The entryway or foyer of a home is often neglected, crowded and cluttered. It’s the first thing people see when they walk into your home, but it often becomes the dumping spot for coats, backpacks, boots and shoes – especially if you have kids!
But don’t settle for a blah entryway to your Maryland home. T.W. Ellis can help you make your entryway more attractive and more functional at the same time with these simple improvements.
Looking for advice on improving the outside of your entryway? Check out this blog from last year: Curb Appeal – 11 Ideas to Improve Your Front Entrance
Separate the space
In many homes, the front door opens right up into the living space. Having a separate space makes an immediate impact. If putting up walls isn’t feasible for design or budget reasons, you can still create the illusion of separation. Features like screens or different flooring types can help “separate” your entryway. Painting the walls of the entryway or foyer a different color than the rest of the space will help it feel more like a separate room even if it isn’t set apart by walls.
Create ample storage
The best way to keep the space organized is to have a place for everything – all year long. That means space for hanging coats and storing winter gear, such as hooks, a coat rack, an armoire or a closet. If you don’t have a closet in the existing space, we can help you find a creative solution, including converting wasted space in the walls or under the stairs into storage.
You can have some fun with the storage as well. Get creative with a design and finish that reflects your personality. Adding cubbies, maybe color coded for each family member, offers a great space to put hats, gloves or other accessories. Let kids pick their own designs – it might even make them more likely to hang up their coats and put away their shoes … OK, maybe not!
Provide a place to set stuff
A shelf or cubby right inside the door can make a handy place to drop that handful of keys, mail or other items. Ones with built-in hooks can offer even more wall-mounted storage space. An accent table is a nice design element, and practical as well.
Incorporate somewhere to sit
If people are going to be taking off shoes, coats or winter gear, they need somewhere to sit. Nothing’s worse than doing the awkward jumping-on-one-foot dance in the doorway. Matching stools or chairs can be an easy solution. Use a built-in bench seat with cubbies underneath it to create additional storage and maximize the space. It’s a great place to stow that pile of shoes – never a good look for the entryway!
Include useful lighting
What’s the first thing you do when you walk in? Turn on the light. So the area should have ample lighting, with a switch within easy reach of the door. Choose lighting that is proportional to the space – with high ceilings, consider a large vertical fixture, such as a chandelier or pendant.
Our designers can help you get the perfect solution, but a starting point is to add the length and width of the space in feet, then pick a light that is that many inches in diameter. For example, if the foyer is 10 feet by 5 feet, then a light about 15 inches in diameter would be appropriate, but every situation is different. Wall sconces and other accent lights are also a nice touch.
Don’t forget natural light either. Remodeling the doorway to include sidelites or transom windows will let in plenty of daytime illumination.
Ready to improve the look of your entryway? T.W. Ellis is here to help you with all aspects of your home. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling needs!
