Make an Entrance!

With the festive season upon us, so comes the desire to create the perfect joyous atmosphere around our home. Whether you go over the top and decorate every surface of your house or just provide a hint of the merriness, the first place to start is always the entrance of your home.

So much attention is paid to the interior of the house that we sometimes forget about the exterior of our home. It’s the first thing that people see; it’s worth your while to create a welcoming first impression. It is not just about putting up multi-coloured lights anymore (perhaps you left them up from last year?) but about creating a cohesive look, from the front step to the powder room.

There are so many great colour combinations that can be utilized; it’s not all about the traditional reds and greens. Think outside the box and use white and teal, red and yellow, or even black and purple. Keep the exterior look of your home in mind as well and keep within those parameters. If your exterior is traditional, then keep the interior look traditional as well. And most of all, have fun with it.

This issue I thought to use the same entrance way and do it up in three different looks to show how versatile an entrance can be. The three looks are from Home Outfitters, IKEA and PC Home. The main thing you need to think about is to keep consistent with your colours and think about symmetry. This will be key in creating a grand entranceway.

Rustic Chic (Home Outfitters)

A mixture of modern and rustic elements, from earthy wood tones to modern elements such as pewter. The look has a country feel but simplified and refined. When thinking about the Christmas season, you don’t have to stick to the classic colors or schemes. If the rustic look is for you then by all means, run with it. Remember to add chic elements in the mix to add some drama; modern lanterns, silver and white accents, and the perfect rustic wreath are de rigueur.

Modern Christmas (PC Home)

An all white look with punches of colour--Christmas with a twist! You are seeing more modern additions to the everyday green and red Christmas décor everywhere. It’s a fun way to get into the spirit and create a sensation of your entranceway. I used unique white twigs to vamp up the planters. Simple glass vases with decorative balls as filler will do the trick. To modernize the look we used two wreaths instead of one and added some punchy decorative balls to them. Don’t be afraid of using objects that are a little out of the ordinary to mix up the look.

Twist on Traditional (IKEA)

For those of us that love the traditional look of Christmas then, this is the look for you. The use of Christmas greens for the planters mixed in with berries and twigs, garlands tied around the railings with white lights. Again, the use of lanterns is perfect to place around the doorway, be sure to use the battery-operated candles to place inside them. Safety first!! In this case, we have gone with simple black lanterns for a little drama. The twist comes in the introduction of the black accents. Introducing this bold colour will give you the wow factor and throw something a little unexpected in the mix. The whole look is bold whilst remaining traditional.

You want the entrance to have impact but not overdone. It is all about understated elegance no matter what your look is. The last thing you want is to have people stepping over plastic reindeer and elves to get in your door. Remember, creating the perfect entranceway doesn’t have to be time-consuming, symmetry is key and using colours that are outside the Christmas décor box will go a long way in pulling the whole look together. Also think in layers, you want to create depth to your entranceway, so build out and group objects on either side of your door. Most of all, have fun with it!

Happy Decorating!!