One of the most important yet overlooked parts of any home is the entryway. We often don’t put nearly as much thought into the area right inside our door as we do our living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, but the reality is, the entryway is the first impression guests have of our homes. I don’t know about you, but I want that impression to be a good one, making guests feel welcome and like our house is a place where they want to be. Here are five simple tips for making any entryway more inviting!
Make it Colorful
Rather than throwing together a random assortment of things, choose a cheerful color scheme to unify items in your entryway. Personally, I like going for something bright like yellow paired with teal, then I use white and grey as my neutrals. You could also go with coral, red, or anything else that works with your own decorating style. Whatever you choose, it should be eye-catching and convey a pleasant, welcoming vibe.
Make it Personal
When guests come to visit, they aren’t expecting to walk into a sleek model home, they’re walking into your home. Let your family’s personality come through in your decor so that some of the first things people see reflect who you are. There are lots of ways to do this, like placing a few favorite photos in stylish frames, displaying a map of a meaningful spot, or creating some special family name art that tells visitors a little about what you love most. Monograms are a nice personal touch too, and so is art that reflects a favorite hobby, artist, or location.
Make it Welcoming
Let guests know they’re welcome in your home from the first moment they arrive by providing some type of welcome message or greeting. It could be as simple as a sign that says, “welcome,” or a cute saying inviting them to make themselves at home. Recently, I created this chalkboard sign that encourages my guests to leave their shoes by the door. In part, it helps me keep my floors clean, but it also makes folks feel like they can relax and be comfortable while they’re here.
Make it Seasonal/Festive
Depending on the time of year and what holidays are upcoming, choose a few appropriate items to celebrate the season. In the Spring and Summer, fresh flowers are a perfect choice to brighten things up. In the fall, a few mini pumpkins or gourds will do the job, and at Christmas time, the possibilities are endless! Twinkling lights and pops of holiday color make your entry just as decorative and festive as the rest of your home. Right now, I have a few beach-themed items to give my display a casual summery vibe.
Make it Neat and Clean
Remember, your entryway is the first thing people will see when entering your house. Make a great first impression by keeping it neat and clean. Get rid of extra clutter and purposely style whatever piece of furniture you have in place. And, of course, make sure that area is free of dirt and dust.
I like to refresh my entryway with Pledge Lemon Clean because unlike other cleaners, it’s pH- balanced, which means its worry-free formula cleans nearly any surface without clouding up or stripping away the finish. Since I repainted the wooden table myself as a DIY project, it’s extra important to me that I’m not going to do more damage than good to it when I’m trying to freshen it up! Also, Pledge doesn’t have any harsh chemical smells, just a classic lemon fragrance that leaves things smelling clean and revitalized. Since Pledge is designed to work on all kinds of different surfaces, I can use it on all my decorative items as well as my table itself.
So, there you have it…five simple tips to make your entryway more inviting for everyone who enters your home! Which ones have you already done? Which ones would you like to try?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Georgia says
Love these!! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
So pretty! Love that lemon for summer!
Kelly of Simply Kelly Designs says
I love the welcome message idea. Thanks for the tips.
Amy Anderson says
Your welcome area is so pretty – and I swear by Pledge!