38 Eye-Catching Apartment Entryway Ideas to Make a Good First Impression
While some of us are lucky enough to have a proper entryway at home, most of us are stuck working with a cramped corner or narrow hallway instead of an actual foyer. Thankfully, there are plenty of stylish, space-savvy ideas for making your own entryway at home — no coat closet necessary.
To prove the point, we’ve rounded up our favorite apartment entryway ideas to help you brainstorm your own home resolutions for the new year. From oversized mirrors to simple storage hooks, here are ways to turn a modest entrance into an unexpectedly chic — and organized — storage display.
Art
1. Curate a gallery wall in your apartment entryway.
When paired with a stylish console table, a gallery wall adds a luxe entryway scene in a Brooklyn Heights home.
2. Add art, mirrors, or other decor.
Whether with paintings, photos, or mirrors, a salon-style entryway display, like this one in a Brooklyn apartment, sets an artful tone for the rest of your space.
3. Slap on a clever paint color.
A pink-painted door, like this one in a South Carolina home, is a cheerful way to anchor an entryway.
4. Paint your entryway door a cheery color.
Looking for a colorful way to welcome visitors into your home, and more specifically, your foyer? Paint your front door in a bright hue, like this canary yellow door in a Palm Springs-inspired home in New Jersey, to liven up your entry room.
5. Anchor your entryway with a large piece of art.
Anchor a tall entryway wall with a large piece of art, like this one in a Washington, D.C. house.
6. Add a geometric pattern to the wall.
A fun geometric pattern on your entrance wall, like this one that is made from tape in a Los Angeles apartment, will have everyone smiling when they walk through the door.
Entryway Seating
7. Add seating (or storage) in the form of a slim bench.
A slender bench doubles as storage space for books, shoes (and whatever is hiding in those baskets) in the home of artist Jenny McCown.
8. Add ample storage for lots of items.
This compact entryway in a Barcelona apartment has enough storage for shoes, bags, hats, and coats.
9. Incorporate a bench with a shelf for shoe storage.
A simple low-lying bench, like this one in a Montreal apartment, can transform a stairway entrance into a functional (and great looking) foyer.
Flooring
10. Lay down a geometric floor tile.
Accent an entryway with graphic floor tile, like these black-and-white floors in an Oslo townhouse, to help define the space.
11. Add visual interest with patterned floor tiles.
Modernize an entry room with some bold geometrical tiles, like these in a Michigan house.
12. Add an area rug.
Employing a unique area rug, like this bright one in a Los Angeles basement apartment in a converted church, to define the entryway.
13. Solve it with a side table.
A small console or side table can transform an entrance hallway into an actual foyer while creating storage space, like in this Richmond, Virginia, home. Another notable addition? A runner to direct you through the space.
Dark and Moody
14. Paint it black.
Few things set a sexy tone for a home like an entryway clad in dark paint, like in this London home.
15. Juxtapose black and white (or dark and light).
In this Arlington, Virginia apartment, there’s a happy marriage of bright and airy and dark and moody. As long as you keep the majority of the wall and moldings in a lighter hue, the darker accent won’t overwhelm the space.
Entryway Table Ideas
16. Use cool accents.
A clean-lined console with interesting hardware, like this white table in an apartment in Valencia, Spain, adds plenty of storage and interest.
17. Paint a console table in a trendy tone.
An eye-catching entrance table — like this minty blue console in a Los Angeles apartment — looks stunning in an entryway. With a statement piece like this, it’s important to keep the rest of the styling quite simple to prevent it from looking cluttered.
18. Repurpose a chest of drawers.
A chest of drawers, like this one in a D.C. row house, makes an unexpectedly storage-savvy entryway table.
19. Incorporate a coat rack to corral clutter.
When paired with an accent table or side chair, a wall-mounted coat rack transforms an entrance wall into a proper foyer in no time, like in this Soho apartment.
20. Place a tiny table.
If all you’ve got to work with for a foyer is a sliver of a wall, make a sofa side table pull double duty in your entryway.
Entryway Hooks
21. Hang an accordion rack.
Funky decor meets function in this rustic California home. Accordion racks are fun and vintage-inspired, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t useful. Hang one in your entryway to hold coats, bags, and other accessories easily.
22. Use hooks to store purses, scarves and umbrellas.
Even when you can’t see them, a handful of floating hooks can help you create a minimalist-style entryway, like in this Portland home.
23. Line things up neatly.
The Los Angeles rental of Jake Berkowitz and John Ruggiero has an enviable organized, eclectic vibe, which starts in their foyer where four evenly spaced hooks line up with quirky framed insect art.
Entryway Mirror Ideas
24. Hang a bold statement mirror.
The shapely mirror in this Minnesota home really pulls a lot of the visual weight.
25. Paint a mirror gold or silver.
A metallic-finished mirror, like this gilded showstopper in a Raleigh, North Carolina home, brings a hint of glamour to an otherwise traditional entryway vignette.
Entryway Plant Ideas
26. Place a houseplant near the door.
The plants add such texture and life to an already stylish foyer in this Boston rental.
27. Add a huge houseplant for a focal point.
A tall plant anchors a space, just like this towering one in a New Orleans home.
28. Hang some greenery.
For something a little different, opt to hang your vines and greenery from hooks or the ceiling. A terrarium with some succulents is also a great addition!
Colorful Entryway Wall Ideas
29. Add some chic wallpaper.
Even the smallest foyer looks insanely chic when covered in colorful wallpaper, like this foliage-covered one in a New Jersey home.
30. Use horizontal stripes.
Black-and-white can make a big impact in a small entryway. If you’re looking to make an impression in your foyer, black-and-white adhesive wallpaper — like the one used in this Canadian home entryway — brings a graphic element to the small space and sets a bold tone for the rest of your home.
31. Add a larger-than-life mural.
An eye-catching wall mural, like this one in a Minneapolis home, works wonders for carving out a distinct entryway space in your home.
Organization for Your Entryway
32. Mount decor on the wall to keep things tidy.
Minimalism is all about functional decor. For a tidy and uncluttered entryway, use this San Francisco apartment as your inspiration. Keep decor minimal, sticking to simple pieces like plants and abstract art, and hang them on the wall for a streamlined entryway.
33. Use cubbies to contain clutter.
The multiple storage shelves in this entry keep everything organized and in its place in a Los Angeles apartment.
34. Bring in a freestanding coat rack.
Transform a mere corner into a chic entry scene with nothing more than a delicate standing coat rack, like this one in an Indianapolis apartment.
35. Go rustic.
Look how a couple of old wooden crates can transform a short wall into a shoe-friendly entryway like in this Boston apartment.
Entryway Lighting Ideas
36. Add a round paper shade to ceiling lights.
With patterned wood floors and a vintage rug, the entryway in this Los Angeles home certainly isn’t boring. To kick things up a notch, the renters covered up their boring (we assume) ceiling light with a round paper shade, which gives the space soft lighting and adds a touch of whimsy.
37. Hang a pendant light.
Turn a cramped entry stairway into a bonafide foyer with nothing more than a colorful pendant light, like this one in a California home.
38. Create an eclectic scene.
Add a bold lamp to your entry, like this metallic one in a Washington, D.C. home, for an eye-catching accent. It’s practical, too, for when you come home at night.