What To Add To Your Entryway For A Positive First Impression

Tom Gaffey
by Tom Gaffey
Credit: Shutterstock / Dariusz Jarzabek

Your home’s entryway is the first glimpse visitors get inside your dwelling. It’s a chance to immediately showcase your design aesthetic as well as the clean, comfortable, and stylish vibe you hope to convey to everyone who enters your house. As important as an entryway is in creating a positive first impression, it’s a space that homeowners often overlook.

To improve how your entryway looks to visitors, add new light fixtures, wall sconces, and more natural light. A decorative rug is a great way to add color and design to this space. Breathe life into your entryway with a chic houseplant or a flower arrangement. Artwork adds color and sophistication, while mirrors can make an entryway look brighter and larger.

Whether you have a grand foyer or a tiny entryway, there are many ways you can make your home’s entrance shine. If you haven’t given much thought to how your entryway appears to first-time guests, then this article is for you. Below is a list of all the items you can add to your home’s entrance to make the space better, as well as reasons why every home deserves a beautiful entrance.

Reasons Why Every Home Should Have A Beautiful Entryway

1. It’s A Room That Requires Function And Style

Your home’s entrance sees a lot of action. It’s often where people keep keys, jackets, umbrellas, and shoes. In busy homes, people are constantly coming and going from this area, so it must function well.  More than almost any other space in your home, the entryway should be a delicate balance of style and practicality. No space should be wasted, and every new addition should be beautiful and intentional.


2. First Impressions Are Hard To Shake

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Once a person has made up their mind about something, it’s hard to change it. Therefore, always present your entryway at its best. If it's always disorganized, dim, or void of decoration and design, visitors will have a less-than-ideal first impression of your home.


3. A Well-Designed Entryway Adds Value To Your Home

If you’re interested in selling your home in the foreseeable future, pay attention to your the entrance. A beautiful beginning can help sell a home, as it is likely to attract prospective buyers. If you invest money in new light fixtures, molding, and other permanent improvements, you can even increase the value of your home.


4. Some Guests Only See The Entryway

Another factor to consider as you decide on how to design your entryway is that it’s sometimes the only part of the home visitors see. When people drop off or pick up items, and when neighbors come by, there’s a chance they don’t make it very far beyond your front door. Since people will likely see your entryway more than any other part of your home, give it the consideration it deserves


Things To Add To Give An Entryway A Positive First Impression

1. A Chandelier Or New Light Fixture

One of the best ways to wow your visitors when you welcome them into your home is with a beautiful chandelier or light fixture. A sparkling chandelier can immediately lend your home a regal vibe, while a modern light fixture can set a sleek tone. Swapping out an old light fixture for a new one is a straightforward DIY project, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It will also last for decades, making this change a fantastic long-term investment that will instantly transform your home’s entrance for years to come.


2. Decorative Rug

A rug is a brilliant addition to nearly any entryway. For one, a rug near your front door helps prevent people from tracking dirt into your home. A beautiful rug also offers subtle style to the space, without being overbearing. Throw rugs and runners can be pretty affordable, making them a simple and inexpensive way to quickly improve the look of your home’s entrance.


3. Incorporate A Chic Console Table

Many entrances have console tables near the door. They are used to keep keys, wallets, and other items people like to put down as soon as they enter the house. A console table makes a lot of practical sense in an entryway, but it doesn't always add beauty to your space. If you have an old table in your entryway that doesn’t fit your home’s design, consider replacing it with a different one. There are many chic console tables you can choose from. You can even refurbish a vintage table to fit your room’s aesthetic.


4. Seating Options

If you have a sizable entryway, consider adding seating to fill the space and make the room more functional. Since your home’s entrance is where people put on shoes and wait, seating makes perfect sense. From a design perspective, seating makes your entrance look warm and welcoming and gives you the chance to immediately showcase the aesthetic you are trying to achieve in the home.


5. Artwork

A good piece of art is a great way to make a home look more expensive and sophisticated. When you place a bold work of art near your home’s entrance, visitors get an immediate impression that they are entering a tasteful home. While art can cost many thousands of dollars, it does not need to be particularly expensive to be impressive.


6. Wall Sconces

Wall sconces are another great way to use light to help your entryway look its best. These lights add texture to bare walls and are a wonderful way to incorporate soft lighting to a room. If your entryway has oppressive overhead lighting, wall sconces are the perfect way to introduce layered, soft lighting to the space.


7. DIY Photo Gallery Wall

If you want to give your home a welcoming and personal touch, you can never go wrong with framed photos. A photo gallery wall is a great way to imake visitors feel comfortable when they come to your home. Combine family photos, landscapes, and other great photos on a wall near the entrance. Photo galleries are a great conversation starter and are quite beautiful when properly arranged.


8. Strategically-Placed Mirrors

Mirrors are another item you can add to an entryway to enhance its look. Mirrors serve a practical purpose, allowing you to check your face and outfit before leaving home. They also reflect light, making a room brighter and even making the entryway look larger.


9. Decorative Vase With A Flower Arrangement

Displaying a bouquet by your home’s entrance is one of the best ways to give visitors a positive first impression of your home. A floral bouquet, whether it’s fresh, dried, or artificial, is a way to showcase color and artistry in the home.  A decorative vase can enhance a flower arrangement, and the right vase is a beautiful work of art, even when it’s empty.


10. A Stylish Houseplant

Houseplants, especially sleek and beautiful varieties, can bring a lot to an entryway. Consider adding a stylish houseplant to your entryway. The right plant can not only purify the air, but also add color and enhance the overall design. 


11. Natural Light

Never underestimate the power of natural light. An entryway without natural light can be dim or depressing and may even make the space look dirtier than it is. Find ways to add more natural light to your entryway. It’s a great way to make your entrance look warm and welcoming without buying anything new.


12. An Accent Wall Or Bold Trim 

Never underestimate the power of a coat of paint. If your entrance is painted a boring color or makes your room look dark and dirty, then give it a new color. In addition to repainting the space, consider adding an accent wall to bring vibrant and energetic color to your entrance. Painting only your trim is a slightly more subtle way to achieve the same effect.


Final Notes On What To Add To An Entryway For A Great First Impression

Your home’s entryway is where visitors get a first glimpse of your home. Do all you can to create a positive first impression with this space. Some great items to add to your entryway to enhance its appeal include a chandelier or new light fixture, as well as wall sconces and more natural light. A decorative throw rug, seating, and a stylish console table can also work wonders. A flower bouquet in a decorative vase, artwork, an accent wall, and houseplants are all great ways to add color to your home’s entrance.


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Tom Gaffey
Tom Gaffey

Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.

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