I have shared many looks of our entry way's over the years. I think creating a welcoming entry way is perhaps the key to greeting guests and setting your home apart from all the others. I especially feel this way living in a cookie cutter house in a cookie cutter neighborhood. Let's be honest, my entry looks just like the neighbor next door, down the street, across the street, and even 5 streets over... because, "Hi! We all live in the same basic house :)!" So many of us live in I'm sure a similar scenario. Let's face it, there's not much special about the bones of our houses these days in Suburbia USA. I want to share a refreshed version of how to create a welcoming entry way with you all today.
Tip #1- Add a Wall Treatment
Especially in suburbia, your home and your neighbors house are probably all remarkably alike and more than likely unremarkable in general. I recommend infusing your space with personality and for me my go to is always a wall treatment. I designed a unique wainscot detail that my husband created for me on our main entry wall and I love it. If wood working is outside your wheelhouse, try adding wallpaper for personality.
Tip #2 Have a place to sit
Even in the past when I had tables in the entry, I always include a little place people can sit and put on or take off shoes. Currently I have a long bench in our entry which you know is obviously, a place to sit... I just think it is so inviting to walk into someone's home and instantly feel like you can sit down and take off your shoes if you need to. When my kids were smaller they would often sit so I could put on their shoes, now that they're older they sit and put on their own shoes. Right now I am loving this bench because it gives me the perfect opportunity to put out some cute throw pillows, and since throw pillows are basically an Interior Designer's stuffed animals... I am all about that.
Tip #3- Display Personal Art
In your entry way make sure you add a personal touch-- this is perhaps my favorite tip and the most important aspect of creating a welcoming entry way. It's great to have a house that feels like a magazine sure, but what really can set your home apart from just a pretty space are the personal touches you add. In our entry I added a snapshot of our last house, the first house we owned as a family that I turned into a water color with the Waterlogue app along with one of my favorite religious pieces of art. These two little art pieces tell a little bit of the story of who lives inside these walls. I love when people's houses just look like them, that's the absolute best kind of home I think. It is so important to weave pieces of who we are into the spaces we inhabit.
Tip #4- Keep it Simple
I often see pieces of furniture cluttered with just too much. Instead of needing a ton of accessories, I like to focus on investing in furniture pieces that are my style. This woven bench is absolutely beautiful, it has simple lines and the woven seat adds warmth and texture. It is beautifully simple in my opinion. It doesn't need much to feel special because it can stand on it's own. The older I get the more I look for key pieces to convey my style and worry less about all the knick knacks.
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