After a long day at work, stumbling in after school pick ups, carrying a heavy load of groceries or welcoming your guests, the entrance to your home, your hallway is the first room you see when you come home, and the last room you see before you leave for the day. It is the room where you open the door to your guests and welcome people into your space, your sanctuary. It is the room where first impressions lye and where you have the chance to show people who you are when you are in your own home. It may be small, it may seem unimportant, but when you think of it as your welcome home and farewell everyday, it is worth a little attention.

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Image credit Westelm.com.au

The entrance to our homes often become the dumping ground for a range of messy and unpleasant items, including dirty shoes, schoolbags, keys, wallets, coats, umbrellas and more! In my last home I thought ahead and had 3 large cupboards built in to my hallway, two for coats, school blazers, shoes and a whole pile of clothes my kids had outgrown that I was waiting to give away. And one for linen for my ensuite and bedroom. It was super handy, and I couldn’t recommend built in storage enough, you can just never have too much storage in a home. In saying that though my new home has zero storage at the front entrance, there was simply no room for it in the design and budget! But that doesn’t mean that an entrance can’t still look great, it just requires a little more thinking.

Remember first impressions count! And although we were all taught to not judge a book by its cover, we all kind of do (just saying). But it is not so much about impressing your visitors (welcomed ones or otherwise). This is a space you enter through daily and exit through also. When I come home I like to feel welcomed, like I am getting a big warm hug, I want to feel happy when I walk through the door. (Yes even with 3 hungry kids in tow and a little dog who is super excited to see me and demanding attention.) I don’t know about you, but I can’t feel relaxed if as I walk through the front door I am stepping over shoes or discarded sports bags. And I can’t leave the house feeling like I am ready to face the world (I am woman hear me roar) when I am closing the door on a pile of junk (even if it is technically not junk, more like ‘stuff’ that doesn’t have an official home).

Whether you are renting or in the home you own there are tips I can share on how you can make your entrance way much more welcoming.

  • Declutter. Decluttering is one of the most essential rules to any living space. Yes I had loads of storage at my last home, but all I did was clutter it up! If you have things to donate then get around to donating them! Sell items on eBay, or offer things to friends, but stop storing things you no longer use or need!
  • Storage. If you have storage then use it, actually put things in cupboards. What is the point of having a cupboard for coats if no one’s coats are in there? Add a shoe rack into your cupboard and make sure that is where the shoes go. Most children just kick their shoes off and run, but trust me if you make a point of making them do it every day they will soon pick up the habit without being asked, yes it can happen. The younger you train them the easier, but don’t give up on teenagers they can still learn a new habit and they are old enough to be putting their shoes, coats and bags away.
  • Garage. Many people enter now through their garage so create a great storage area in there where shoes can be placed on racks or in a shoe box. Add hooks for coats. Colour coordinate, give each family member a coloured tub and ask them to keep shoes in there, that way everyone (including the grown ups) know exactly where their shoes are in the mad morning rush! Younger kids love feeling special and having their own responsibilities, even let them choose the tub or box and decorate it if they wish.
  • Laundry. Add extra storage options to your laundry space, place a shoe rack in there, or add a pretty hook for your coat.

Think of alternative storage options and use them. Like this gorgeous concrete shelf with leather straps from HG Designs. A gorgeous shelf like this can be used well. Pop a cute little container on it that you can pop your keys into and use it to place your mail down on when you come through the door and don’t have time until later to read it. Saves putting keys and mail on your kitchen bench.  Also accessorise it with a pretty plant or a diffuser, or like below your fav print to add a pop of colour to your entrance.

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Here are some thoughts on how to make your entrance way inviting, fresh and pretty.

  • Set the mood that you want to create. Think about what makes you feel good when you come home. Or think about someone else’s home, when you get there you always love the feel of their entrance so use that as your inspiration. What is it about a certain place that makes you feel relaxed and welcomed? Bring those elements into your hallway.
  • Think colour. Do you want to feel empowered when you leave your home for the day? Then maybe go a vibrant colour! Or do you prefer to feel relaxed when getting home? Then choose colours that relax you, perhaps blues, or blush pinks, warm tones. Do you want to make a bold statement when guests arrive? Think monochrome, black and whites, perhaps add some citrus. Or perhaps you want your guests and yourself to feel floaty and dreamy, so go for soft shades of white and add a dreamy print and candles.
  • Add artwork to make a statement and create a feel that excites you, a piece that you love so much that you actually find yourself wanting to visit your hallway just to look at it.

A piece like this water colour art will really add an impact to your entrance. This can be purchased from The Canvas Workshop. Image credit from The Canvas Workshop.

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  • If you have good wall space, using it to display favourite photographs is a great idea. This works best if you have a wide hallway as you need room to stand back and admire the photographs. You can choose to give it a gallery feel with smaller prints with large boarders and simple frames. Or give it a more homely feel with a range of different family photos in favourite frames. 
  • If you hallway is narrow or lacks light, add a mirror. It’s always a great idea as you can check you haven’t got food on your face before you answer the door lol, or touch up your lippy before leaving for work. 
  • To create a softer feel and add softness underfoot add a hall runner, plush wool is lovely. Adding a runner is an especially good idea if you have a long hallway with the same continuous flooring as it breaks up the feel of too much wood or too many tiles. If your flooring is unattractive rugs are great for cover ups. Rugs can also be a way to bring in pattern and/or a splash of daring colour to a dull space. 
  • Add some greenery. Plants are a great way to add life to any room and are back in vogue! Vintage planters are all the rage, as are hanging pots and terrariums. 
  • Always remember to add a special touch to your entrance way, be bold or even a little cheeky. Show your guest a sample of what to expect in the rest of the home, a teaser. I have said it before, and I will say it many more times BE YOU! This is your home, so allow yourself to play and have fun creating a space that represents you. Perhaps add a quirky light, or an oversized chandelier, a vintage console table or a wacky rug.

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This Terrarium is so gorgeous, I have totally fallen in love with it! I can be found at Livingarte.com.au this particular one is called Squat short Tropical. Image credit from Livingarte.com.au. 

It is easy to overlook a hallway, but spend a little time on it and you will be so glad you did. Do you have any thoughts on decorating? Share them with my readers and I by leaving a comment below.

Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx

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