Entryways are the perfect place to establish welcoming vibes in your home. Whether it’s a big foyer or a barely-there space inside the front door, this area is the first room you see when you walk into the house. A good entryway design makes sure this room helps keep you organized on your way in and out and makes an excellent first impression on guests.

Setting up an entryway you love coming home to is a great thing to prioritize right now—even if you’re just leaving the house for groceries or to go on a walk! The great news is because these spaces are usually on the smaller side, entryway redesigns don’t require nearly as much work (or as big of a budget) as other rooms.

Keep reading for our stylists’ best entryway design tips to help your home make a stylish first impression. You’ll be ready to make the most of this space, whether it’s large or small, in no time!

1. Pick a Color Palette

Not sure where to start with your entry decor? Pick a color scheme to unify the space! This can be established through your wall color—like in this blue entryway—or simply through decor. Once you land on a color palette, work in your hue of choice in a few shades in different pieces throughout the space—like through your choice of rug, baskets, art, lamps, and other decorative accents.

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2. Create a Functional Entryway Checkpoint

The entryway is the first place you set foot into when you come home and the last place you see when you leave. Adding a few thoughtful touches can have a big impact on your entire day. Additions like drawers for mail, a tray for essentials like your keys and wallet, and hooks to hang your bag or coat will help organize the space—and your life!

Think about the things you grab on your way out the door and create an entryway design that helps remind you to take them with you. This will help ensure you’ll always be prepared to face the day.

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3. Consider Your Layout

The layout of your entryway is just as important as the contents! Make sure there’s a clear path to and from the door so you have ample space to walk through. No one wants to feel cramped the moment they walk through the door! When doing this, consider which way your door swings to open, and leave enough clearance around it. Then, work around other architectural elements, like windows, closets, and other hallways. With all that in mind, make sure the elements you end up including work with your lifestyle and are highly functional.

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4. Stay Organized with Storage

Storage is the ultimate key to functional entryway design. Because entryways are usually the first and last room you pass through in your house, clutter has a way of piling up quickly. From kids’ school bags and toys to packages and purses, your entryway sees a lot of action. To keep clutter at bay, we say get organized with smart storage.

Our favorite entryway storage idea? Enclosed storage pieces, like this woven-front credenza. The drawers create an easy place to stash mail, gloves, keys, and more. It’s perfect for on-the-go lifestyles. And since the storage is enclosed, you can quickly tidy up and hide clutter without the need to constantly organize your entryway design.

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5. Add Personal Touches

After a long day, it is so nice to come home and be greeted by a space you love. Take a little extra care to curate decor and art in your entryway design so you are welcomed home by things you love from the moment you step through the door.

Consider adding in a few photos of your family, sculptures from a trip, or fun decor that showcases your personal style. A few of these personal touches in an entryway can instantly make your home feel like your perfect oasis.

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6. Keep Your Entryway Design Simple and Stylish

Sometimes the best entryway designs are the simplest ones. All you really need is a piece of art or a stylish mirror, a console or bench, and a few pops of decor.

We love a bench for an easy place to put on and take off shoes. And a mirror is key for last-minute outfit checks and can help make smaller entryway designs feel more spacious! Finally, some potted plants and decorative pillows pack a delightfully stylish punch in any entryway, making them our must-have pieces to complete this space.

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7. Make Space for a Mirror

Since your entryway is the last place you’ll be before you leave the house, we highly recommend making space for a mirror. No more scrambling for last-minute outfit or makeup checks! You can hang one over a console table or bench. Or, if you have the space, try a floor mirror so you can see yourself from head to toe. This is especially great if you don’t have room for a full-length mirror in your bedroom!

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8. Use Baskets for Stashable Storage

If you don’t have a lot of space to work with or don’t want to invest in a heavy-duty (and more expensive) storage piece, baskets are the way to go. They’re functional, affordable, and stylish—a triple threat! And there are so many style directions you can go with baskets.

To go for this option, choose your preferred basket—or two or three—and simply tuck it under a console or bench. Or just line a few up along the wall! We love this option for households with kiddos, as baskets are an easy way to stash shoes, coats, and backpack. But regardless of if you have kids or not, baskets are just a great way to keep you organized. Use one for shoes, one for reusable grocery bags and purses, and one for outdoor equipment like frisbees and balls!

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9. Tuck In Seating

If you like to sit down to put on and remove your shoes as you come and go, make sure to build seating into your entryway. You could add a bench with a mirror or hooks above, opt for a chair or settee, or go for a pair of stylish stools that you can tuck under your console to save on floor space! This is a great option if you have a smaller entryway—or none at all! With the combination of a small console and stools, you can turn a hallway into an impromptu entryway. This way, you can just pull out the stools when you need them and tuck them away when you don’t. (You could also go with baskets instead of stools, or do one of each!)

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10. Create a Jaw-Dropping Focal Point

Entryways might be small, but they don’t have to be an afterthought. With the right interior design attention, your entryway can rival any other room in the house. And, considering this room gets so much traffic, it probably should. Need proof? This entryway design from our Modern Rustic lake house proves just how stylish these spaces can be!

It doesn’t take much to create a gorgeous look here either—pick a console table you love, hang a show-stopping work of art, and cover the floors with a gorgeous rug (just make sure it has a durable weave and can stand up to extra foot traffic). Bonus points if you have space for a statement chandelier! Then, tuck in a few baskets for a stylish pop of storage. These are especially great for kid-friendly entryways where all the clutter can be hard to contain.

11. Think Off the Walls

Your entryway furniture doesn’t always have to be pushed against the walls. If you have a larger entryway or open foyer, consider “floating” a round table in the middle of the space. A floating table is a great entryway design option if you have a lot of square footage by the door and aren’t quite sure what to do with it.

This not only opens up the functional possibilities for your entryway layout, but it also gives the area a slightly more formal vibe and polished look. With the extra wall space, you can add additional storage (think a credenza or bookcases) or prop a full-length mirror for easy last-minute outfit checks on your way out the door.

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12. Play With Negative Space

Don’t be shy about using your entryway as a place to display art and decorative objects. It’s the first part of your home that guests see, so it’s a perfect place to make an impression! (Peek a few of our other favorite entryway designs to make a stunning first impression in your home.)

Just don’t overload it with too many things. Play with negative space and just highlight the pieces you’re most proud of or excited about. This is also a great moment to rotate decor with the seasons or your mood—which keeps your home feeling fresh without having to buy new art and decor!

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13. Work With What You’ve Got

Don’t have a proper entryway? Or maybe your front door is in your living room? We say work with the space you have—and make use of some of our best small space hacks for entryways. If possible, simply carve out an entryway “zone” or corner. Then, include the essentials—like storage, seating, or even just a coat rack or a few hooks.

To determine your essentials, think about your morning routine and what your “get out the door” needs are. Do you need a place to always put your keys so you don’t misplace them? Baskets to organize the kids’ stuff? Hooks to hang your coat and bag? Whatever your essentials are, work them into your design. Here, we tucked in a petite credenza for a pop of storage and a place to set mail and keys on the way in and out of the door.

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14. Add Natural Texture

The secret ingredient that every polished space has? Texture. Up your entryway style with this easy addition. Think: weathered wood, chunky woven baskets, stone, and natural fiber rugs (which are great for high-traffic rooms like entryways). The coral statue, pictured above, is also a fun and unexpected way to add texture. We also love these knotted rope lamps with linen shades. Adding any or all of these natural pops of texture to your entryway will definitely spice up the design.

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