Ingredients for a Cozy, Warm and Inviting Entryway

You entryway is the only glimpse most of your visitors will get into your home. Think about it, the pizza man, the delivery guy, those cute kids selling cookies, they will most likely only ever get as far as your Foyer. What does your entryway say about you? Does it reflect your design style and tell your story? Do you confidently open the door or hide behind the mismatched mess? To pull together the perfect inviting entryway, you must have these vital ingredients to achieve a cozy, warm vibe.

An inviting entryway, a cozy rug, end table with matching lamps, artwork to look at and large round mirror. — The ideal entryway, complete with all it’s welcoming elements.

LIGHTING

Every foyer needs great lighting, whether it is a beautiful chandelier, sconces or table lamps. First and foremost, light fixtures should be a mix of both function and beauty. Of course we want them to provide light, but we also want them to set the tone for the color/shape/style of the space. In the evening, foyer lighting provides a warm and welcoming element that we all want to feel, even if we aren’t expecting any guests at all.

A lamp on a sideboard table with a white shade in front of two hung and framed pieces of art on the wall. — Artwork is an easy way to incorporate personal style in your inviting entryway.

FUNCTIONAL FURNISHINGS

It’s not always about the pretty; your inviting entryway needs to function too! We need a place to set down our keys, take off our jacket and/or set down our handbag. Think about the path you, your family and your guests might take as they enter your home and create a solution for any problem they may face once they enter the door. Most entryways have some kind of table, hooks and/or storage for shoes and accessories. Also consider that you may often leave your home through this same doorway, so including a mirror to give yourself one last onceover before you leave the house, would be a great confidence booster!

Large woven brown basket containing cozy white and oatmeal colored pillows and a throw blanket. — Cozy items are a must, need a pillow or a blanket, guests are well cared for here.

SOFT ELEMENTS

When you invite guests into your home, give them a reason to take their shoes off; welcome them with a soft, cozy rug for them to sink their feet into! You can also soften up the space using beautiful, natural elements such as greenery and florals, which can add both color and liveliness to the space. Cold, minimalist entryways are for hospitals and doctor’s offices; warm up your space by putting some cozy pillows and throw blankets in a beautiful basket for added layers of softness and textures.

Entryway table topped with small trinkets like metal vases, porcelain lotus flowers and a fresh plant. — Changing the size of your items draws the eye in different directions and creates a pleasing aesthetic.

Once you have pulled together these ingredients for the perfect entryway, you can then begin to accessorize and style so that the space reflects you and your family. Add little photos or keepsakes that tell your story and layer in new and old pieces to create a truly curated look. And the next time someone knocks at your door, you can confidently answer knowing you’ve got the best foyer on the block!

An vintage book laying open on an entryway table and topped with an antique birdhouse filled with a faux nest. — Something eye-catching for guests to glance at that adds intrigue to your entryway.

Sara Lynn Brennan is an interior designer who specializes in Romantic Transitional Style; creating beautiful, natural, cozy and timeless homes for her luxury clients in Waxhaw, NC. Click here to see more of her lovely work.

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