Entryways

You want the first impression that a guest gets when they come to your home to be welcoming. The entryway is the first area a guest sees when they visit. There are some easy tips to make this space inviting, warm and functional.

Start by approaching your home. Is the path lighted and easily walked? Is there foliage in the way of the path - overgrown trees or bushes. Can you easily find the door and doorbell? Once you enter the door, how does the space feel? Too cold or too warm? Small or too large? Dark or bright? Once you understand the feelings that YOU have when you enter your home, you can focus on the details.

Island Area Rug

Picture yourself as the guest. They may be entering the space with a purse or a bottle of wine. They possibly may have muddy or wet shoes. Make room for all these possibilities. A small bench or seat in the entry is great for guests to have a comfortable place to sit and remove their shoes. A small table or console is great to set a purse, flowers or keys. A dark colored area rug is a cozy welcomer to guests who have removed their shoes and does not show dirt as much as a light colored rug. Purchase an umbrella stand, so guests have a place to stow their wet umbrellas.

Cannavo Console Table

A dimly lit entry is not welcoming. Replace light bulbs with a higher wattage bulb. My entry had the opposite feeling when I entered the entry - it had a bright florescent bulb. I replaced the florescent tube with a "warm light" tube instead of cool and the entry has a soft glow now. Install a dimmer to change the mood of the entry at will. A scented candle is also a great source of soft light and gives off a welcoming aroma.

Sophie Lamp

Entryways can sometimes attract clutter - keys, mail, coats. Make sure to have closed storage available and designate certain areas for these things. If the entry has a closet, make sure the closet is cleared for hanging coats. If you have room for closed storage, this is a great place to have a drawer for keys, cell phones and mail.

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