First impressions count

First Impressions Count – make the most of your entrance hall

Your entrance hall is the first place visitors see when they come into your home, so it is important to create the right impression. There is no need to strive for a show home look but there are some common decorating mistakes you should avoid.

First don’t forget about your front door as this can set the tone for the rest of your home. A dull or shabby doorway creates a poor impression where as a bright and beautiful front door is inviting. It might be as simple as a fresh lick of paint on the front door or changing the color of the door or maybe placing Fitted Furniture on either side of the entrance way.

The entrance hall often becomes a place where shoes are kicked off, coats and bags are dumped and before you know it, you have to negotiate an obstacle course just to get past the front door. This often happens because there is not enough storage space. Clear away everything that does not need to be in the entrance hall and invest in some built -in storage, maybe under the stairs as this space is often under-used or consider slim line coat racks, a shoe rack or an elegant dresser if there is room. And while

you are at it give the hallway a good clean, scrub down the wood work and remove scuffs and marks from the walls. If the carpet is a little worn you can replace with a runner or a rug to freshen the space e up or alternatively reveal the wooden floor underneath.

Do not clash too many different decorating styles and looks, especially if the entrance hall is fairly small or it will feel claustrophobic. Instead it is better to choose a few key features to enhance the hallway and add some colour with a bright piece of artwork or if it won’t crowd the space too much, paint or wallpaper one wall with a bold colour or prints. If there is a dado rail you can paint or wallpaper underneath this for an amazing effect and keep the colour above to the ceiling a light shade to make the space seem bigger. And if there isn’t one, you can easily purchase the decorative molding and fit it horizontally around the perimeter of the room, about a metre from the floor line. Or be slightly less conventional and just wallpaper cupboard doors to create a focal point.

Lighting is very important in the entrance hall as if poorly lit it will feel dark and gloomy, but too much direct overhead lighting can be harsh. The lighting should be warm and welcoming. Try using small lights directed to bounce the light off the walls and place a mirror at one end to make the area feel larger and brighter.

Whether you have a grand entrance hall or a small foyer, this is an important room in the house as it is where we greet guests and also gives a glimpse into our homes and our lives. For the house owner, it is just a space you pass through to get to the kitchen or the lounge or up the stairs and therefore often gets forgotten when considering the overall decoration and design of the home. You should consider the entrance hall the way your guests do.

Entrance halls and corridors often have high ceilings and narrow spaces so it is important to keep a sense of scale and proportion. It can be difficult to decide on the boundaries when decorating the hallway as it can be tricky to decide where the entrance hall ends and the stairs begin. The simplest way is to keep the colour neutral through-out and then it does not matter too much where you decide to start the second storey. Alternatively you can create a stunning look with contrasting palettes or using a bold, pattern up the stairs.

Entrance halls are typically bereft of detail and points of interest so look out for items that can really spice up the room, such as an eye-catching mirror, unusual light or bespoke vanity table. You can also create a gallery wall with a selection of framed photos and sketches, but make sure all the frames and the same or similar style and the background colour of the wall is light.

Staircases are features themselves so make the most of them by revamping bannisters for example. For the actual stairs, stripes work well if you are considering laying a carpet runner up the steps, but ensure there is an underlay to soften the noise of people running up and down the stairs. Adding lights up the stairs can dramatically enhance the illusion of space.

If your hallway is in need of an overhaul and you require bespoke storage solutions then Bespoke Furniture Barbara Genda can offer the perfect solution.