Create a Welcoming Hallway When you Don't Have one
A little bit of clever styling and some furniture placement and, hey presto, a hallway when there wasn't one
Louise O'Bryan
7 March 2017
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content producer for digital and print media. Specialising in house tours, room renovations and decorating solutions, my previous clients include Inside Out (Aus), Ideal Home, The Times weekend supplement and Sainsbury's magazine. I never tire from the thrill of discovering a jaw-dropping, inspirational home to feature and having an insight into other people's spaces. Call me curious or just nosey!
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content... More
A designated entry has many practical uses, as well as emotional benefits for a home. For one thing, a hallway helps to establish a good first impression for your home. For another, an entry creates a space in which to pause for a moment, before transitioning from the outdoors into a place of relaxation. Conversely, an entry also becomes the space in which to prepare for a journey into the outside world, smoothing hair or performing a last minute key check.
If your home is lacking a natural entry but you’re eager to create one, here are some clever styling tricks that will turn your simple walkway into a desirable hallway.
If your home is lacking a natural entry but you’re eager to create one, here are some clever styling tricks that will turn your simple walkway into a desirable hallway.
Define with pattern
If your front door opens into an open-plan apartment, try zoning the entryway with visual definers. Use a bold statement wallpaper, or maybe a standout paint colour, on the wall next to the door to define the entry, and place a slim console on this wall to mark the area where guests can pause for a moment to shed bags or car keys. A long runner always denotes the direction guests should take through to rest of the home, and helps provide a sense of flow to the rooms beyond.
If your front door opens into an open-plan apartment, try zoning the entryway with visual definers. Use a bold statement wallpaper, or maybe a standout paint colour, on the wall next to the door to define the entry, and place a slim console on this wall to mark the area where guests can pause for a moment to shed bags or car keys. A long runner always denotes the direction guests should take through to rest of the home, and helps provide a sense of flow to the rooms beyond.
Similarly, in this apartment, a small wall by the front door has been transformed into a hallway area and defined by a striking wallpaper. The addition of coat hooks and a shoe basket makes the space extremely practical and functional, not just decorative.
12 game-changing additions to a boring entryway
12 game-changing additions to a boring entryway
Set the scene with artwork
The entry can be seen as the start of the story for the rest of your home, preparing guests for what they can expect throughout the other rooms in terms of design and style. So by displaying eye-catching artwork or photographs directly by the doorway, you will provide a spot where guests can pause and contemplate, before continuing inside.
The entry can be seen as the start of the story for the rest of your home, preparing guests for what they can expect throughout the other rooms in terms of design and style. So by displaying eye-catching artwork or photographs directly by the doorway, you will provide a spot where guests can pause and contemplate, before continuing inside.
Grow your own privacy
Imagine sitting on your sofa in your pjs, only to be exposed to the common area beyond when someone passes by your front door. Not very relaxing right? One way to solve this is with a strategically-placed potted plant that will act as a privacy wall between you and any snooping eyes. Placing a plant or two next to the door will also create a visual barrier to separate the outdoors from the indoors.
Tip: If your front door does open directly from the outside, consider layout carefully. If space allows, keep the sofa you use for slouching out of sight, and keep occasional furniture, such as a dining or console table, in sight.
Imagine sitting on your sofa in your pjs, only to be exposed to the common area beyond when someone passes by your front door. Not very relaxing right? One way to solve this is with a strategically-placed potted plant that will act as a privacy wall between you and any snooping eyes. Placing a plant or two next to the door will also create a visual barrier to separate the outdoors from the indoors.
Tip: If your front door does open directly from the outside, consider layout carefully. If space allows, keep the sofa you use for slouching out of sight, and keep occasional furniture, such as a dining or console table, in sight.
Add practical pieces
Are you missing somewhere to hang your umbrella and handbag? Do you wish you could dump your keys in a dedicated spot each day? Try repurposing an old chest of drawers or dresser as a hallway cabinet for outdoor accessories. Then choose a complementary coat rack that will create a harmonious arrangement. Positioning furniture in this way will help define an entrance when there is no hallway.
Tip: A smart shoe tray is an ingenious idea. Pop it next to your front door and it will ensure outdoor shoes are neatly shed.
Are you missing somewhere to hang your umbrella and handbag? Do you wish you could dump your keys in a dedicated spot each day? Try repurposing an old chest of drawers or dresser as a hallway cabinet for outdoor accessories. Then choose a complementary coat rack that will create a harmonious arrangement. Positioning furniture in this way will help define an entrance when there is no hallway.
Tip: A smart shoe tray is an ingenious idea. Pop it next to your front door and it will ensure outdoor shoes are neatly shed.
Depending on the layout of your home, an organised hallway spot that’s dedicated to launching you and your loved ones out the door on time each morning doesn’t have to be directly next to the front door. Tucking it around the corner or in an alcove will keep the busy area out of view of the door, so you can concentrate on creating a calm and fuss-free entry.
Shop for buffets and sideboards
Shop for buffets and sideboards
The simple placement of a low bench next to the front door will evoke a relaxed feel, as well as create a practical perch with natural placement for shoes below.
In this hallway, the addition of calming touches, such as pot plants and magazines, captures the home’s laid-back approach. Stick to light, neutral tones and your entry will be a true delight to come home to.
In this hallway, the addition of calming touches, such as pot plants and magazines, captures the home’s laid-back approach. Stick to light, neutral tones and your entry will be a true delight to come home to.
Transform a wall into a home hub
You don’t need a designated hallway to carve out an organisation station in your entryway. Every home could benefit from a dedicated area for note making or calendar writing, and the entry is an ideal spot to ensure important dates or messages don’t get missed – and what’s more, this hub will help zone out an entry area.
Choose a section of wall and paint the top half in chalkboard paint to create an instant notepad, while a slim table below will store chalk and pens. Further define your home hub zone with a floor mat placed below for discarded shoes.
8 Ideas to Give Your Walls More Presence (and Utility)
You don’t need a designated hallway to carve out an organisation station in your entryway. Every home could benefit from a dedicated area for note making or calendar writing, and the entry is an ideal spot to ensure important dates or messages don’t get missed – and what’s more, this hub will help zone out an entry area.
Choose a section of wall and paint the top half in chalkboard paint to create an instant notepad, while a slim table below will store chalk and pens. Further define your home hub zone with a floor mat placed below for discarded shoes.
8 Ideas to Give Your Walls More Presence (and Utility)
A small ledge makes a big impact
A shelf on its own isn’t going to have much purpose in a non-existent entry, however, place an umbrella holder underneath it and the shelf transforms into the designated entry zone. Fitting the shelf at waist height will make it handy for discarding keys or phones straight out of pockets.
A shelf on its own isn’t going to have much purpose in a non-existent entry, however, place an umbrella holder underneath it and the shelf transforms into the designated entry zone. Fitting the shelf at waist height will make it handy for discarding keys or phones straight out of pockets.
Also, fitting a shelf at eye level is a good way of remember items like letters to post, or bills to pay.
Choose clever space-saving solutions
Ideal for tiny entries or open-plan spaces, this custom-designed floating console offers plenty of storage for hallway paraphernalia without taking up vital space, and helps to keep clutter neatly concealed.
Ideal for tiny entries or open-plan spaces, this custom-designed floating console offers plenty of storage for hallway paraphernalia without taking up vital space, and helps to keep clutter neatly concealed.
Look outdoors for inspiration
If your interior space is extremely limited and there’s no way of creating an entry of any sort, consider relocating your entry to the exterior instead. Obviously you can’t leave valuables outside, but a bench and even a notice board will create a welcoming entry, whether there’s a hallway beyond or not.
TELL US
What clever visual tricks have you used to create the sense of an entry? Share them with us in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more stunning foyer ideas
If your interior space is extremely limited and there’s no way of creating an entry of any sort, consider relocating your entry to the exterior instead. Obviously you can’t leave valuables outside, but a bench and even a notice board will create a welcoming entry, whether there’s a hallway beyond or not.
TELL US
What clever visual tricks have you used to create the sense of an entry? Share them with us in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more stunning foyer ideas
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Great ideas here - always interested in how other people deal with this challenge. My front door is straight into the lounge. Some neighbours arrange theirs as a "traditional" room; a sofa against the wall at right angles to the door, so need to zigzag round it. Others reverse the 2 reception rooms - straight into a hardly-used dining room, with lounge in the back room next to the kitchen. I went for 2 distinct zones - sofas facing each other either side of the chimney breast, large square rug between them, slim console-style shoe unit and mirror behind the door as a "hall" area with the uncovered flooring as "direction strip" from the door to the rest of the house.
Incidentally, the pot plant idea is a good one - though maybe only The Borrowers could hide behind the size of plant in that photo :)
LOVE that custom console with the wallet/key tray. Brilliant.