Entrance hall ideas - how to make your home festive right from the start
Entrance hall ideas to make sure your home gives a big Christmas welcome
Entrance hall ideas often get forgotten - your hallway, as one of your smaller interior spaces, can seem less important. But the atmosphere it creates sets the tone for the whole house. Come Christmas, your hallway should be giving you that festive feeling as soon as you step through the front door!
While it can be easy to focus entirely on the living room and overlook a narrow entrance and staircase, it’s the detail that makes the difference. To make an impact with your yuletide decorating this year, go boldly minimalist or maximalist, rather than settling safely in the middle. We’ve compiled some top tips from designers and styling experts to help show you how.
It’s finally time to deck the halls again, with holly and a lot more besides...
See also: Christmas decorations - the biggest trends for 2020
Hang foliage wreaths from your staircase
Get creative with foliage by loosely weaving sprigs of spruce, fir or ivy around simple rattan or wooden hoops, such as those used for embroidery. Not naturally arty? The more nonchalant the finished result, the better, as it ties into the homemade trend. Not got the time? Have a browse of Etsy for some rustic ready-made wreaths or opt for one of our 2020 picks. Hang them from your spindles and give that neglected wall beneath your staircase some style.
Decorate and display some miniature trees
Your main Christmas tree may get all the attention, but miniature trees are ideal for injecting festive spirit into dark corners and narrow corridors. Either follow the same decorating theme to link your hallway to the rooms beyond or have fun playing around with a different palette. If space is particularly tight, consider a trendy pre-lit wall hanging, such as this one from Cox & Cox.
See also: Faux Christmas trees - our edit of the very best to buy now
Go gaga for gold
Gold has been a trending colour all year, adding glitz and glam to kitchen worktops and entertaining tables, so expect opulent metallics to dominate festive decor. Mix and match gold, silver, bronze and brass to dazzlingly luxurious effect, and don’t hold back! Gold eucalyptus leaf garlands, mirrored silver paper chains, orb balloons and glittering disco balls are sure to thrill any guests.
Pile up the presents
Getting ahead of the gift-wrapping game doesn’t merely save you from a last-minute Christmas panic. Pile up your prettiest presents at the bottom of the stairs or in a hallway nook, so that they spark that fuzzy festive excitement every time you walk by. Just don’t let children or pets tear them open before the big day!
Weave foliage along the bannister
Brightening up a bannister with foliage is a smart way to incorporate the continuing trend for bringing the outside in. “I love creating loose waves of foliage along the staircase and adding some wintry sparkle with battery-powered fairy lights” says interior stylist Leoma Harper from Style the Clutter. “I’ll then add finer details and texture by hanging Christmas decorations off the branches.”
See also: The best Christmas wreaths to make a grand - and festive - entrance
Cosy things up with candles
It’s no secret that the warm, flickering glow of candlelight can any space look inviting. Yes, even a dark, narrow hallway! Katherine Christopher, director of K Christopher Interiors, suggests cosying up a dull radiator cabinet or side table with an array of cinnamon-spiced candles in glass lanterns. “Look for copper, bronze and gold tones to create an eye-catching, luxury and elegant finish,” she says. “Trail some chunky twig garlands around your display and intersperse some dark faux berries and glittering ornaments for depth.”
Remember baubles aren’t only for the tree
Every Christmas, a treasure trove of stunning tree decorations arrives in the shops, and we want to buy them all! Luckily, you can justify doing so, as shiny baubles also look fabulous hanging from your staircase or piled up in glass bowls, glistening under your hallway lighting like these by Rebecca Dupere, director of Dupere Design. She suggests interspersing them among oranges studded with cloves for a mouth-watering festive aroma as soon as you come in from the cold. “You can always use the oranges in mulled wine afterwards!”
See also: Table ideas for Christmas
Release your pent-up party mood
Given how much joy the coronavirus pandemic has sapped from 2020 so far, it makes sense to go unapologetically bold and colourful with your Christmas styling! Drape carnival-esque garlands, complete with tassels and giant sequins, around your bannister and along the handrail. Consider paper pom poms and oversized baubles, too. Ensure your outlandish look stays stylish by sticking to a considered colour scheme that zings against your walls. Enjoy the party mood, even if you can’t host a festive fiesta this year.
See also: Festive finishing touches
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
-
What are the Most Comfortable Pillowcases? From Temperature Regulating to the Best for Your Skin
When you're looking for comfort in your pillowcases, material matters. These are the best you can buy
By Faaizah Shah Published
-
5 Simple, but Genius Bathroom Layout Tricks That Will Make Your Space Work so Much Harder
Small switches to how you lay out your bathroom that help make the most of a small space
By Luke Arthur Wells Published
-
5 Tricks to Transition Your Home Back to Cozy, Winter Mode After Christmas — 'You Don't Have to Lose the Festive Magic!'
Just because Christmas day is over doesn't mean we have to take the decorations down quite yet. Here are five tips to seamlessly transition your festive home into a celebratory winter display
By Oonagh Turner Published
-
'I'm a Minimalist and This is How I Decorate for Christmas' — 3 Last-Minute, Low Effort Ideas for a Festive Home
Get into the holiday spirit with simple and sleek decorating flourishes that complement your minimalist interior
By Katie Baxter Published
-
3 Ways The Gifting Pros Want You to Wrap This Christmas - 'These Styles Are Having a Moment!'
A lot of thought goes into a beautifully wrapped gift, but it can be quite tricky to get right. We speak to experts for their top styling tips
By Katie Baxter Published
-
3 Viral Napkin Folding Tricks — So Easy, But So Impressive
If you're planning on hosting this season, refining your napkin folding might be just the ticket to elevating your dining table set-up
By Oonagh Turner Published
-
The Christmas Dinner Party Tick List — 8 Table Decor Ideas Design Experts Think Are 'Non-Negotiables'
Looking to hone your hosting skills this festive season? People who have perfected Christmas dining have these 8 things on their tables
By Oonagh Turner Published
-
What Color Christmas Decor Will Make My Home Feel the Coziest? 5 Schemes Other Than Red & Green
For a home that feels cozy at this time of year, here's the alternative color palettes designers would choose
By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari Published
-
What Does How You Decorate Your Christmas Tree Say About You? We Ask Decor Experts
Decorating your Christmas tree is a chance to unleash your creative side. But what does your tree say about you and your home? We asked the experts
By Katie Baxter Published
-
5 Christmas Place Setting Ideas That Will Make Your Festive Table Feel Expensive and Elevated
Beautiful decorative ideas to turn your dining room into a festive winter wonderland this Christmas
By Oonagh Turner Published