Entrance hall: tips and 10 inspirations for your project
Discover the top tips for creating a functional, welcoming and stylish entrance hall, as well as inspiration for transforming your space
A residential project is made up of many details and the entrance hall is one of those that cannot be left in the background. After all, this is where people first come into contact with the house. Even so, many people have doubts about how to plan this area in the best possible way.
To explain the main points to consider when carrying out the project, Archtrends has put together a list of the essentials. Finally, take a look at some inspirational entrance hall designs.
What is an entrance hall?
The entrance hall is that special corner that connects the outside world with your home. Think of it as the first impression your home makes, the reception desk that welcomes anyone who arrives, be it a friend or yourself after a long day.
It's not just any hallway or empty space at the door. It's the room that already shows a bit of the style and vibe of the house, even before moving on to the other rooms.
What is the function of the entrance hall?
The entrance hall is much more than a passageway, it is the real host of the house. Its main function is to welcome people in comfort and style as soon as they arrive, creating that welcoming feeling.
As well as providing a warm welcome, the hall serves as a strategic space for organizing the day-to-day routine. This is where you can leave your shoes, hang up coats, store keys and even put bags, preventing clutter from spreading around the house.
Another important function is to make the transition between the exterior and interior of the home, preparing the visitor for the style and atmosphere of the rest of the house. A well-planned hall already anticipates the personality of the house, bringing visual and functional comfort.
What is the ideal size for an entrance hall?
There is no fixed rule for the ideal size of the entrance hall; it will depend a lot on the space available and the style of your house or apartment. The important thing is that this space is functional and comfortable, without getting in the way of circulation or seeming too cramped.
If your home is compact, a small, practical hall may be the best choice. In this case, it's worth betting on furniture that optimizes every centimetre, such as narrow sideboards, hooks on the wall for coats and a mirror to increase the feeling of space.
On the other hand, in larger projects, the hall can be more spacious and even play a prominent role in the decor, almost like a "welcome room". In these cases, you can plan mudrooms, include larger pieces of furniture, more elaborate decorative elements and even works of art.
What really matters is that the hall is in proportion to the rest of the house and meets the needs of the residents, always prioritizing comfort and functionality. This way, it fulfills its role efficiently, whatever its size.
How to make a beautiful entrance hall?
Even if you don't believe that "the first impression is the one that sticks", it's essential to plan correctly so that the design of your entrance hall matches what it needs and what you want for your home.
Take a look at the points to consider when setting up your hall:
Lighting
Who doesn't want to come home to a warm and welcoming environment? To give this feeling in the entrance hall, yellowish lights are the best choice because they are more comfortable and bring a warm look to the space.
And even if it's not the main room in the house, it's important to take care to position the light sources correctly and in the right quantity, to avoid the room being poorly lit or overpowering the eyes of those arriving.
For those who have a house with a large window at the entrance or who want to make an external entrance hall, the key is to take advantage of the natural light during the day. At night, try adding small spotlights, which will make the place even more charming and captivating without compromising functionality.
Color palette
Another important choice is the color palette. To contribute to good lighting and bring a feeling of spaciousness, the best choice is white - no wonder this option has been the most used for many years. As well as bringing light into the space, the color is easily combined with other tones, be they neutral, neon or pastel.
This allows you to unleash your creativity and bring elements in different shades into your hall, always keeping in harmony with the rest of the house.
For those who want to add colorful parts, you can keep the walls white and add decorative pieces in different shades, or you can make one of the walls the aesthetic focus without giving up the other walls in light colors.
One trend that's on the rise is rooms with white walls and organic shapes painted in different colors. This style goes very well with projects where the aesthetic is creative and cheerful.
Furniture that allows functionality
As well as being the house's calling card, the entrance hall, whether simple or super elaborate, is a functional environment. That's why the furniture you choose for it should be designed to make the most of every available corner and fulfill its function as the home's reception area.
It's common for residents to arrive and leave their shoes, keys or even cold sweaters in the hall so that they feel comfortable inside. That's why sideboards, coat racks and seats are almost obligatory elements to ensure practicality for your guests.
However, don't forget that the hall is a place of passage and no piece should compromise the flow of people.
If you keep this in mind when choosing furniture, you'll certainly be able to find options that match the aesthetic proposal of your project without the room becoming dangerous or lacking in functionality.
Organization
Still thinking about the functionality of the entrance hall, you need to include elements that contribute to the organization of the room. Organizer baskets, for example, are pieces that can visually add to the space, bringing everyday belongings together in one place.
Drawers and cupboards built into the walls are also options that optimize space, allow residents to store their shoes or coats quickly and leave no mess in sight.
What's more, they can be the solution for those items that you never know where to put at home, but that you can't get rid of either. To further enhance the organization and functionality of the hall, consider setting up a hat rack at home with the tips in our comprehensive content on the subject.
Ideal coatings
When planning the entrance hall of your project, you can't ignore the fact that it's an area with high daily traffic, so the floor covering needs to be even more resistant to wear and tear. For this reason, the best option - and a favorite among architects - is porcelain tiles.
This ceramic tile is durable, can come into contact with water, and is easy to clean and apply.
These characteristics, together with the fact that these tiles come in a variety of colors, designs and textures, mean that porcelain tiles can be combined with all kinds of projects without clashing with the chosen style. It's worth noting that there is no type of porcelain tile specifically recommended for interior foyers, so you're free to choose between polished or natural tiles.
In coastal regions, a natural finish is more suitable, as polished finishes can scratch when they come into contact with sand.
However, for an external entrance hall without a roof covering, it is necessary to use EXT porcelain tiles, which are able to withstand the weather and are not slippery, which prevents accidents when the floor is wet.
To learn more about this option, check out our complete guide to porcelain tiles.
10 hallway inspirations
After learning more about how to plan your home's entrance hall, how about some design inspiration? See below:
1. Simple entrance hall
A simple entrance hall is not synonymous with an unattractive space. This option is great for projects with little space available, because by adding only the basic furniture, you don't take up meters that could be used in the living room, for example.
The tip for this type of hall is to opt for pieces with neutral tones, simple design, objects that are functional and visually pleasing, to make up a basic decor.
And since you'll only have a few pieces of furniture, cupboards and drawers are excellent alternatives because they offer storage space without adding visual elements that clutter the room.
If your hall is small, decorate it with mirrors to give the room a feeling of spaciousness.
2. Elegant entrance hall
In a sophisticated entrance hall, harmony and attention to detail are the key words. This type of environment needs to have the elements we mentioned earlier to ensure its organization and practicality, such as coat racks and cupboards. However, it goes a little further when it comes to decoration.
Invest in pieces with detailed designs that show something different from the basic design. Frames, chandeliers and mirrors are welcome to bring more refined elements to the room.
To keep the look even more sophisticated, try combining pieces in neutral colors with complements in metals such as silver, gold or bronze.
3. Minimalist entrance hall
Minimalism is one of the trends that is here to stay and creating a minimalist entrance hall is the way to bring this proposal to life from the moment someone enters your home.
You should look for pieces with straight, harmonious lines. Functionality should also be your priority so as not to add anything other than the essentials to the room.
The maxim of "less is more" should also be followed in the colors of the room. Shades such as gray, white and black can be combined to form a balanced and visually light palette.
If you want to add a splash of color, go for a potted plant, for example.
4. White entrance hall
A white entrance hall is a popular choice, as it gives visitors the first impression of a clean and bright environment.
You can create a simple environment or one with many elements in this color proposal; your creativity will decide.
You can choose to keep the same tone from floor to ceiling, varying the textures of accessories to create a more interesting composition. Or add small elements in other colors, but always in a light palette.
In this type of entrance hall, choosing a suitable floor covering will be even more important, as practicality when cleaning will make day-to-day life easier.
Don't forget to take care of the lighting points in the room, so that the light is diffused and comfortable for the eye.
5. External entrance hall
A lesser-known option, but one that can be considered, is the external entrance hall. It doesn't have the characteristic furniture we mentioned earlier, but it still has the function of giving residents and visitors their first impression of the place.
This is a possibility for house projects and, to compose this environment, you can add a stone path, green details and even an embossed coating.
A very important detail is to use the right coating for this room, which can get wet as it is exposed to inclement weather such as rain. If the area is covered, natural porcelain tiles are best.
For uncovered areas, external porcelain tiles are recommended to bring security and beauty to the entrance hall, as well as being a highly durable and resistant material.
6. Modern entrance hall
The modern entrance hall has a clean, functional aesthetic and is full of personality. Straight lines, few elements and a neutral color palette, such as white, grey, black and earthy tones, help to create an elegant and modern environment.
In this style, each piece has a function and purpose. Furniture with a minimalist design, such as metal-framed chairs, helps to keep the room organized without weighing it down visually.
To complete the look, it's worth investing in round mirrors and decorative objects with contemporary features.
7. Small entrance hall
Having a small entrance hall is no excuse for neglecting it - quite the opposite! The example above proves that, even with little space, it's possible to create an environment full of personality, freshness and elegance.
The wall with an artificial vertical garden brings a touch of nature to the room, making your arrival home lighter and more welcoming.
The white 3D panel next to it reinforces the feeling of depth and movement, without weighing the room down visually. The light floor and recessed lighting help to enlarge the space, making everything more fluid and pleasant.
On the other side, decorative elements in copper tones ensure just the right amount of sophistication. Everything here is well thought out. There are no excesses and every detail contributes to enhancing the room without compromising circulation.
This is proof that a small hall can be functional, beautiful and surprising with creative solutions. What seems limited becomes the highlight of the project.
8. Apartment entrance hall
The entrance hall in apartments can vary greatly in size and style, but its function remains the same: to welcome, organize and make a good impression right away.
In more compact projects, the key is to make good use of the space, with multifunctional furniture, mirrors that enlarge the room and a light color palette that brings lightness and a feeling of spaciousness. In larger apartments, the hall can be transformed almost into an antechamber, with art objects, paintings and even a sideboard with potted plants and other objects.
Regardless of the size, the important thing is for the hall to blend in with the rest of the apartment's decor.
A prominent covering, such as porcelain tiles that reproduce marble, brings sophistication to the room. Lighting also deserves attention, so recessed lights or discreet pendants help to create a welcoming atmosphere.
9. Large entrance hall
With more space available, you can include larger pieces of furniture, such as sturdy sideboards, stools, armchairs, chairs or even shelves with decorative objects.
You can also go bold with the coverings: wood, natural stone, 3D panels or textured porcelain tiles help to create a visual impact without sacrificing sophistication.
Lighting is another point that deserves to be highlighted in large rooms: combine different light sources, such as recessed spots, pendants and floor lamps, to create layers and enhance every detail of the space.
And, of course, make the most of it with elements that bring personality, works of art, mirrors on a larger scale, pots with medium or large plants and objects with a striking design.
10. Entrance hall integrated into the living room
When the entrance hall is integrated into the living room, the challenge lies in creating a fluid transition between the two environments. Here, there are no physical barriers, so the ideal is to use furniture, rugs, lighting and coverings to subtly delimit the arrival space.
A sideboard right at the entrance, a bench or even a rug with a different texture will help to signal the beginning of the house, without losing visual continuity with the living room.
Another important point is to maintain harmony between the styles. The hall should blend in with the décor of the living room, but it can have its own touch, such as a mirror, an accent wall or a wooden panel that creates identity for the room without clashing with the whole.
Functionality also needs to be present, i.e. a place to put keys, bags or shoes remains essential. Knowing all this information about how to design an entrance hall, you can start thinking about how you want yours to look.
Source: https://blog.archtrends.com/
