10 Stylist’s Tips for a Welcoming Entrance Hall
Declutter!
Making space where space is limited will be your biggest asset in making your entrance hall welcoming and airy. That’s not to say you have to demote your favourite items to the loft!
Thinning out your collection or displaying them more clearly may be the answer here.
Or, if you have lots of essential everyday items such as coats, shoes, dog leads or umbrellas making your hallway look narrower, consider investing in some hideaway storage like an upholstered ottoman. Items are readily on hand and there’s a comfy place on which to sit and change your footwear!
Create An Illusion Of Space
Paint hallways with light, airy colours to widen the space visually. Steer clear of dark and warm colours for your hall as these will make the space seem smaller. Lay any directional flooring running toward the source of light in your hall – which may be the front door itself.
Get Organised!
Useful for storage of car keys, money for the window cleaner and a variety of smaller everyday objects, a console with a drawer or two is a must. Add a lamp or station it below a large mirror for a designer touch. A console with baskets underneath can be useful for additional storage.
Use Mirrors
Use mirrors in picture frames of all shapes and sizes to create an impactful display, or, opt for a statement starburst mirror where it will best catch the light from your front door. The ideal stop on the way out of the door to check your hair before you dash off somewhere exciting!
Bench Footstool
Adding a bench footstool where space allows provides a comfy area for putting on your shoes. Slim profile bench footstools by The Footstool Workshop are customised to your length, width, height and choice of fabric to ensure a perfect fit whatever your available space making them ideal for hallways.
Add Flowers Or Fauna
Bringing flowers or fauna into your entrance hall not only adds a cheery surprise when you open your door but also provides a welcoming fragrance, a splash of colour and can soften the edges of stark or bulky furniture. A large Boston Fern can hide a multitude of sins and will be quite happy in what is sometimes a low-light area.
Add Stealthy Storage
If you have the space, opt for a storage ottoman. Similar to a bench footstool but with the added bonus of a deep and very useful storage area within. The Footstool workshop have a number of different sizes and styles of Ottoman that will suit you down to the ground and can be upholstered in over 150 of their luxurious fabrics, or even your own. You’re bound to find something to go with your current décor!
Welcoming Scents
Make your first impression the right one by coming home to a welcoming scent. Warming vanilla creates a sense of homeliness or you might opt for something fresh and zingy like ginger or lime. Using scents seasonally will make a nice change. Did someone say warm autumnal apple pie or even a hint of spice and clementine for Christmas?
Go Bold With Colour
Your entrance hallway is one place where you can afford to really push the colour boat out. Be bold, be brave! Painting a wall is not a scary prospect as if you don’t like it, simply paint over it. How will you ever know unless you try?
Incorporate Art
From large abstract paintings to photographs of loved ones, art in your entrance hallway can set the tone for the rest of the home. Look out for something that screams ‘this is SO us!’ to greet you every time you walk through the door.
