Hallways & Entries
12 Ways to Make an Entrance if Your Home Lacks a Sense of Arrival
Here's how to create a warm welcome in your home, even with small or ambiguous entrances
From simple solutions such as furniture placement, to creating built-in shelving and screening, here are 12 ways to create a sense of arrival in the entrance of your home.
2. Group a few items together
If you’re tight on space, cluster items together to create a sense of entrance. Designer Kim Burns from Jumble and Stack suggests going vertically. “Use an old chair or stool and some hooks to create a neat line that hugs the wall and floor,” she says. Some vibrant artwork and a decorative chandelier or pendant light can add a pop of colour too.
Struggling with your entrance or interior? Find a storage designer or professional organiser near you for customised solutions
If you’re tight on space, cluster items together to create a sense of entrance. Designer Kim Burns from Jumble and Stack suggests going vertically. “Use an old chair or stool and some hooks to create a neat line that hugs the wall and floor,” she says. Some vibrant artwork and a decorative chandelier or pendant light can add a pop of colour too.
Struggling with your entrance or interior? Find a storage designer or professional organiser near you for customised solutions
3. Make a mudroom
Designer Emmy Bowers from Emme Designs says if there is no clearly defined entrance, creating a mudroom is a definite giveaway. “It’s a great place for kids to stow school bags and boots,” she says.
Designer Emmy Bowers from Emme Designs says if there is no clearly defined entrance, creating a mudroom is a definite giveaway. “It’s a great place for kids to stow school bags and boots,” she says.
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4. Install an alcove
If space allows at your entrance, rejig a cabinet or cupboard to create storage with ample room for the whole family. Add plenty of baskets, nooks and hooks to house everyone’s essentials and equipment.
If space allows at your entrance, rejig a cabinet or cupboard to create storage with ample room for the whole family. Add plenty of baskets, nooks and hooks to house everyone’s essentials and equipment.
5. Create an entrance with furniture
A couple of cosy chairs and a sofa can work well to zone your entrance too. Bowers also suggests adding a narrow hall table behind the furniture if you have room. “It creates functionality and purpose in the space,” she says. “It’s also somewhere to put your keys and other bits and pieces.”
A couple of cosy chairs and a sofa can work well to zone your entrance too. Bowers also suggests adding a narrow hall table behind the furniture if you have room. “It creates functionality and purpose in the space,” she says. “It’s also somewhere to put your keys and other bits and pieces.”
6. Build a half-wall
In this entrance, the half-wall defines the space but still allows flow and a visual link between rooms. Add a seat for taking shoes off and some indoor plants to bring the outdoors in.
In this entrance, the half-wall defines the space but still allows flow and a visual link between rooms. Add a seat for taking shoes off and some indoor plants to bring the outdoors in.
7. Add a partial wall
A partial wall, timber battens or room divider segregates the entrance from the rest of your interior. Bowers says building a screen in a contrasting colour to the floor can help zone the spaces and create an entrance. “As you open the door you are not looking right through the whole house,” she says.
A partial wall, timber battens or room divider segregates the entrance from the rest of your interior. Bowers says building a screen in a contrasting colour to the floor can help zone the spaces and create an entrance. “As you open the door you are not looking right through the whole house,” she says.
8. Material matters
Another way to create a sense of arrival when you enter your home is to install a different type of flooring near your front door so it gives the visual suggestion of an entry point. If you’re renting your home or don’t fancy redoing your flooring, try adding a runner or rug instead… more on that below.
Browse more images of inspiring entrances here
Another way to create a sense of arrival when you enter your home is to install a different type of flooring near your front door so it gives the visual suggestion of an entry point. If you’re renting your home or don’t fancy redoing your flooring, try adding a runner or rug instead… more on that below.
Browse more images of inspiring entrances here
9. Take a seat
Introducing seating in an unused alcove or space near the front door creates space to sit and pop your handbag or parcels on when you arrive home. A generous rug also adds another layer of comfort and a sense of entrance.
Introducing seating in an unused alcove or space near the front door creates space to sit and pop your handbag or parcels on when you arrive home. A generous rug also adds another layer of comfort and a sense of entrance.
10. Install a row of hooks
Designer Kim Burns from Jumble and Stack says with hooks, bigger is always better. “Hang umbrellas, hats, jackets, or even a pot plant if you choose,” she says. “Pick items that add warmth, as an entrance area can be a little dull and cold.”
Designer Kim Burns from Jumble and Stack says with hooks, bigger is always better. “Hang umbrellas, hats, jackets, or even a pot plant if you choose,” she says. “Pick items that add warmth, as an entrance area can be a little dull and cold.”
11. Introduce a runner
Kost says in long, narrow hallways a hall runner or elongated rug helps define the space as an entrance point. They can also be budget-friendly and are impermanent, so if you change your mind you can rethink the design later.
Kost says in long, narrow hallways a hall runner or elongated rug helps define the space as an entrance point. They can also be budget-friendly and are impermanent, so if you change your mind you can rethink the design later.
12. Build an entrance
A spacious front porch or area can sometimes be filled in to create an entrance. If council permits, you’ll appreciate the extra room indoors.
Your turn
What have you done to make your entrance welcoming? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Got your entrance design covered but not its organisation? Read The 10-Second Rule: How a Sorted Entry Sets Up a Well-Run Home
A spacious front porch or area can sometimes be filled in to create an entrance. If council permits, you’ll appreciate the extra room indoors.
Your turn
What have you done to make your entrance welcoming? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Got your entrance design covered but not its organisation? Read The 10-Second Rule: How a Sorted Entry Sets Up a Well-Run Home
In many houses available space is at a premium, including at the entrance. Sophie Kost, designer from My Beautiful Abode, lists terrace houses with narrow hallways as a prime example. That’s where slimline console tables can come in handy, with enough room to house your essentials and some decorations. “Have a vase of flowers that says ‘welcome home’,” says Kost. “You could also add a mirror to create a sense of arrival.”