- Entrance
Entrance Ideas and Designs
The entrance to your home begins the moment you get to the front door, so make sure both inside and out get the attention of your decorator’s touch. Make your foyer the best possible introduction to the rest of the house, and if you wish, you can have a bit of fun with the doorway; paint, tiles, door handles and lighting are all ways to make front doors a statement – a dramatic entrance, if you will.
What front doors can I choose from?
Your first decision when updating front doors is what type of external doors you want to use, taking into account style, security and accessibility. Investing in a high quality front door is always worthwhile – this is a purchase where a little extra money goes a long way. Hardwood exterior doors remain the most popular choice of front door; as well as being the most economical, timber also opens the door to an endless selection of paint, hardware and embellishment. However, natural wood doors do have their downsides – prone to warping, they require more upkeep and may require replacing if not adequately cared for. Whether you opt for solid oak external doors or an oak veneer option, wooden doors are a match made in heaven for period architecture – it’s hard to imagine a Georgian house without a solid, six-panel door, or a Victorian home sans its gleaming hardware and stained glass panes. If you prefer non-wooden exterior doors, the alternatives are UPVC doors, GRP doors (collectively known as composite doors) and steel doors. UPVC front doors are often the most inexpensive alternative to timber and offer added insulation benefits; because the material itself can be a comparatively insubstantial, UPVC external doors are built into steel door frames for added reinforcement. GRP (glass-reinforced plastic, or fibreglass to you and me) doors offer the same properties, with a woodgrain effect that can provide a happy medium for lovers of timber. Steel doors are less widely used in the UK than the US, and make great contemporary front doors thanks to their sleek, modern appearance.
How do I decorate my doorway?
Renovating or replacing your front doors is one of the quickest ways to give your home a makeover, and affords the perfect opportunity to add a splash of colour to the front of your home. To improve your front door’s kerb appeal you can flank the doorway with decorative trees or flowering plants in attractive planters and “dress” the door with shiny hardware. Door knockers and door knobs can be more than functional with a range of styles and materials available to add some personality to exterior doors. A traditional brass door knocker can be the perfect complement to a solid oak doorway painted in a rich shade of green or blue, whilst contemporary chrome door hardware will look perfect against a white or eggshell door. If you are looking for an elegant front door option, opt for a hardwood door with built in obscured glass panels to let light into your hallway. If you would rather avoid a glass paned front door for security reasons then smaller decorative glass panels can also be inserted into the surround or door frame. You can choose stained glass panes for decorative effect, patterned or textured glass will allow light in but protect your privacy or get your home name or number etched into a glass pane for a practical but personal touch.
How should I light my front entrance?
The warm glow from a doorway is one of the most welcoming sights that can greet us when we arrive home. An entrance light is of practical importance – we have all spent time fumbling for our house keys in the dark – but it also offers an opportunity to add warmth and character to front doors and entrances. A wall mounted lantern is a charming traditional choice, or for bright, directed illumination opt for a security spotlight. There are a whole variety of switching options available – you can choose a motion sensor light that switches on right when you need it most, a timer light that will offer illumination on a fixed schedule or a switched outdoor light. Pointing light upward is a good way to avoid harsh glare, or choose recessed lighting if you prefer not to have a hanging light in front of your external doors. An entrance is also a great place to display lighting as a decorative feature – choose a table lamp that echoes the lines and colours of the hall beyond it.
What furniture and storage do I need in my entryway?
It’s important to keep the entrance to your home as open and clutter free as possible, so selecting a few practical items that will help with storage and offer a warm welcome is the best approach for this area. Coat stands, umbrella holders and shoe racks are practical foyer additions that will keep the area tidy. For the knick knacks and paraphernalia that so often accumulate by front doors, sideboards or console tables are helpful and opting for a something with a drawer is a clever trick to ensure these things can be stowed out of sight. If you have the space, an armchair, occasional chair or hallway bench will prove useful for perching on when removing shoes and definitely consider multi-functional furniture such as a storage bench for shoes. A wall mounted shoe cabinet is a must have for a tighter space, getting shoes off the floor and neatly stowed away.
How do I decorate my foyer?
Particularly in the entrance to the home, colour can be a wonderful tool to set the tone of the house. Neutral palettes can create a serene atmosphere appropriate for greeting guests; alternatively, you might find yourself being a little bit more adventurous by choosing a whimsical wallpaper or a bold wall colour that could look overwhelming anywhere else in the house. In either case, the foyer can be blended seamlessly into the home with details that connect it to adjoining rooms. Even if your entrance is not self-contained, instead with exterior doors that open straight into the house, visual tricks make it possible to create the illusion of an entryway by defining the space as such. Changes in flooring, a well-placed rug, a screen or curtain, or even furniture such as a console table or coat rack, can be used to delineate the space and distinguish the entrance from the rest of the hallway. Decorating walls and furniture with photographs or artwork is a simple way of bringing your personality into the foyer and plants, lamps, candles, vases and ornaments can be displayed on windowsills, tables or shelves. As a final thoughtful touch, mirrors placed next to front doors are a practical choice for those last minute appearance checks, as long as it’s not directly opposite the doorway, which could back-light the user – decidedly not helpful!
Whether you want inspiration for planning an entrance renovation or are building a designer entrance from scratch, Houzz has 368,679 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Studio Vie and Anna Stathaki | Photography. Look through entrance photos in different colours and styles and when you find an entrance design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful entrance ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
- Medium Hardwood (19043)
- Dark Hardwood (13422)
- Light Hardwood (10875)
- Ceramic Tile (8069)
- Porcelain Tile (8016)
- Concrete (5768)
- Marble (3978)
- Slate (2777)
- Travertine (2087)
- Limestone (1658)
- Vinyl (1295)
- Brick (1247)
- Laminate (1029)
- Terracotta Tile (875)
- Carpet (662)
- Granite (454)
- Painted Wood (442)
- Lino (239)
- Plywood (205)
- Bamboo (201)
- Terrazzo (200)
- Cork (75)
- Tatami (18)
Adam Carter
Photo of a farmhouse entrance in Gloucestershire with beige walls.
clean, pastel palette is nice, light fixture fits color theme, materials look high quality but also versatile (floor looks treated and easy to clean). not sure I like the painted wood and it matching architrave - joseph_harwood3
This is an example of a country front door in Wiltshire with a single front door, a white front door and beige walls.
I want to make this one front of my house - webuser_56633958134
Inspiration for an eclectic entrance in London.
The stairs and the lighting - webuser_340346913
Inspiration for a classic front door in Other with grey walls, concrete flooring, a single front door, a dark wood front door and grey floors.
Everything! - ogarros
©AnnaStathaki
This is an example of a classic hallway in London with grey walls, light hardwood flooring and beige floors.
Hallway floating shelf - alison_y
Photo of a traditional boot room in London with a single front door and a grey front door.
small lanterns instead of spots around cut away ceiling - webuser_290321941
Harvey Maria Dee Hardwicke luxury vinyl tile flooring, shown here in Hellebore, with a Sawn Oak border - also available in 5 other colours - waterproof and hard wearing, suitable for all areas of the home. Photo courtesy of Harvey Maria.
Tiled floor in middle marching with darker laminate floors - mary_lo76
Bespoke handmade boot room and hallway cabinetry,
Inspiration for a classic boot room in Berkshire with grey walls, a single front door and a medium wood front door.
W I like the coat rack style but think I wld prefer it hidden - webuser_304789001
Andy Stagg
This is an example of a contemporary entrance in Hampshire with white walls, light hardwood flooring, a pivot front door and a medium wood front door.
Like oak door large areas of glass also glass balustrade makes hallway feel bigger - dickiesbrickies
This is an example of a farmhouse front door in Other with green walls, a single front door and a grey front door.
large mat inside boot room - chair with pegs over - webuser_820315345
Entrance.
Photo by Chris Snook
Photo of a medium sized contemporary hallway in London with white walls, light hardwood flooring, a single front door, a blue front door and brown floors.
Stair carpet - shellyb0206
This is an example of a small modern hallway in London with white walls, a single front door and a white front door.
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary hallway in London with grey walls, light hardwood flooring, a single front door and beige floors.
Grey paint on right wall matching rails on left - meh2_halls
This entrance displays the owner's collection of outwear, rather than hide it away each piece of furniture has been selected because of its beauty to create a beautiful and welcoming display. All furniture is vintage and the wall lights and Michael Anastassiades ball lights.
All white hall reflective paint - joannejkay
CLOAKROOM / BOOTROOM. This imposing, red brick, Victorian villa has wonderful proportions, so we had a great skeleton to work with. Formally quite a dark house, we used a bright colour scheme, introduced new lighting and installed plantation shutters throughout. The brief was for it to be beautifully stylish at the same time as being somewhere the family can relax. We also converted part of the double garage into a music studio for the teenage boys - complete with sound proofing!
Could this slim installation fit of the left side of the utility room? - sarah_demul
Under stairs storage solution, with three pull out drawers. Shoes and coat storage combination. Externally flush and plain design.
Design ideas for a modern entrance in London.
These aren't the sort of stairs we want, but this is what we want for under stair storage for shoes. They need to be fully extendable and we have to be able to take them out to reach the underfloor heating manifold behind - wwwonnacott
Mosaic cement tiles on the floor; reference: 10105 and 50511. Check it out: http://www.cement-tiles.com/encaustic-cement-tiles-patterns/antique.php#
Simple walls and decorative flooring. Double doors. - russee