How to Style an Entryway That Welcomes You Home

The entryway is the first thing you see when you come home and the last thing you see when you leave. It is also, in most homes, the most neglected space: a place for dropped bags, lost keys and shoes nobody put away.

With three or four well-chosen pieces, it can become the calmest corner of your home.

Give things somewhere to land

Clutter in a hallway is almost always a sign that things have nowhere to go. A slim console like the Mira gives everyday objects a home without eating into walking space. Keep its surface mostly clear, and let one tray, such as the Noma, collect keys, sunglasses and post.

Add a mirror for light

Hallways are often the darkest part of a home. A round mirror like the Oren, hung above the console, bounces light from the nearest window or lamp back into the space and makes a narrow corridor feel wider.

Tip: hang the centre of the mirror roughly 150 cm from the floor, or about 20–25 cm above the top of the console.

Make room to sit

If you have the space, a bench is the most useful piece you can add. The Vale Bench gives you somewhere to sit while you put on shoes, and somewhere to drop a bag for a moment. Slide a basket underneath for shoes you wear every day.

An entryway should say one thing clearly: you're home now, put it all down.

Light it softly

Swap a harsh ceiling light for a small table lamp on the console. Leave it on in the evening, and the first thing you see when you walk in will be a warm pool of light instead of a dark corridor.

The checklist

• A console or shelf so things have a place

• One tray for the small stuff

• A mirror to bring in light

• A bench or stool if space allows

• A warm lamp, not just a ceiling light

Keep it simple, keep it clear, and your entryway will do its quiet job every single day.