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  2. Floor Material: Dark Hardwood

Traditional Entrance with Dark Hardwood Flooring Ideas and Designs

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Lakeside Home
Lakeside Home
Hollester InteriorsHollester Interiors
Nat Rea Photography
Design ideas for a classic foyer in New York with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door and a white front door.
MEADOW HOUSE
MEADOW HOUSE
Lisa Tharp DesignLisa Tharp Design
Entry Stair Hall with gallery wall, view to Living Room with gilded citrus peel wall sculpture. Interior Architecture + Design by Lisa Tharp. Photography by Michael J. Lee
New Home Office and Mudroom
New Home Office and Mudroom
Three Sparrows Interior DesignThree Sparrows Interior Design
Large traditional foyer in Providence with blue walls, dark hardwood flooring, brown floors and feature lighting.
Franklin, TN Estate
Franklin, TN Estate
Noble Johnson ArchitectsNoble Johnson Architects
The built-in cabinetry at this secondary entrance provides a coat closet, bench, and additional pantry storage for the nearby kitchen. Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Transitional Estate
Transitional Estate
Interior ArchaeologyInterior Archaeology
Design ideas for an expansive classic foyer in Other with dark hardwood flooring, a double front door, a white front door, brown floors and white walls.
Costa Del Sol Dream Homes - The Hampton
Costa Del Sol Dream Homes - The Hampton
Level Exposure, LLCLevel Exposure, LLC
Designed and Built by: Cottage Home Company Photographed by: Kyle Caldabaugh of Level Exposure
Inspiration for a classic foyer in Jacksonville with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a double front door and a white front door.
Washington Park
Washington Park
ROM architecture studioROM architecture studio
Whole-house remodel of a hillside home in Seattle. The historically-significant ballroom was repurposed as a family/music room, and the once-small kitchen and adjacent spaces were combined to create an open area for cooking and gathering. A compact master bath was reconfigured to maximize the use of space, and a new main floor powder room provides knee space for accessibility. Built-in cabinets provide much-needed coat & shoe storage close to the front door. ©Kathryn Barnard, 2014
City: McDougald Residence
City: McDougald Residence
Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris HomeLinda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home
Linda McDougald, principal and lead designer of Linda McDougald Design l Postcard from Paris Home, re-designed and renovated her home, which now showcases an innovative mix of contemporary and antique furnishings set against a dramatic linen, white, and gray palette. The English country home features floors of dark-stained oak, white painted hardwood, and Lagos Azul limestone. Antique lighting marks most every room, each of which is filled with exquisite antiques from France. At the heart of the re-design was an extensive kitchen renovation, now featuring a La Cornue Chateau range, Sub-Zero and Miele appliances, custom cabinetry, and Waterworks tile.
1840 Greek Revival
1840 Greek Revival
Twelve Chairs InteriorsTwelve Chairs Interiors
Inspiration for a medium sized traditional hallway in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a white front door and brown floors.
1840 Greek Revival
1840 Greek Revival
Twelve Chairs InteriorsTwelve Chairs Interiors
Photo of a classic hallway in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a white front door and brown floors.
Schrock Cabinets: Large Drop Zone Cabinet
Schrock Cabinets: Large Drop Zone Cabinet
MasterBrand CabinetsMasterBrand Cabinets
Photo of a medium sized traditional boot room in Other with dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a white front door and brown floors.
Greenwich Village Classic
Greenwich Village Classic
Flatiron 27Flatiron 27
Raquel Langworthy
Small traditional foyer in New York with beige walls, dark hardwood flooring, brown floors and feature lighting.
Custom Traditional Home in Bellaire, Texas
Custom Traditional Home in Bellaire, Texas
Purser ArchitecturalPurser Architectural
Purser Architectural Custom Home Design
Inspiration for a large classic boot room in Houston with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a dark wood front door and brown floors.
White Transitional Mudroom
White Transitional Mudroom
Cypress Design Co.Cypress Design Co.
This is an example of a small traditional boot room in Providence with grey walls, dark hardwood flooring and brown floors.
Lonni Paul Chicago home design
Lonni Paul Chicago home design
Lonni Paul DesignLonni Paul Design
Werner Straube
Photo of a classic entrance in Los Angeles with dark hardwood flooring.
Hingham Whole House Remodel
Hingham Whole House Remodel
Thorson Restoration & ConstructionThorson Restoration & Construction
Kyle J. Caldwell Photography
Traditional front door in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a white front door and brown floors.
home entry drop zone
home entry drop zone
Godsey Supply CompanyGodsey Supply Company
Terry Hale with Shutterwalk360 Real Estate Media
Inspiration for a medium sized traditional boot room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood flooring and brown floors.
Custom Iron rail
Custom Iron rail
Huseby HomesHuseby Homes
Medium sized classic foyer in Nashville with a single front door, grey walls, dark hardwood flooring, a dark wood front door, brown floors and feature lighting.
The Enclave Custom Home
The Enclave Custom Home
Celtic Custom HomesCeltic Custom Homes
Kathy Hader
Photo of a medium sized traditional front door in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood flooring, a double front door, a dark wood front door and brown floors.
Dale Condo
Dale Condo
Olympic KitchensOlympic Kitchens
Medium sized traditional foyer in Toronto with beige walls, dark hardwood flooring, a single front door, a white front door and brown floors.

Traditional Entrance with Dark Hardwood Flooring Ideas and Designs

The entrance of your home is a critical area to design well because as we all know, first impressions count. As the first thing that visitors will see when they arrive, your entrance is your opportunity to offer guests a warm welcome while introducing the personality of your traditional home. Equally important, it welcomes you home every day, so make it somewhere that you’re glad to come home to. 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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!
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