The entry hall. The portal to your world and the gateway to Firstimpressionville, population you! It’s not the main living space and it can sometimes fall victim to being overlooked or worse, completely forgotten. I get it. It’s not where the family is going to hang out and it is more of a utilitarian space; a storage area, in most cases. But before you write off the entry hall as simply a pass through to the more sexy areas, ie: the knock out Great room or the Chef’s kitchen.. Let’s focus on 5 really easy tips to make the right first impression in your entry hall.

Your Entry Hall: How To Make The Right First Impressions, Tip 1: Make A Statement With The Walls

The entry hall is a great place to bring a bit of style and color to your space. This is especially relevant if you have a true foyer that is a room in and of itself. Think about picking a paint color that’s different than the next room or adjacent rooms.

Choose a color that you’re using as an accent in the other room. For example, If you’ve accented a nearby room in oranges, give the entry hall a coat of orange paint.
Maybe pick a wallpaper pattern that picks up on the accent color from the next room.

A little bit of the unexpected can really bring your entry foyer to life!

Your Entry Hall: How To Make The Right First Impressions, Tip 2: Make A Statement With The Lighting

There’s nothing like a gorgeous chandelier in a grand entry. Even if you don’t have ceilings that reach the sky, you can still make a great first impression with a smaller but chic ceiling fixture. Think about the lighting as the jewelry of the space.

Choose a fixture that has a cut glass or crystal detail. The crystals will reflect the light and create a beautiful light pattern on the ceiling, and the reflective quality will make the space feel brighter.
If you don’t have tall ceilings that can support the scale of a chandelier, think about adding in a floor lamp or table lamp that will bring in a wow factor.

Your Entry Hall: How To Make The Right First Impressions, Tip 3: Pay Attention To Smells.

The way a space smells is very important , especially for first impressions. My mother always said, a mole can’t smell it’s own hole. I’m sure that saying has conjured a mess of images for you… but the sentiment behind it is very applicable here. We live in our homes all the time and unless there’s something really funky going on, we tend to look past the every day odors… The well loved sneakers in the entry hall closet, for example. You may not notice it, but a new guest might..

Try adding a little intentional scenting to the area, a scented candle or subtle air freshener. You can switch the scents out at different times of the year. Think lavender in the Summer, pumpkin spice in the Fall, peppermint in the Winter, you get the idea.
In my opinion, nothing makes a better first impression than fresh cut, fragrant flowers. They’re visually appealing and they smell wonderful!

Your Entry Hall: How To Make The Right First Impressions, Tip 4: Add A Table Or Hall Chest

This is another way to make a great first impression because it’s a fantastic place to display photos or a collection of interesting things like pottery or some cool stuff you find on travels. Remember the flowers from tip 3, the entry table or chest is the perfect place for them.

A table is also an ideal place for your guests to put things while they visit. It could be thought of as a place to park the car keys or a handbag temporarily.
Think of it as a welcoming surface that can be both decorative and functional. It also doesn’t have to be huge and should really suit the space in size and scale.

Your Entry Hall: How To Make The Right First Impressions, Tip 5: Add Some Seating

You can’t beat a place to sit down in an entry foyer or hall. It’s the perfect place for guests to sit and take off their shoes. Here in Buffalo, we have snow, slush and mud for a good portion of the year and EVERYBODY takes off their shoes when they visit each other’s homes. (It’s a great way to get compliments on a new pair of funky socks too!)

Having a place for gusts to sit to take off their shoes or boots is a way to say welcome to my home without saying a word!
You can bring in a stylish bench where a couple of people could sit side by side. Maybe it’s upholstered or maybe it’s a beautiful carved antique or family heirloom.
If your space isn’t big enough for a bench, try to fit a chair or stool in.

There you have it, 5 tips for how to make the right first impression in your entry hall. It’s always good to put yourself in your guests’ shoes for a moment and really take a look at your entry hall or entry foyer. Does it feel welcoming? Do you feel comfortable? If you’re having a tough time being objective, ask a good friend to tell you what they think. Just be open to their opinions. You might be surprised by what they say.

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.