5 Things Every Entryway Should Have to Design Out Friction

The first place you see upon entering, and the last room you look at as you leave, your entryway doesn’t just set the tone for your design; it also plays a crucial role in your everyday routine.

In the stress of the morning rush or a hurried exit to a dinner you’re already running late for, the last thing you want is an entryway that looks gorgeous but feels entirely impractical. The way you design your entryway can have a surprising impact on the overall energy of your daily routine. It’s a space that should support you through the frenetic chaos of getting the whole family out of the house, removing the friction of the day-to-day, and making your routine feel more doable, if only by a bit.

And as fantastical as this may sound, it can be surprisingly easy to achieve. In fact, according to the experts, there are just five must-have features that stand between you and a stress-free school run. And, as ever, they aren’t just practical; they’re exceedingly stylish, too.

1. A Statement Table

beautiful entryway with wooden walls and a marble console table with two vases — A console table is also an excellent way to set the tone for the style of your home, offering a space to display a dramatic floral arrangement, or a beautiful vase.

First, perhaps the most obvious, and for good reason, a good console table is an absolute essential for every entryway. And some good console table decor wouldn’t hurt, either.

“An entryway needs to be functional, which means a surface is needed,” explains designer Liz Williams.

This could take various forms, depending on both the interior design style of your home and the space you have to work with. In small hallways, a wall-mounted shelf can be enough to keep your space functioning, while larger spaces could benefit from a more dramatic, statement-making furniture design.

The most important thing is ensuring there’s a surface to store all your day-to-day essentials — this acts as a catch-all for your keys and a place for storing your mail. A solid surface with a few drawers, or even just a bowl or two, is all you need to keep those small daily necessities close to hand, so you can grab them as you leave the house.

Pottery Barn

Aldon Console Table

Soho Home

Wallace Console

Anthropologie

Mallorca Tile Console Table

2. A Mirror

checkerboard tiled entryway with a mirror console by the door

“Our Tiger Console is the ideal solution for a narrow hallway, providing a mirror, focal point and surface space for a candle or flowers in a tiny 25cm deep footprint. It also includes a handy and sophisticated set of drawers to keep your essential trinkets in. Consider it a very chic way never to misplace your keys again,” says Tiffany.

(Image credit: Studio Duggan)

“Mirrors in hallways and entranceways are an essential,” argues Tiffany Duggan, founder of Studio Duggan and Trove by Studio Duggan, and we’re inclined to agree.

Decorating with mirrors can serve a variety of purposes in an entryway, both practically and aesthetically, and considering the minimal space they take up, they are pretty much a no-brainer.

One of the most common problems with entryways is the lack of space, and they can often end up feeling rather cramped, with narrow walls seemingly closing in on one another. Mirrors instantly help alleviate this issue, and designers often make small spaces seem larger with mirrors. “They can help enlarge small, tight spaces whilst helping to bounce light around a room, particularly when adjacent to windows,” says Tiffany.

For designer Noha Hassan, this is one of the most appealing aspects of this design feature. Of course, the practicality plays a role, but, beyond that, “they also help reflect light and make the space feel larger,” she says.

And, when it comes to your daily routine, a mirror is something you’ll continuously thank yourself for including at your entryway. “The entryway is the last place you’ll see yourself before running out the door for the day. So, providing a mirror with ample lighting for a last check of yourself is always convenient to have,” says Alison Green, from Elan Design House.

Biznest

Round Bobbin Edges Mirror

Ferm Living

Wall Mirror Folia

AM.PM

Nella Asymmetric Mirror With Walnut Shelf

3. A Bench

a large entryway in athena calderone's house — A stylish bench can also double up as another surface for decor, too, as seen in this design.

A well-designed entryway is one that supports you in your daily routine, making those little steps feel that bit easier, and that’s exactly what an entryway bench offers.

“The bench makes everyday routines like putting on or taking off shoes much easier,” explains Noha. This may seem like such a little, even insignificant thing, but without a surface to perch on, the task of putting on and taking off your shoes can feel far less comfortable, and can subconsciously invite people to leave them on, dragging mud and dirt across your lovely tiled kitchen floor.

For maximum ease, Noha says, “Seating is best positioned near the entry closet so you can easily put on or take off your shoes and tuck everyday clutter out of sight.” This little addition indicates to guests that shoes should be removed upon entry, so you don’t have the awkward task of asking them to do it yourself.

This doesn’t have to be a large, bulky piece of furniture either. There are plenty of entryway furniture designs for small spaces that will do the trick.

Habitat

Habitat Saffield Shoe Storage Bench

Castlery

Abbey Performance Bouclé End of Bed Bench

Cult Furniture

Bennett 3 Seater Bench

4. Clutter Catchers

mudroom with blue cabinetry and a wooden bench — Sleek, built-in storage cabinets are perfect for keeping your entryway clutter free.

Your entryway storage will be, in many ways, the thing that will make or break your space. You could have the most beautifully designed entryway, but without the proper storage you need, you’ll struggle to keep it looking like anything other than a cluttered mess.

The right kind of storage will look a little bit different for everyone, so the best way to approach it is, as Coco Greenblum suggests, “Think about how you actually live and let your entryway support those habits.”

Your storage should be created to reflect your unique needs and routine, and this will differ from household to household. For example, “If things tend to accumulate on your entry console, get a chic closed box or basket to set on top to put your random items in and keep what is on the console day-to-day minimal,” says Anna Kroesser, from Kroesser and Strat Design.

Or, she adds, “If shoe accumulation is your Achilles’ heel, then a floor basket is a must. It doesn’t even have to have a top on it, but having shoes strewn all about (especially with little ones) can feel beyond overwhelming as you’re heading out the door.”

There are lots of design choices to make with your home storage, too. If baskets and boxes still feel too cluttered for you, perhaps some built-in storage would be a better option.

Dunelm

Seagrass Letter Holder Basket

KARE

Kare Caruso Designer Shoe Cabinet

SIRIZEN-DIVING

Calacatta Viola Marble Decorative Bowl

5. Bold Lighting Fixtures

an entryway with a table and statement light — A single, bold pendant light or chandelier can make your entryway feel more intentional and grand.

Finally, the missing puzzle piece for the perfect entryway: a statement light fixture.

Now, this may sound like a purely aesthetic choice, but as Lynn Berney from LTA Interiors says, “Your entryway lighting not only highlights the design but also makes the space practical when you’re heading out the door early in the morning.”

The last thing you want when you’re heading out the door first thing in the morning is to be squinting through the dark to find your car keys. And it will be equally as important when returning home at night, too.

The right light fitting should make your home feel warm and welcoming immediately, while also helping support you through your daily routine.

kaixunl

Silk Pendants Light

Pooky Lighting

Havana Chandelier in Deep Brown

Holloways of Ludlow

Tala Five Cluster

If you’re still on the lookout for some more entryway inspo, our current obsession is the built-in entryway storage trend, where storage is designed to look as if it’s always been there. It’s practical, chic, and makes your home look completely seamless.