Want to make your home feel a bit more welcoming? Maybe you’re wanting to land in a calmer space when you first walk in or perhaps you’re hoping to add a bit more personality from the outside. Whatever your motivation, there are plenty of ways Southern Maryland homeowners can improve their entryway. Here are a few tips to get started:

Start Outside

Whether you have a porch, some front steps, or a pathway to your door, spending a bit of time making this outdoor space clean and inviting is a great place to start. That might mean cleaning up any debris, repairing cracked stones or broken steps, giving your door a fresh coat of paint, or adding some plants to brighten things up.

Increase Storage

One of the most common challenges and complaints about entryways is a lack of storage. Homeowners should think through their daily comings and goings and what they truly need in the space. Jackets for every season for every member of the family in a tiny closet, you’re not maximizing the space. Perhaps you don’t have a closet and your coat always ends up draped over a piece of furniture or your keys seem to always be missing. Installing shelves, bringing in a coat rack, adding some hooks, and giving your keys a specific home are all great options to expand this area’s storage potential.

Add a Bench

A bench is another great option. Rather than rush through this area of our home, a bench gives us a place to sit down, take off our shoes and regroup. It’s especially useful if you have little ones you’re trying to get out the door with you as well. Another great function of a bench is added storage. Whether it’s a top that opens and closes or some baskets underneath, using a bench as added storage is a smart move.

Give Your Lighting a Boost

Do you have enough light in this area of your home? Maybe you need to install a new lighting fixture or add a floor lamp in the corner. Making this a space that feels bright and inviting can help you to better utilize it. Rather than breezing through the entryway and taking your shoes off wherever you land, making this space more appealing can make you more likely to take advantage of it.

Incorporate Your Style

Finally, don’t skimp on decorating here. Incorporating some artwork, a mirror to contribute to a more spacious feeling, and colors you love are all great ways to tie your entryway in with the rest of your home.

 

What’s your entryway like in your Southern Maryland home? Is it an area your family uses or is it more of an afterthought? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!