Before and After: A Once-Neutral Entryway Now Packs a Punch with an Unexpected Color Combo

Homeowner Paula Truscott’s (@mismatchedhome) best advice for home renovations? “Decide what rooms are the most important to tackle first, and prioritize.” And one of the spaces you might want to prioritize is your entryway — after all, it is the place to make a first impression.

Paula and her husband, Martin Loortis, started with an entryway that was a little lackluster. “The house was very white and brown,” Paula says of the before, “which we love but with a splash of color!”

And their entryway got a splash of color indeed thanks to a makeover that features an unlikely color combo: dark green and mustard yellow.

“When guests walk in, they’re usually like … ‘woah'” Paula writes on Instagram. “Dark green isn’t the most common choice for homes here in Australia.” Paula and Martin’s dark green paint is Taubman’s Racing Green. Paula notes that using it in the entryway helped set the tone for the rest of the house, which doubles down on the jewel tone.

As for the doors, those remained plain white for a while as Paula and Martin were deciding what to do with them. The old white “looked very wrong up against the green,” Paula says on Instagram. “We ummed and ahhed over the color for ages ’til we landed on mustard.” They also painted their doors’ patterned glass leadlights pink to emphasize the detail, which makes the mustard color of the entryway skew a little bit peach as the sun pours in.

Paula says if she were to do anything differently in the space she would paint the crown moulding in the space green, too, to make the ceiling seem higher — but mostly she’s pleased with the pop(s) of color and peoples’ impressions when they walk in.

A circular rug with a colorful floral motif, a circular mirror the couple bought at a major discount during a closeout sale, a snake plant, and a vintage entryway table all help fill the space in to make it feel warmer and more welcoming.

Paula says her other entryway essentials are a coat rack, key hooks, a place to remove and store shoes — her family uses the antique camphor chest in the corner — and artwork, including a “pawtrait” of her dog, of course! And really, what could be better for greeting guests on arrival?

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