How To Avoid the 6 Worst Entryway Decorating Mistakes
So, how do you avoid the top 5 entryway decorating mistakes? Well, besties, we’re here to break it down for you and give you all the insider tips along the way. Let’s be real; when designing your home, your entryway isn’t usually what gets all the attention. Usually, your focus is on creating a practical kitchen or a master bedroom that is your oasis. Girl, we totally get you; we’re obsessed with brushed bronze tapware too! But we also know how important your entryway is.
Your entryway, just like your entire home, should be a reflection of you. It’s a chance to make a statement and add some personality. While yes, there are some practical tips you should follow, you can pretty much go all out in the styling. #winning
So with all that being said, let’s take a closer look at how to avoid 5 entryway mistakes.
one: Don’t Overlook the Importance of Your Front Door
When was the last time you looked at your front door and said to yourself, ‘I love it’? Ok, chances are, you haven’t. But don’t worry; we’ve been there too. The first impression guests and visitors have of your home is created by your entryway and front door. What they see right away is what they’ll base their impression on.
Improving the look of your front door can significantly impact the overall curb appeal of your home. It's a relatively simple project that can make a big difference in how your house looks and feels. Whether you paint, stain, or add decorative hardware and accents, there are many ways to spruce up the exterior of your front door.
If you've neglected your front door, these are just a few ways to take it from drab to fab!
Swap out your doormat
We cannot get over how many adorable door mats there are nowadays. You can make an impression with a homey kind of vibe or go bold with some bright colors. The choices are endless.
Freshen up your entryway with a simple cleaning
It’s no secret that almost every good custom decorating project starts with a clean area. Throw on a cozy jacket and get to wiping your door, doing a sweep where needed, and getting rid of those pesky cobwebs.
Oh, the wonders that paint can do!
Why not paint your front door if you’re in the mood to change your look? There’s nothing more eye-catching than a door in blush pink or even forest green. On the other hand, if you don’t feel like going out on a limb and painting your door a feature color, consider a fresh coat of paint to brighten up the space.
Add Some Greenery
We love greenery! When you look at your front door, it’s the transitional space from the outside, so including some greenery at your front door will make for a smooth transition.
Insider Tip!
When selecting paint, be sure to choose a paint meant for the outdoors! Then, head to your local hardware store and let them know what you're painting and your weather conditions. There is nothing worse than going to the effort of painting and then having to repaint in 3 months! Our go to paint manufacture is Dunn Edwards.
Two: Make A Place For Storage
I’m sure we can all agree that you need a place to put your things, like your jackets, your coat, and the lipstick you put on before walking out the door. Heck, even a travel-size bottle of dry shampoo (if you don’t have one by your front door, you should get one, and you’ll thank us later!). But here’s the thing, you need a place to drop all of these, and that’s what a drop zone is. It’s a place for all the things that don’t really have a place but still need one.
Remember how we say your home remodel should be a combination of pretty and practical? This is the perfect opportunity. A great example of this is making sure your entryway console has drawers. That way, you can include all of your bite-sized items. Think mascara, hair ties, and even cologne for the hubby.
If you’re in need of a more substantial drop zone because you’ve got kids running around and school bags in places they don’t belong, consider creating a nook or a storage unit with enough space. It can still be aesthetic and practical.
Three: Don’t Ignore The Need For A Seat
One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is ignoring the need for a seat. Now, we’re not saying your entryway needs to have the lounge chair of your dreams, but creating some room for a stylish chair or small stool will do you wonders.
A seat accomplishes two tasks flawlessly and subtly. Firstly, when you or your guests come into your home, you can have a place to sit and take off your shoes. Seriously, it’s the best feeling ever after a long, hard day.
The second thing a seat does well is act as a beautiful styling piece. So, this is your time to go and buy that cute vintage stool you’ve been looking at or make your home feel more luxe by bringing in those neutral tones. Alternatively, you can add a punch of color with a seat, and of course, it’s a great piece to swap out whenever you want to mix up the vibe.
Insider Tip!
You always need a surface! Your table, console, or whatever you choose is your anchor. It’s what you start styling from and move out from there.
If you’re in need of styling pieces, we have our collection of home goods that we love Salt + Citrus? We love the stunning styling items that we have curated to style our clients home and wanted to share it with the world!
Four: Let’s Talk Lighting
Lighting is a favorite of ours. Seriously, we wrote a whole blog about bathroom lighting—that’s how passionate we are. Lighting is a big ol’ aspect of an entryway that people can often get wrong. It’s hard because, in your entryway, you’ve got two styles of lighting competing with each other, indoor and outdoor. So figuring out a lighting plan that works is often a process of trial and error.
When you start with lighting, work in layers. Your entryway will encounter visitors coming and going from morning to night, so you need to have the lighting to accommodate them. Downlights are usually a staple within the home, but from there, grab a funky pendant or chandelier and make a statement. Remember how we said you could go all out with the styling?
Five: Making It Pretty but Not Functional
We’ve all been there, Pinteresting our hearts out of big grand entryways that look so gorgeous you don’t even want to touch them. And while we obsess over them, making an entryway too pretty and not one bit practical isn’t the way to go. Your home is an extension of how you live, so it needs to be accommodating. It’s a mistake we see people often make, but we promise you can strike the perfect balance between the two. So, how do I make it pretty and functional, you ask? Girl, we’ve got you.
one: Fun Hooks Are a Must
Here in the studio, we love a funky hook or two! They're practical and come in so many different designs, shapes, and colors to suit any space. If you’re feeling brave, why not try and mix and match a few within the same color family? Remember to stick to an odd number of hooks rather than even.
two: Free Standing Coat Rack
We’re currently in Fall at the minute, and you know we’re drinking all the pumpkin spice lattes there are, but that also means rugging up in an oversized coat. If you have the space for it, include a freestanding coat tree. Super practical, and you’ll achieve that height by adding some dimension.
three: Include a Mirror
In our eyes, a mirror near the front door is a must, especially when you're running out for a quick errand and need to make sure your bedhead is nowhere to be seen! At your entryway, you can go for a big, oversized mirror. Make it bold with a statement. When you hang your mirror perpendicular to the door, it’ll catch all that gorgeous natural light from outside and brighten up your entryway.
Insider Tip!
Now, we don’t do everything by the rules of Feng shui, but we’re sticking with this. Don’t hang your mirror directly across from your front door. Not only will this bring bad energy in, but usually most people don’t want to look at themselves right away when they walk in the door.
Six: Bring In a Rug
Remember how we said your entryway is the transition area? A rug and your new doormat are the perfect way to create a seamless transition. If you’re struggling to choose what rug will go where, scroll through our ultimate rug guide, and we’ll have all your questions answered.
So with all that being said, say “Yes!” to create the most stunning entryway by avoiding these mistakes. Oftentimes, interior design can feel a little overwhelming and confusing. If you need to talk through the details, get in touch with us to book a design therapy sesh. We’ll go through all your concerns and create an entryway so stunning you’ll never want to close your front door!
