In other words, your home’s entryway is your one chance to make agood first impression.
Here are the five things that could be making your entryway look bad and the solutions for each.
Meet the Expert
Valerie Dardenis a Virginia-based designer and owner of Brexton Cole Interiors.
Design by Valerie Darden / Photo by Robert Radifera
A cluttered entryway can make guests feel claustrophobic and disorganized the moment they put in your door.
“When guests enter, you want them to feel welcome,” Darden says.
Darden says that you don’t need a big entry to pull off a calm and collected look.
Design by Valerie Darden / Photo by Robert Radifera
She suggests investing in shoe racks and storage benches to corral the visual clutter.
“Things always look better in a tray!”
Want more design inspiration?
Photo by Robert Radifera for Beautiful Living by Valerie Darden
Or, consider making astatement with wallpaperor paint.
Your entry should also be on your list when it comes to decking the halls.
Darden loves adding fresh winter branches in a large vase for a festive and fragrant flair in her entry.
Photo by Robert Radifera for Beautiful Living by Valerie Darden
She completes the look by scattering vintage Christmas balls around the vase.
“Notadding an entryway mirrorcan be a mistake,” Darden says.
“This may seem silly, but adding a mirror can make your entry seem more spacious.
It might be tempting to skip adding a rug to your entryway for fear of keeping it clean.
Darden says this can especially present an issue if you have pets.
It’s always a good idea to retrain your nose to notice the smells of your home.
A good time to do so is when you’ve left the house for a while.
“My recommendation is to invest in a lovely candle or diffuser with oil,” Darden says.
