Entryways can be tricky because turning one into something more than another boring pass through is an exercise in coping with contradictions. Your entryway is like the window into your home's soul but it's also a functional space that has to be capable of coping with the elements.
Why is this seemingly utilitarian space actually so important? Your entryway not only makes first impressions but is also the last glimpse your guests (and you) have of your home before saying goodbye. Letting your personality shine through in your color choices, architectural details and even your storage solutions can make your house feel more like home.
Modern entryway design and décor is currently on trend but also relatively timeless and typically better suited to handle the comings and goings of today's busy homeowner. Here are six ways to incorporate contemporary touches into your entryway whether you're redecorating or building a new space from scratch.
1. Furnish It Thoughtfully
Furnished entryways aren't only for those homeowners with space to spare! The beauty of modern design when it comes to entryways is that furniture can be functional without being bulky or elaborate. Imagine a rough wood shelf hung over a thin white console table that adds style and storage without subtracting too much square footage. Or cool industrial aluminum coat hooks paired with a mid-century modern teak bench. Two otherwise disparate elements paired thoughtfully can give an entryway as much presence as a well-outfitted living room.
2. Add a Mirror (or Three)
As in other smaller spaces, mirrors can give an entryway depth and create the illusion of square footage where there's none to spare. There's more to hanging mirrors than meets the eye, however! Play with your entryway walls to see what works – an out-sized mirror can make a narrow entryway seem substantial while a grouping of three or more mirrors will give an entryway a mod, gallery-like feel.
3. Have a Color Strategy
Contemporary design typically relies on white as a canvas with striking splashes of color for impact. Alternatively, you can choose a dark backdrop (e.g., slate gray) for your chosen colors if you have plenty of natural lighting in your entryway. But whether you go light or dark, pick a small palette of distinctive accent hues for details like doorways or trim and objet d'art. As a rule, citrus-hued colors pop against grays and blues and yellows stand out against white walls.
4. Go Au Naturel
Natural materials may not be the first that come to mind when mulling over modern décor options but sometimes nature's perfection can't be beat. Natural materials like stone and unpainted wood help smooth the transition from exterior to interior and provide the perfect counterpoint to mod materials like metal and glass. Think about a natural woven basket, a stone accent wall, timber stair treads or a wood Eames lounger – very modern but still representative of nature's own beauty.
5. Light the Mood
Industrial style lighting is still trending in the design world, with structured fixtures taking up more space than traditional options on mood boards and in the pages of magazines. But that doesn't mean your local lighting shop will have as many modern options. Think outside the box when it comes to your entryway illumination options and embark upon a treasure hunt to find something that not only lights the way but also lights up your life.
6. Get Creative
If you have the opportunity to change your entryway's floor plan because you're doing a complete renovation, be playful and don't let old ideas about design hold you back. Can you expand your entryway's floor plan? If so, consider how can you improve upon the usual four walls. Maybe your perfect contemporary entryway has six. Maybe it's asymmetrical. Modern architecture is all about surprises so don't make assumptions about what entryways ought to look like if you're starting from scratch.
With some trial and error you can design a modern entryway that becomes the core of your home – a space that is not only chic and sleek but also as welcoming to you and yours as it is to your guests. What could be better than coming home after a busy day and feeling the weight of the world slip off your shoulders the moment you step through your front door?
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