How can I make my entryway look more expensive? 5 small touches designers always use for a luxe first impression

All too often, our entryways get overlooked and become a bit of a dumping ground for clutter. Typically small or narrow, and used solely as a transition space, we often overlook the entryway's potential to make an impact. 

These small spaces should in fact pack a punch, welcoming guests and introducing the style of your home. Make your space feel luxurious and expensive with these top five entryway design pointers.

1. Go for a lighting fixture that packs a punch

(Image credit: Nicole Franzen. Design: Monica Fried Design)

Lighting the entryway well is a surefire way to give the space a luxe feel. Because these spaces are typically so small, homeowners might feel more tempted to go for spotlights that don't take up any physical space, or LED lighting that is set along the crown molding of the ceiling, as opposed to larger statement-making light fixtures.  

But if you're looking to make an impression, the aesthetics of the light fixture can have a profound impact. Go bold with a dangling pendant or an intricate chandelier, this will draw the eye upwards, helping to emphasize the height of the space and not the narrow width. Make sure you go for impact but don't go too big. The size of the pendant or chandelier should be proportional to the space. Make sure your pendant or chandelier doesn't dip too low either. 

The hallway lighting should have 2-3 inches of height for each foot of ceiling height, so for an entryway ceiling that is 10 feet high, go for a chandelier or pendant that has around 20 or 30 inches height. 

2. Use a console table to create a decorative moment

(Image credit: Read McKendree. Design: Chango & Co)

Even if you have a small entryway or apartment entryway, it doesn't mean there is no room to be decorative. Long and narrow spaces call for a console table to really ramp up the luxury look. Place your console table flush against the wall and use the surface area to create a curated decorative moment to welcome guests into the space while establishing the style of your interiors.

'Regardless of the size of your entryway, it's a perfect place to create a visual moment in your home,' says Shauna Glenn of Shauna Glenn Design. 'Practically speaking, an entry table should have a lamp, a bowl for keys and change and a mirror for last-minute reviews before heading out the door. As a design vignette in your home, an entry table provides an opportunity to have a little fun.'

When it comes to how to decorate an entryway table, think about curating the perfect vignette by mixing and matching objects of varying heights, including interesting shapes and items that are personal to you, and remember the power of the odd number. A candle might be a nice decorative addition, and can also bring a sensory experience to a corridor. 

3. Embrace boldness

(Image credit: Christian Harder. Design: Ash NYC)

All too often, we go neutral and minimalist in our entryways, fearful that anything too strong will highlight how these areas of the home typically tend to be small and narrow spaces. But making an impact can really help to make the space feel luxurious and high end. 'While powder rooms have seen a bold transformation in recent years, entry foyers have remained bright and airy, with most designers thinking this space needs to be light-colored to appear bigger and create a traditional welcome' says Andrew Bowen, partner of Ash NYC. 

Instead, going bold could be the best color for entryways, and a great way to impress guests. In this example, at The Astor, a circa 1901 home on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Andrew paired historic pre-war details with modern upgrades. 

Ash designed the home with contemporary yet timeless pieces to balance the traditional layout, but took a bold spin on the entry. Bowen says painting the hall in this near-black moody grey 'adds intrigue to a space that might otherwise be overlooked.'

'Hallways are often overlooked, but we thought of this entry foyer as a defining characteristic, the artery that connects every room in the home,' says Andrew. 'We elevated this hallway by painting it a luxurious, near-black color — Midnight Oil by Benjamin Moore — which adds drama and mystery, creating a moody yet incredibly elegant experience balanced by the lightness in the rest of the home.'

4. Use your wall as a space to exhibit framed prints

(Image credit: Suzanna Scott. Design: ABD Studio. )

Keep things interesting in your entryway by using the wall space as a new home for a collection of wall art or a gallery wall. A collection of independent art or your favorite prints in beautiful frames makes the space highly personal. Don't be afraid to go large to introduce a luxe look like this impactful piece selected for the entryway of this San Francisco home designed by ABD Studio. 

'For the hallway of a recent project, we wanted to create a space that was modern but timeless - playfully understated - which would set the tone for the rest of the space,' says Sophie Ashby, founder and creative director of Studio Ashby. 'As you enter, you're immediately met with the energy and rich color of Ben Crase's 'The Alarm Was Set', flanked by two of Gubi's 'Cobra' wall lights.'

5. Focus on decluttering

(Image credit: Studio Nato)

Entryways in the everyday home are small and intimate spaces that don't typically accommodate more than one or two people at a time. While they're small spaces, they are tasked with doing a lot. To make your entryway feel like a luxurious space, you want to create a space for a peaceful transition from the outside to the inside. 

The luxury look starts with decluttering the space. 'The hallway is the first space we see when we enter a home,' says Jo Littlefair, co-founder and director at Goddard Littlefair. Having a place for everything is absolutely critical. Look for unobtrusive places to put shelves, and possibly some hallway furniture to make it easier for you and guests to de-robe and store things neatly.'

Think about clever storage that doesn't encroach on the space too much. Benches with under-seat storage, making use of the walls with hooks that can look like a fun piece of wall art when not in use like this example from Studio Nato.

'A small mirror is an essential item on the route out of the house, ideally with a small shelf for a pen, hairbrush or lipstick. Children will unintentionally overwhelm you with coats and school bags, I’ve designed furniture pieces for the home to hide these items as much as possible!'