Little entryway can give a big ‘Welcome home’
Practical — yet sleek — ideas can create a real sense of arrival, Jeffrey Fisher writes.
Q I love everything about my new condo, with the exception of the very narrow entry hallway. I think I’ve done a great job decorating my place, but when guests come (or I come home), there’s no sense of arrival, let alone a spot for keys. Once down the hall, my condo opens up into a lovely space, but it’s getting there that I find to be a problem. Any ideas?
A I know exactly what you speak of. Not only have I lived in a condo with an entry like you’ve described, I’ve worked with clients who’ve faced the same issue. And you hit the nail on the head with wanting a sense of arrival. Every home should have one, even those of us with narrow entries.
Condo entrances opening into small hallways often lack light. Depending on the mood and look you’re after, you may be best served by a small chandelier (taking into account how low it hangs), or an additional pot light or two. You can also use track lighting to brighten the space (and to direct light onto any artwork on the walls).
I had a client whose concrete ceilings limited options. We replaced track lighting in her small entry with a flush-mount chandelier. It provided less light, but it paid off in atmosphere. Figure out what’s important to you.
I’m not telling you anything new when I say storage is another major issue for wee entries. If you don’t have a hallway closet but hanging space is a priority, then you may want to find the most-chic coat hooks you can and make peace with the fact that your entry decor is going to be touched by practicality. Just because you hang hooks doesn’t mean your wall has to look like a kindergarten cloakroom. Limit yourself to hanging one purse, one coat (in season), and one umbrella, and it should maintain the curated appeal of a magazine layout.
If your entry can accommodate a small console table, ledge or shelf, I would prioritize that over hooks if space allows for only one or the other ( but that may just be me; I need a place to drop keys when I arrive home). I think a console provides more of the visual appeal you seek.
While I’m talking practicality, don’t forget a mirror. Whether you place it above a console or across from your hooks, a mirror works well in a small entryway. Consider using an oversized mirror to visually enlarge the space.
One of the easiest ways to create an immediate sense of arrival in any entryway, small or large, is with wallpaper. You will, however, need a definite stopping point, otherwise the paper can potentially run right through to your living space. I recommend finding a pattern or texture that ties in with the decorative style or accent colour you’ve used within your condo and make the commitment to it. You’ll thank me every evening when you come home and open your door.
If, like me, you don’t have a definite stopping point for hallway wallpaper, a fine alternative is to hang artwork. One large piece may work for you, or a gallery wall might be more to your liking.
My inspiration photo this week comes from Houzz.com and well represents a small entry. Though the hallway is minimal, it is very well executed. With no space for a console, this homeowner chose beautiful hooks attached to wood, creating a small ledge to lean photos, postcards or miniature art pieces. The large mirror framed in white picks up on the trim colour and provides both practicality and a modern touch. My favourite feature is the painted door. Just because your door may currently be white, light maple or stained dark doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Choose a feature colour (like the Tiffany Blue in this entry), and you’ll create a decorative focal point as you look down the hall. An entrance rug infuses personality. This one has writing on it, but an animal print or stripe would look equally sophisticated.
I hope these ideas inspire you to create an entry in keeping with the rest your condo’s great decor.