5 entryway seating ideas designers use to make a home's entrance look amazing, and the 'dated' thing they'll never do

Whether your home's got a small entrance, or you have a larger space to play with, introducing entryway seating is a way to make this area more of a 'room'. However, we're seeing designers go beyond simple benches to sit on to put your shoes on in entryways, rather seeing concepts that make entryways into space people like to linger in and enjoy. 

These entryway ideas are looking to eschew some of the clichés that come with decorating a home's entrance. 'A cliché entryway would have a console table flanked by a pair of heavy chairs and a pair of sconces hung over them,' says Mia Jung, Director of Interiors for Kligerman Architecture & Design. 'They can veer toward looking too formal and uninteresting.'  

But what are designers doing instead? Here are 5 seating ideas that feel fresh and different, to inspire your own entryway design. 

1. Use accent chairs

(Image credit: Richard Powers. Design: Ike Baker Velten & Kligerman Architecture & Design)

An accent chair, or even a pair of chairs, is not only an easy way to make an entryway feel cozier, but also sets the tone for the rest of your home, if you pick the right design. 

In this modern home, designed by Ike Baker Velten Architects in collaboration with Kligerman Architecture & Design, contemporary sculptural choices foretell the design choices made throughout the house. 

'The architect John found the two concrete chairs at an auction and thought they would work well in the entryway paired with the light fixture,' says Mia Jung, Director of Interiors for Kligerman Architecture & Design. 'The clients use this seating area frequently, typically sitting to enjoy the view from the large windows. The stone table was originally purchased for a different room, but the client moved it next to the stairs to hold her drink. The tree softens the hard lines and adds life to the entryway,' she adds. 

2. Use poufs for compact spaces 

(Image credit: Laura Sumrak. Design: House of Nomad)

If space is in short supply, poufs are a great choice, especially when combined with your console table. 'We love using stools under an entry table to help ground the space -  especially when using a lofty pedestal table,' says Berkeley Minkhorst and Kelley Lentini, co-founders of interior design studio House of Nomad. 

Poufs have become a big entryway trend as a way to add an extra level of detail to this space. 'By adding a layer below the table you are adding another interest and texture to the overall look which results in a more dynamic design,' Berkeley adds. 'Another bonus - they are functional! You can easily pull them into another space for additional seating as needed.'

3. Squeeze in a sofa

(Image credit: Michael P. Clifford. Design: Romanek Design Studio)

If you've got the room, the right couch can look amazing in an entryway, especially if you choose a design that works well with your floorplan and complements the dimensions of the space. 

That may be a small loveseat tucked into a niche that's a perfect spot to take a minute to yourself, or in the case of this home design by Brigette Romanek, a curved sofa that echoes the shape of the staircase that makes total sense for the space. A sofa gives your entryway a real chance of being a space that people actually choose to sit in and use - just make sure it doesn't end up a dumping ground for coats and other clutter. 

4. Build in seating 

(Image credit: Aaron Leitz. Design: Lisa Staton)

Built-in seating is a great way to make the most of a small entryway, but let's be honest - it isn't always the most comfortable seat in the house. However, a few simple additions, as interior designer Lisa Staton did in the entryway to this Seattle home's entryway, can make these spaces much cozier and more welcoming. 

'It was all about layering textures and textiles,' Lisa tells us. 'With vintage rugs and pillows and a custom seat cushion with brass buttons, we wanted to create a space that said "come on in and put your feet up and stay a while".'  

5. Consider a daybed 

(Image credit: David Mitchell. Design: Timothy Godbold)

Can you imagine reclining on a daybed in your entryway? Whether or not you can, sometimes, decor in your entryway is more just about setting the tone about the home you've just walked into. 

In this home created by architect Timothy Godbold, the entryway is a beautifully light and inspiring space if you did want to use the daybed, but it offers more than just its function to the design. 'The daybed is used more as a piece of sculpture, a vessel to demonstrate the scale of the space by its low-slung height,' Timothy tells us. 'Its main directive is to give the person who is walking through the front door an exact image of what the house is about to unfold to the eye. It’s an extremely important piece of furniture.'