An entryway is the first impression of a home. When people step through your door, you want them to feel welcome and at ease.
Even if you are the primary resident and walk through your entryway every day, it makes a huge difference to come into a space that is clean, refined, and on par with your style—as it can set the tone for your morning as you head out or for your evening as you come back home from a long day.
Modern entryways strike a great balance of feeling sleek yet inviting. They often include natural materials, earthy or neutral tones, and clean lines. Of course, you also want your entryway to be practical: a spot to place shoes and coats, a mirror to fix your hair, or a doormat to prevent footprints can all come in handy.
Curious about how to style a modern entryway yourself? Check out these 22 ideas for inspiration.
Incorporate Seating
Including a bench by the entryway is always helpful so that you have a spot to comfortably take on and off your shoes.
This one is partly integrated into the wall for a contemporary feel, with a weathered metal frame and animal print cushioning to infuse character. A minimalist abstract art piece sits above it along with an amber sconce for warmth.
Add Bold Color
While modern design often features lots of neutral hues, bold colors are also welcome. This mudroom in the entryway, for instance, is swathed in a deep purple with gold accents for a rich, cozy feel.
A sit-in bench, along with hooks to hang coats and scarves, offers a practical touch. Plus, there’s plenty of open and closed storage included to stow away eyesores.
Use Underfoot Storage
If you’re short on space, you can always include storage underfoot. Here, woven baskets are placed under the bench for larger items.
There are also hooks included up top for easy access to accessories as you walk out the door. Two sconces ensure there’s plenty of light, while paneled walls infuse depth.
Create Compartments
In this mudroom, the walls are coated in a matte blue-grey for a soothing effect. Compartments are also created, so that each family member has their own space to store their personal items. Note that there are cabinets above the compartments for extra storage, as well as open areas on the bottom of the benches for easy access to everyday items.
Use Natural Materials
Prefer a lighter look? This foyer keeps things airy and bright with white-washed paneled walls. A woven rug softens the space, while a long side table offers a spot to display potted plants, baskets, and lamps. There’s also a pendant hanging from the ceiling to ensure ample light as you enter the door.
Display Contemporary Decor
For a full-on contemporary feel, this entryway keeps its decor minimalist and modern. A beaded framed mirror sits on the wall so that you can check yourself out before starting the day. Below, an arched bench offers a display of chess-inspired decor and more circular motifs—creating cohesion.
Infuse Gold Accents
Gold accents offer a pop of glam to this farmhouse-style entryway. A circular mirror amplifies the natural light coming in from the all-glass door.
Meanwhile, small prints displaying landscape scenes take inspiration from the acres of woods outside. A credenza houses plenty of drawers and baskets for storage.
Mix Materials
Diversifying materials always helps add visual interest to a space — especially an entryway. This one features a metallic framed mirror, juxtaposing more natural elements like a wooden-legged table and jute baskets. A patterned rug brings in a playful personality in tandem with happy marigold-hued walls.
Include a Mirror
A mirror is a practical essential for the entryway. This one is framed in white to match the crown molding and stairway. A baby blue side table offers room for a lamp and tray—which is great to include for any trinkets like keys or jewelry that you need to quickly grab as you head out.
A table lamp and chandelier feature matching orange-yellow tones and provide ample lighting. Don’t forget a basket for emergency items like umbrellas, as well!
Add Statement Artwork
If you prefer to keep your furnishings more pared-back, you can always bring in character through artwork and accessories. This entryway, for instance, features simple silhouettes in the bench and baskets. However, a vibrant painting and matching rainbow-swathed cushion offer a pop of color to help it stand out, leaving a joyful first impression.
Opt for Neutrals
Creamy hues soothe the senses in this foyer, complete with branches billowing out of vases, tall pillar candles, and a botanical print for cohesion. Gray wainscoting adds depth to the space, while a mirror helps amplify the natural light.
Incorporate Dramatic Lighting
A geometric chandelier sets the tone for this expansive entryway, featuring sleek black lines and a candle-like interior. Oaky double doors with a glass arched overlay add to the drama. A leather bench and matching moody carpet also bring in warmth—while playing off the hue of the chandelier overhead.
Use Organic Elements
Single-panel black framed doors open up to a beautiful display in this breezy home. A wooden side table is centered for satisfying symmetry, topped with abstract artwork and ceramic vases. They help form an organic, breezy style that melds with the exterior decor and landscape—creating a seamless indoor-outdoor feel.
Add Metallics
A diagonally-placed door can feel awkward—however, it offers an opportunity to get creative with the foyer’s layout. This one features a milky gold-accented bench on one side wall, topped with artwork for a dose of character.
A metal-rimmed circular mirror softens the sleek lines of the space, along with a plush rug and bulbous vase of pampas grass.
Make Your Floors Pop
This moody mudroom features dove gray cabinets embossed with a dotted diamond design and brass handles—offering a modern balance to the more rustic decor.
Weathered tiled floors set in a herringbone pattern add dimension and movement to the space, while underfoot storage provides an area to stow away shoes.
Play With Pattern
A pretty baby blue door is the centerpiece of this entryway, decorated with frilly sheer drapes for a breezy, cottagecore feel. A sculptural pendant drips from the ceiling, mimicking a floral shape and providing a unique touch.
The space doesn’t shy away from pattern or color: a yellow-accented checkerboard floor is topped with a pink geometric rug for even more playfulness—without feeling kitschy.
Soothe the Senses
Taking on a more contemporary style, this entryway features a dramatic arched doorway with views of the lush landscape outside. A lacy-tiered woven pendant injects a natural, luxe touch—complemented by woodsy tones in the bench and side table. Oversized baskets, layered throws, and a creamy rug soften it all up.
Layer Cushions
Don’t forget the necessities! This modern rustic entryway features a diamond-shaped hook panel for accessories—and even a dog leash. A rounded bench is smothered with plush pillows and a blue patterned cushion for a pop of color, providing a comfortable seat to slip-on shoes. A woven basket offers extra storage for umbrellas, as well.
Play Off Architectural Features
Featuring crown molding, square-patterned wainscoting, and a paneled door, this space matches its decor to the architectural features. A geometric framed mirror emulates the clean lines, while an arched side table riffs off the milky white walls. A woven jute rug grounds the senses and offers warmth.
Combine Rustic and Modern Decor
If you have a roomier foyer, you can go all out with the furnishings. This space, for instance, features an ornate circular table with matching milky seats atop a woven rug—offering a comfy spot for last-minute chats as guests head out the door.
There’s also a side nook with a bench and sage green cabinets, providing plenty of storage for shoes, bags, and other accessories.
Embrace Maximalism
Modernity isn’t always clean-cut. Case in point? This maximalist entryway. The space features a botanical wallpaper, cheetah-print X-benches, and gold globe pendants for a lasting first impression.
Practical touches like an umbrella basket and brass hooks ensure the space is as functional as it is beautiful.
Riff Off the Outdoors
With views this stunning, there’s all the more motivation to highlight it. This entryway does just that—decorated with oceanic prints and a matching sea blue-hued rug.
A wooden bench and hand-shaped chair bring in a natural coastal style with their organic lines and grains. Meanwhile, a contemporary circular chandelier and clean-lined side table round it all out with modern flair.