Design ideas for a welcoming home entrance

With Grand Designs Live running this week and the Chelsea Flower Show nearly upon us, what better way to incorporate the finer points of interior and exterior design than with some expert insights into creating an enticing entrance to your home?

Home at last

That indefinable ‘I’m home at last’ feeling can start a few steps early with an inviting entrance. A clearly defined and well maintained pathway will not only guide guests to your front door, but also add a definite sense of structure and elegance to your outdoor space. The contrast of a clean white or stone pathway bordered by well-manicured greenery can add definition to your entrance, whilst a staircase can be both impressive and welcoming at the same time.

Light the way

During winter months and summer evenings, lighting plays an important part in the security of a property, illuminating the front door for visitors and helping to guide you to the sanctity of your home. Garden lighting can be used to illuminate the natural features of your front garden, although landscape lighting, rather than being the focal point, should provide a well-lit backdrop to the main attraction, which should always be your front door. Such an effect can be simply achieved with an entrance light which is slightly brighter than the rest.

Soften the transition

Don’t leave your guests out in the cold with a stark and bare front entrance. A little intention to detail which incorporates both interior and exterior elements can help to soften the transition. A simple floral print cushion adorning a pine or wooden chair can help to smooth the ambivalence between outdoors and in, whilst some carefully placed plant pots or baskets will ensure your outdoor space retains a verdant appeal.

Colour is key

With many hallways lacking in natural light and small in size, darker colours can feel imposing and make an already small space feel cramped. With clever use of colour, such as shades that recede from the eye, you can stretch the proportions of the space. Both pale greens and blues can create this illusion and provide an airy, summer feel to a property.

If you have a larger hall then you are free to experiment with colour, and whilst statement shades of stately green or rich crimson can create a traditional feel to the home, plenty of light should be utilised to ensure the hallway is neither too dark nor overbearing.

Wherever I lay my hat...

In the hallway, functional furniture is essential. Incorporating a coat, hat or shoe rack where family members can neatly hang their belongings helps to remove everyday clutter and keeps dirt well away from carpets. If space is at a premium, dual purpose furniture provides a versatile solution, hiding shoes away and offering a place to sit where footwear can be slipped on and off. The luxury of additional space gives you much more choice; an old bench or pew along with a separate shoe rack will add a touch of character and rustic charm to any home.

Hallway lighting

If carefully considered, the right lighting can provide both a functional and decorative addition to your home. Hallway lighting is regularly overlooked, but as you'll probably be spending six months of the year trudging home in the dark, it's important to get it right.

Pendant lights are a popular and contemporary choice, which not only provide good light, but can also add a touch of modern style to the hallway. If space is of the essence, recessed ceiling lights cast all the glow you need without compromising on style.

The type of bulb you choose can have a dramatic impact on the hallway's atmosphere. Halogen bulbs provide a bright white light, which can create an overly cold, clinical feel. For a less startling light, energy-efficient bulbs cast a duller, more sympathetic hue.

Add a little character

A few finishing touches can help to transform your hallway into a room. Clutter is definitely out, but a series of pictures hung in the hallway can help to create a homely feel. Opt for a distinct theme in similar styles of frame, each with a slightly different finish, or, if your home has a more modern feel, black and white photographs complement minimalist design.

A hallway is the natural home to a peculiar array of odds and ends. Keys are a hallway mainstay and should be accommodated as such. While key racks provide a practical method of protection against infuriating misplacements, they do not always make for a sightly addition to your hallway. A wooden bowl can provide keys and loose change with a home, whilst an oversized flower bouquet provides the perfect accompaniment.