Entries and First Impressions…

Entries are supposed to be welcoming…

Many times I’ll walk into someone’s home and there will be a pile of shoes right at the door, nowhere to place keys or mail and nothing that reflects the personality of the homeowner.

I don’t think that the size of an entry should matter…   An Entry/Foyer is the first place a guest sees when they walk into your home.

Whether it’s a small bench with a basket on top or a small side chair with an interesting pillow that says ‘Welcome’…
this is the first impression and an opportunity to let your friends and family know who you are, that you love your home and you are happy to welcome them.

I’m not quite sure if it’s because I grew up in the East Coast where formal Entries were emphasized or because we lived in the South for a time where homes tend to be larger and formal Foyers are a given…
Whatever the reason, I love decorating my Entry or Foyer and treating it as if it’s just as important as any other room in my home.

When decorating your Entry think about what you love and fill it with those things.

I’ve placed paintings from my brother-in-law who is a successful artist from Sonoma on the wall next to my front door as well as pieces that I think will show interest with different lighting in the space.

On one end of the entry is a large white painted carved table which grounds the space along with an equally interesting lamp placed on top that I adore.  There is shell wall art from Wisteria Home Decor mounted on the wall directly above and 2 matching pale blue garden stools placed underneath.

I saved the top of the table for things that I am fond of…  candles, a frame, shells and a mercury vase which I keep filled with different branches or stems that reflect the current season.

Lastly, I placed an indoor/outdoor rug from Ballard Designs that is not only beautiful but provides the texture and pattern I needed.

Think about the space that you have inside of your home and consider what look you’d like to convey to your guests. If you aren’t sure what will work, try placing existing pieces from inside your home in the entry to see what will fit comfortably and then look for the perfect pieces to make the space complete.

Good luck and make decorating your Entry fun!  I never stress when decorating because I figure if what I’ve purchased doesn’t work, I’ll simply return it try something else. It’s fun making your home your own and allowing people to see what style best describes you.

xo