Decorating an entryway - things to keep in mind

The entry to your home is a small space but it can have a big impact. If you think about it, it’s the one space that everyone who comes to your home sees first - and one that you likely see every day. Decorating this space to make an impact doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be intentional. Here are a few things to consider to make it feel welcoming and totally yours.

Setting the first impression 

When someone opens the door and steps into the space, what do they see? That first glance is your opportunity to set a mood - whether it’s calm and minimal, bold and colorful, or warm and personal. Or it’s a way to share a part of your personality or interests, triggering a memory or sparking a conversion.

Make the door a part of the picture

Your front door and the framing around it is a part of that overall visual moment. So take that into consideration when you are deciding what to hang in the space. You can choose to do something that aligns with the door’s style and color or create a deliberate contrast with it. 

Is your door a specific color? Consider pulling that color or a similar one into the artwork you hang. Is the door a particular style (i.e. traditional, modern)? Consider matching the style of the frame of the artwork. Small details like that can help to tie things together visually.

Work with the space

Every entryway is different, so take a moment to pick the right place to put the artwork. In some homes, when you open the door you face a wall straight ahead - this is the ideal place to create a strong focal point. Hang your art there and it’s the first thing you’ll see when you enter the home. 

In other spaces, the door opens to a hallway or an open space with no wall directly ahead of you. If that’s the case, choose the wall that is visible when the door is open and make that the focus for your artwork. 

If the only available wall is behind the door when it’s open, don’t worry, that can work as well. It may not be the first thing you see when you walk in, but you’ll notice it every time you leave or when the door is closed. 

Choose something big enough to notice

For a strong first impression, a larger piece tends to work better than a smaller one. Try and choose something that you can see clearly from 10-20 feet away.  There are a few options to choose from, it doesn’t have to be a big expensive piece. Canvas art is a great option that comes in larger sizes and is very accessible. Framed posters are another great inexpensive option, and of course you can use any artwork you have on hand.

Ideally aim for something a bit larger, for example 3 x 4 feet is a good size to aim for but again it depends on your specific space. Typically there is not a lot of furniture in an entryway so something that is portrait orientation works well.

Another way to give the impression of one larger piece from smaller ones is to create a grid of identical frames. Space them closer together so they seem like one big artwork.

Find the right spot

Now you have your art, you’ve identified the wall you want to use, the next step is to figure out where to hang it, and at what height.

A good trick is to step into the space from the outside like you would naturally and to stop and notice exactly where you are standing and facing. Ideally you are looking at a wall, and you want the artwork to be centered right in front of you for a balanced feeling. If your space doesn’t have a wall directly ahead of you, turn in the space until you are facing a wall. This spot is a good place to put your art.  

Use the right eye height

Typically in an entryway you will not have a lot of furniture, you will be standing up and you will be closer to the wall than you would be in other parts of the house.

Since this is a space you will be standing or walking through, consider using a standing eye height of around 60 inches (152 cm) from the floor. This is where the center of your frame or arrangement should be positioned. This is a  good guideline to get you started but it’s not set in stone—hang a little higher or lower if it feels better to you and fits into the space you’ve chosen.

Hang it with confidence

Once you’ve picked your piece and found your spot, make it easy to hang things straight and secure. Use our DecoNails™ or DecoScrews™ to hang artwork securely and AnchorPoints™ to make sure your artwork doesn’t move once you’ve hung it in place - especially important in a high traffic area like an entryway.

Your entryway doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to feel like you. With a few thoughtful decisions and a little creativity, you can turn even the simplest space into something that welcomes you home every single day.

We love designing products to make decorating easy and help people create spaces that bring them joy. Click on the live chat below or email us at: questions@utrdecorating.com, and we’ll do our best to help you Create the home you love™

-The UTR Team