A NEAT, INVITING ENTRYWAY
... creates a good first impression
The very nature of our winters calls for an area in the home where getting in and out of winter gear — and storing that gear — is easy. Whether a home has a simple entryway or a larger, dedicated space like a mudroom for coming and going, it’s not only practical but almost necessary to have proper organization and functionality in these busy areas.
Entryway versus mudroom —
In Montreal, many houses have an entryway as opposed to an actual mudroom. “Ikea Canada conducts home visits to get to know how people live in the markets where we operate, and through home visits that were completed in the Montreal market, we know that everybody has an entrance hallway; however, very few have a mudroom, so they must work within the confines of the entrance hallway in order to achieve the same purpose,” said Nathalie Howison, interior design manager for the Ikea Montreal store.
An entrance hallway functions as the welcoming space to a home and also offers a place to park items such as coats, shoes and keys. There were three primary things that Montrealers said they’d want in their “ideal” entryway: storage for seasonal coats and shoes, seating, and a mirror.
“Having a closet to be able to stow away the variety of coats and shoes for different seasons is key,” Howison said. “Because a lot of people are living in smaller spaces, one small closet may not be enough to handle all of these seasons. As a result, many incorporate hooks on entranceway walls to hang coats, as well as slender wallmounted shoe storage.”
Seating is essential so homeowners can comfortably put on or take off their shoes and boots.
“It’s a bonus if the seating also incorporates some type of additional storage to be able to hide even more seasonal clothing, such as gloves, hats and scarves,” Howison said.
And finally, a mirror is important to have in an entrance hallway. Since storage is a top priority and space is limited, a mirror that also incorporates storage is a plus.
“A great example of this is the Stave mirror, which has hinges allowing the mounting of hooks behind it to hang items such as keys and scarves,” Howison said. “A mirror is also an easy way to make a room look larger.”
Organize it —
Organization in an entryway or mudroom is imperative, and there are tons of useful products to streamline this process.
“Hooks are very important, as well as coat racks and storage bins,” said Manon Thibeault, a design studio associate at Pottery Barn.
Baskets and bins of different sizes, from ones that stand on the floor to smaller ones that can sit on shelves, are also handy.
This transitional area of the home is also a great area in which to put a corkboard and/or chalkboard, with reminders, a calendar, etc.
Personalize it — Because the entryway/mudroom is the first thing that people see when they walk into a home, you not only want it to be efficient, but stylish, too.
That means personalizing it with a few warm details, such as adding proper lighting, a nice area rug, and something on the walls.
“Lighting is very important — pendants and other fixtures can be incorporated depending on the ceiling height,” Thibeault said. “Choose a rug in a darker colour because there is lots of traffic and makes it look really nice.”
Hang some artwork in the space, Howison suggested, and really make it yours.
“Allocating cubbies or hooks for each person in the household is another great way to both personalize and maximize the space,” she said.