Overview:
A good decorator does not overlook any space. The entryway is the first part of a home anyone sees, and is therefore a decorator's only chance to make a first impression.
This article discusses various decorating solutions for both hallway entryways and open plans. It also covers mudrooms and reveals the secret every family should know about cleaner, more organized homes. The second part of this article discusses the importance of utilizing corners and offers a range of solutions that include spaces for seating, entertaining, reading, and storage.
7.1 Entryways
The entryway or foyer of a home gives guests an immediate impression of a home. Just like a lousy first impression can forever taint how a person is perceived, an unimaginative, chaotic, or generally unpleasant entryway can set a negative tone for the rest of the home. The chosen style of a home starts in the entryway and continues through every other room of the home. A decorator's goal is to make every guest say, "Wow! What a gorgeous home!" before even stepping inside.
Homes have a variety of entryways and foyers. Some have open plans that immediate lead into the rest of the home without any transition, while others have long hallways. Still, some grand entrances have room for seating and entertaining. Below, we cover decorating solutions for three types of entryways.
Hallways
One of the most simple and elegant ways to decorate a hallway entryway is with a console table. Console tables are narrower and taller than a typical dresser or desk, which makes them functional for narrow spaces. Console tables can be customized to fit the needs and style of any home. Some will need hooks for keys, dishes for loose change, or bins for mail and everyday necessities like sunglasses and wallets. Others will be decorated with a small-scaled sculpture or organized display of limited accessories, like lamps, candles, boxes, books, or flowers. The space above the console table should not be neglected. Depending on style and needs, a decorator may want to hang a mirror, artwork, or message board made from chalk, whiteboard, or cork.
Minimal seating to comfortably remove shoes is another favorite piece of furniture for hallway entryways. Consider the style of the home and then dare to be creative. A farmhouse bench, vintage trunk, and salvaged theater seats can all serve as hallway entryway seating.
Many families chose to hang family photographs in their entry hallways. One way to add variety to the traditional family gallery wall is to intersperse photographs with mirrors, framed objects, and artworks, either bought or made by the kids. It is important to pay attention to the frames used, not only in the entry hallway, but also throughout the home. Take care that the frames add to the style of the home. They do not need to match exactly, and can in fact be more interesting if of a mixed style, but they should complementary. For example, vintage carved frames painted with metallic brushed paints can be a great addition to both cottage homes and modern interiors. Lining two sides of a hallway with many small-scaled framed works can be overwhelming. Counterbalance the mosaic-like hanging with a few large-format photographs or paintings on the opposite wall.
One of the most important aspects of any entryway is the lighting. Because they are narrow, hallways can sometimes appear small and claustrophobic. To brighten a hallway, install wall sconces mounted above eyelevel 6 to 8 feet apart or dangling pendant lights spaced 8 to 10 feet apart. A big, bright chandelier is another great solution for playing up an otherwise small and dark space.
Open Plan
If not decorated with care, an open plan can feel disorienting. When a person crosses the threshold from outdoors to indoors, she expects some sort of interim space before being thrust into the home. One way to create this needed transitory space is with a large area rug that signals this space here is different from that space over there. Instead of an area rug, a decorator can opt for floor tiles or choose to install different flooring in the designated entryway as a means of differentiating the entryway from the rest of the home. If the interior architecture permits, the decorator can further enforce the notion of an entryway by installing a screen on the open side.
Another way to create the illusion of a foyer or entryway is by placing a piece of furniture, such as a bookshelf, in a way that it acts as a clear divider between the entryway and the rest of the home. This method has the added advantage of providing shelving and storage. If an open plan foyer restricts storage, do not be afraid to use the available wall space between the door and the perpendicular wall. Even just two or three feet can be enough to provide adequate storage. One way to do this is to mount a rod outfitted with hooks level to the doorknob. These hooks can hold bags, backpacks, coats, scarves, and hats. Keys and dog leashes are just two of the many other objects that can hang from hooks or wrap around the rod. A corkboard with thumbtacks positioned below the rod is highly functional and provides texture, as well as space to tack grocery lists, reminders, and businesses cards. Above the rod, a decorator can mount shelving or mini drawers and baskets. And just like that, unused wall space transforms from a dead zone into a mini organizational paradise.
Sometimes, the lack of dedicated entry space can make a small home feel larger. In this case, it is sometimes better to forget about carving out entry space, and to instead focus on integrating the entry with the immediate home. One method of doing this is to place a desk against one of the walls nearest the front door. The desk can function as an active working space (with plenty of organizational space to prevent clutter!), as well as a console table. If space permits, counterbalance the desk with a small seating area on the other side of the door. Instead of a bench, opt for a love seat, end table, and statement floor lamp.
7.2 Mud Room
For families, turning an entryway into a mudroom can be a lifesaving home addition. A mudroom is a solution to strewn shoes, missing jackets, and lost keys. Mudrooms are organizational havens that can be customized to a family's particular needs and lifestyle. They are intended to be easy places to drop items when coming in at the end of the day, and picking them up on the way out the door. They make a home cleaner and generally more livable. Mudrooms are transitional spaces that can be as small as a single wall and as large as a converted guest bedroom.
Like other entryways, mudrooms should be decorated in the same style as the rest of the home. The name "mudroom" does not exempt it from style. While mudrooms should be placed wherever works best for the family (as part of a utility room, in the kitchen, near a back entrance, outside the front door), this section focuses on entryway-cum-mudrooms, with the assumption the mudroom is visible to guests. It is also worth noting that when a mudroom is well decorated, it is more likely to be used.
The main function of a mudroom is organization and utility. When planning a mudroom, write down a list of each of the family members activities and accompanying accessories and objects.
If there are school-aged children at home, do they carry heavy books back and forth to school each day? What kind of backpacks do they use and how large are they? Do they participate in after-school activities that require additional equipment? Do the kids play instruments or sports? Are they required to wear easily lost accessories like ties or Boys Scouts vests? If the family lives near the mountains or in a cold climate, is there a need to have winter accessories like gloves and ski helmets easily accessible? What kind of outerwear does the family have? What items are used or forgotten most often--tissues, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, change for public transportation, drivers licenses, etc.? Does the family have a dog with his own set of accessories, like a leash, dog treats, waste bags, and portable water bowl?
Equipped with a list of storage needs, a decorator can create a customized mudroom perfectly fit to the needs of a specific family. When making the first draft, include everything on the list. Unless a decorator is working with a substantially large space, it is unlikely everything will be included in the final iteration. However, by writing down absolutely everything that would ideally be kept in the mudroom, a decorator can conceptualize the most creative and accommodating solutions. Making such a list can also help a family with their spring-cleaning. It might just come to light that many of the items on the list are unnecessary and can in fact, be donated, sold, or tossed.
Make a second list with the necessary types of storage. Hanging storage, tall shelves, short shelves, cabinets, baskets, large storage bins, and hooks are some of the most common features of a mudroom. Take the example of a mother who works as a doctor and wears lots of scarves, a father who does martial arts as a hobby, and a teenage boy who plays ice hockey and the violin. This family will need hooks that do not snag fine materials and hanging storage for the mother's doctor's coat and father's martial arts uniform. The teenager's violin, hockey sticks, protective gear, and hockey uniform will require separate vertical storage, and his ice skates will require some sort of padded surface. The family might want a bench to comfortably take off shoes, a mirror to check themselves before walking out the door, or a small desk or table with a message board to leave each other notes. They will also likely need additional hooks or vertical storage for jackets and other outerwear, shelves, a rack, or trays for shoes, and baskets for miscellaneous items.
A list like this can feel daunting, but it can also provide relief. When broken down in such a way, organizing it all seems more possible than ever. To accommodate the family described below, an entryway and mudroom could be made with a row of hooks on one wall to hold outerwear for the entire family, reusable bags for grocery shopping, the mother's scarves, and keys. Three tall cubbies with hangers and hooks, including one lined with rubber for ice skates, can accommodate the individual needs of all three family members. Additional storage on top or below the cubbies can hold storage bins with clothing and accessories needed at different times of the year. This is just one possible configuration that is simple and compact.
7.3 Corners
Corners are some of the most underutilized spaces in the home. A good interior decorator knows how to turn otherwise ignored corners into enviable destinations.
A home never has enough seating. Turn a corner into an inviting alcove for close discussion, reading, or board games. One way to do this is by combining a curved sectional with a two cushioned sectional. When the ends match one another, the two sectionals become one swooping, curved sofa. Add some throw pillows for added texture and color, as well as an appropriately sized table to hold drinks or playing cards. Decorate the table as one would a coffee table, with a few select accessories like a vase of fresh flowers and objects from a collection. There will still be a small space between the curved sofa and the corner where the walls meet. Take advantage of this sliver of space with a floor lamp. Or solve the lighting issue with a hanging pendant or chandelier.
To create a reading nook, place an ultra-cozy armchair in a corner. To create focus lighting ideal for reading, either place a floor lamp behind the chair or top an adjacent end table with a swinging arm lamp with adjustable lighting. Stack some of the homeowner's favorite current reads on the side table and drape a blanket over the back or arm of the chair so one can get super cozy anytime she settles down in her custom reading nook. Depending on the style of the room and interior, a decorator can play with the types of chairs she uses for the reading corner. In some cases, an oversized beanbag, hanging chair, or egg chair can make an impressive statement.
Corners are great spaces for eating and drinking. To create a breakfast nook, position a round table surrounded by four chairs in the corner of a kitchen or living room. Use a rug to clearly delineate the space, and add a fruit bowl or fresh flowers to convey a cheery new day. While a breakfast nook is perfect for the morning, a cocktail may be exactly what one needs at the end of the day. Bar carts come in a variety of styles and as more vintage pieces pop up at flea markets and estate sales, decorators have more choices that ever from which to choose. Bar carts can be statement pieces on their own, but a good decorator knows the secret to a great bar cart is organization. Trays are the best way to organize and divide. Delineate zones for glassware, bottles, bitters and other accouterments like napkins, cocktail shaker and jigger, strainer, muddler, and ice bucket. When filling a bar cart, display bottles with interesting shapes and beautiful labels. Keep in mind however, a bar cart should fit the needs of those using it. So if the preferred drink is canned beer, a good designer should own up to the challenge of making the bar cart the greatest looking and most functional frame for canned beer. When deciding where to position a bar cart, consider where the most entertaining happens. This can be in the kitchen, dining room, or living room. It can also be outside.
Corners are great places to increase storage capacity. Lean a tall, sculptural ladder against a living room corner and hang blankets with interesting textures over the rungs. The blankets can provide a pop of color, but should match the overall color scheme of the room. For those who never seem to have enough space for books, a corner bookshelf can work wonders. Simply position a bookshelf against each wall so the two bookshelves meet at the corner. Sometimes, a weighty configuration such as this can throw off the balance of the room. To achieve the same function with less visual weight, mount shelves on both sides of the wall so they meet in the middle and look like a corner shelf. Leave plenty of space between shelves so the wall space is visible and continuous. This will maintain visual harmony. Another way to alleviate visual weight is to breakup books with objects, like framed photographs, travel mementos, or small potted succulents. Create further variety by stacking some books, and lining up others.
