulkier white furnishings and softer colors in the living room vs, the sharper, dark items in the entryway. So be looking at some entryway photo examples like some of those above with “ softer” look- could include lighter wood, perhaps upholstery, less high contrast, a bit more to scale though still compact for entry dimensions. and maybe art that is more like your LR instead of a mirror, or the rug more similar.
elcieg
last month
I think the entry is too small for a bench and coat stand. What if you wallpaper one wall...the one with the mirror? Add a Lucite small console. Paint the interior of the front door a darker color of your floors.

Are the floors cork? Very nice.
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Beth H. :
last month
last modified: last month
rugs are too small, there is no entry light (that I can see) instead of a mirror, do some colorful art, the bench could be better, instead of the tall tree, do some hangers on the wall. (i'll post examples of those)

paint the wall and the door a diff color.

The entry has no pizzazz. give it some

Like this. your mirror is too small and too high. redo the entry like shown here

or, try some contrasting elements like this charcoal jute runner, dark console, style it w/diff elements, maybe do a board and batten wainscot, paint the door, etc.

plenty of space to hang things. painted door, wainscot, bigger rug, light

bring in a runner w/some life and color. ditto a hanging light

don't know if you need this much storage, but this is an idea

art

longer bench, larger mirror, a plant, some wood accent on the ceiling and a diff rug. easy fixes
Shelley Gummeson
Original Author
last month
Thank you all for the ideas. Unfortunately the bench doesn’t work on the other wall, but I’m trying out the other suggestions. We’ll get this entryway warm and inviting. Funny how such a small area can be so impactful.
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last month
Have a little fun with it and get some wallpaper in the foyer.

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And yes, get a nice rug to coordinate.

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