We queried local design experts about one topic this fall: the mistakes we make in an entry. The question garnered our largest response yet for our quarterly installment. From first impressions to making a bold statement, the following tips are a treasure chest of professional knowledge. You could call it tricks of the trade or simply that good taste never goes out of style.
Entry tips from the Experts
Sometimes, homeowners fear showing their authentic selves in a foyer. It is the first space that a visitor sees and should introduce the true taste and loves of the homeowner. From using a favorite paint color, a piece of art, a wallpaper, the foyer sets the stage. Always strive to make an authentic introduction.
-Louise Hane
No matter if large or small, the entry can play a major design role in your home. We love dramatic lighting and a beautiful rug or tile inlay that emphasizes the space and creates a welcoming and inviting area.
-Ashley Diggelmann
Layers of art, furniture, accessories, and, in some cases, textiles will provide the warm welcome you hope for.
-Amanda Louise Campbell
Stop forcing accent walls in the entry, especially an open entry, and don’t add shoulder-height wainscoting; it makes adding mirrors, art, or color tough to navigate. Instead, utilize sconces and wild art hung in creative ways without fear in a foyer.
-Everett King
I do think the entry should be a place to take risks and be bold, whatever that means to you. It’s likely the space you spend the least amount of time in, so take a risk and make it memorable.
-Whitney McGregor
Whitney McGregor Designs
Lived-in Entry
Because entries are more of a pass-through, people tend to oversimplify the space. I love to have a sideboard or console with storage and a large piece of art or a mirror to give it a wow moment. Adding accessories make it feel warm and lived in.
-Peden Wright
Peden Wright Interiors for 4Rooms
Spend the money to make a foyer fabulous. Also, as with any room, a vintage or antique piece mixed in breaks up the feel of everything being perfect and new.
-Caroline Brackett
Caroline Brackett Studio of Design
We usually come in the house with a bunch of stuff. Always make sure there is an attractive place for keys, sunglasses, your purse, and the other items you shed when you come in the door.
-Vandy Schaefer
The biggest mistake we see homeowners make in an entry is not correlating the room to the design in the rest of the house. The foyer/entry should offer a sneak peek into the other main rooms of the house, creating continuity with the rest of your home.
-Ashley Arata
Use different flooring in the entry than the rest of your home to sweep those who enter off their feet. If you’re stuck with hardwoods, sand them down and create a diamond pattern with stain and paint. I love a natural stone or handmade tile in the entry that will age well over time.
-Kelly Ford
Ford Interior Design
Always try to have a unique and special mirror hung in an entry. A final flash on entry or exit is always a great detail.
-Sandra Cannon
