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5 inspiring entryway ideas that make a good first impression

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Spend a little time on your entryway to make a great first impression on anyone who steps into your abode. Play around with the space, adding benches, moving around antiques and modern artwork, tossing down different kinds of rugs, even adding small tables, plants, a couple of chairs with pretty pillows, or maybe even other types of seating.

First things first: Choose bold, well-coordinated colors. Let color make the statement within a well-coordinated space. Whether it’s the front door, ceiling (a matching door and ceiling color can be a striking look), a rug or chair, or a brilliant piece of artwork, a bold arrangement of color guides the eye into your home and makes a dazzling first impression. Now let’s see what we can do to spruce up your entryway.

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Pop on a fresh coat of paint

  • Nothing brightens up the entrance to a home like painting the front door and foyer ceiling or sprucing up the trim. Want to try some paint colors out before buying? Visit Sherwin Williams’ Visualizer, where you can upload your own pics and virtually “paint” your photos to check out different colors in your entryway.
  • Just want to paint the door? Get a quart of paint, the perfect amount to cover up to 100 square feet, with Modern Masters Front Door Paint on Amazon for $36.75. Comes in 25 different colors, works indoors and out (on wood or metal), and dries to the touch in approximately one hour.

Throw down some new rugs

      If you’ve got a long entryway, try:

  • A lush Bohemian-style Herringbone Batik Rug in Ocean Blue, ready to stretch all the way down the hall (get more than one if necessary), available in six sizes up to 10 feet long at $189.00, or

      For a standard size foyer, check out:

  • A graceful Audrey Golden Honey Rug ($109.00 for a 3×5) to pull together all the oranges, yellows, and reds in your foyer decor

All styles are stain-resistant, waterproof, and washable from Ruggable, and each comes with its own sturdy nonslip rug pad. Didn’t find a style you like? Choose from various collections like Persian, tribal, Moroccan, Bohemian, abstract, geometric, nautical, animal print, and much more at Ruggable — even Disney themes. Free shipping is available on all orders.

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Go for an adventurous piece of artwork or a framed mirror

  • Try a rustic framed mirror if you prefer, like this Janie Rectangular Wall Mirror from Wayfair. Its wooden frame is finished with distressed blue and brown. Comes with D-rings for mounting and dimensions are 38” H x 28” W x 1” D. Order one with self-installation for $205.99.
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Hang a dazzling light fixture

Give your entrance a sparkling light fixture to highlight the area where you meet and greet guests. Not only will you be able to see your visitors clearly for a proper greeting, but you can also see everything in your purse when searching for keys or phones on your way out the door.

  • Try a stunning light fixture from Pottery Barn. Its divine light fixture featuring glass shaped into 126 graceful drops, the Bella Flush Mount is hand-painted with a pewter finish. Requiring a bit of assembly, professional installation is highly recommended. Weighing 11 pounds, the dimensions are 22.5″ D and 10.5″ H. Get the Bella Flush Mount for $209 from Pottery Barn. Twelve replacement glass drops come with it, and shipping costs vary. Check the site for coupon codes at your time of purchase.
  • Pier 1 has a unique and eye-popping blue and teal Capiz shell hanging light fixture for $96.75. The Daisy Capiz Pendant Light is hand-painted, imported, and sure to start a conversation. Dimensions are 12” D x 12” H, attached cord is 15” long, and minimal assembly is required. Shipping costs vary with location. Use max 60-watt bulbs.
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Play with stained-glass options

If you’re interested in trying out a piece of stained glass in your foyer, but you’re not quite ready for a door panel or window, check out a lamp for your entryway table, a standalone floor lamp with stained-glass lampshade, stained-glass hanging light fixture, or others.

  • This pretty Stained Glass Butterfly Table Lamp from Plow & Hearth is available for $129.95 at Wayfair. Its dimensions are 17.25” H x 12.25” W x 8” D, and it weighs 6.26 pounds. Comes with free shipping, is LED compatible, and its cord is 96 inches long.

Overall, don’t be afraid to play around with color, texture, and style for your best entryway. Solids can mix well with patterns, antiques can be in the same room with modern decor, and some items can reach far outside the present theme and still work. Once you’ve created the optimal foyer, show us a picture in the comments! We’d love to see what you’ve done.

Our 12 favorite Halloween decoration ideas for inside and out
These Halloween decor ideas for your yard or interior are spooky and stylish
Scary Halloween pumpkin decoration on steps

Not everyone has the budget or the time to do a full-blown Halloween makeover in their home. However, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the holiday. Here are 12 simple DIY Halloween decoration ideas you can do this year, both inside and out, to celebrate October 31.
Halloween decor for the front porch

Your front entrance is one of the first spaces guests will see this holiday season. Be sure to add some spooky Halloween decor to your front porch and door to impress guests.
Add a Halloween welcome mat
A simple Halloween swap you can make this year is to change out your welcome mat for an eerie alternative. For a creepy greeting, consider laying a doormat that reads "Turn back now" or "Enter if you dare." If you prefer a cuter seasonal option, place a mat that features pumpkins, ghosts, black cats, or a cool phrase like "Hey boo" or "Happy Halloween."
Set up your jack-o’-lanterns
Halloween is the season of the jack-o’-lantern, and chances are that you and your family will carve a pumpkin or two before the 31st. Show off your creations by setting your pumpkins up on the front steps or nestling them on a hay bale by the front door.
Add a wreath to your front door
A fall wreath is the perfect versatile front door decoration. Add a wreath to your entrance that you can customize as the season wears on. You can add miniature pumpkins, ghosts, or fun wood-carved phrases to your wreath as temporary Halloween additions before removing the decor for Thanksgiving. Or, keep your fall wreath as it is if you want to celebrate Halloween without all of the ghouls and ghosts in your design.
Stack a pumpkin topiary
Stacked pumpkin topiaries are a popular decor addition this time of year. Using plastic pumpkins, hot glue the tops and bottoms, based on how you layer them, to adhere the pumpkins to one another. You can stack as many as you like, ideally the largest on the bottom and the smallest on the top.
Halloween yard decorations

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10 creative pumpkin carving ideas no one in your neighborhood will have
Make your porch the star of the show with these carving ideas for your pumpkins
Three carved pumpkins sitting on a street surrounded by fall leaves

Pumpkin carving is a long-standing Halloween tradition that's adored by folks of all ages. If you look forward to this spooky season all year long and want to have the best-carved pumpkins on the block this year, you've come to the right place. With stylish, themed, and even dual-purpose designs, these 10 unique pumpkin carving ideas will have your neighbors green with envy.
Pumpkin carving with movie and character designs

When the kiddos on the block see these lovable characters and signature designs from the movies they love, you'll get all the compliments from both parents and their adoring kids for your uniquely decorated fall porch.
1. Mike Wazowski
Since this beloved Monsters, Inc. character already resembles the shape of a pumpkin, you basically just need to carve out his face with his distinctive single eye. Those trick-or-treaters will love seeing their favorite round monster on your porch. You'll probably even hear his name called out with the same adorable chants we heard from Boo and her friends in the iconic movie.
2. Death Star
The ominous starship weapon of the dark side is easily recognizable due to its circular shape, round crater-shaped gun, and the war-torn damaged section on the upper right side. Star Wars fans of all ages will love seeing this iconic relic from the films that are beloved throughout the generations. Check out this outline on how to cut out a Death Star pumpkin.
3. Tinkerbell

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These are the best pumpkin painting ideas for fall decor or for Halloween
Ditch the carving tools and elevate your Halloween pumpkins with brushes
Two painted pumpkins in fall leaves

When it comes to DIY Halloween decor, there's a trend that's both creative and mess-free: painting! Instead of reaching for the carving tools, why not grab some paintbrushes and explore the wide variety of artistic painting pumpkin ideas? Whether you're aiming for a chic, modern look or something more playful and fun, painting pumpkins offers endless opportunities to showcase your style.
Why paint your pumpkin?

Painting pumpkins instead of carving them has several advantages that make it a go-to choice for many.

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