5 Entryway Trends That Are Instantly Aging Your Home, Designers Say

Your entryway is more than a pass-through area to the rest of your home. It’s the first impression guests get and a reflection of your style. Yet, many people forget about this space when it comes to decorating and adding personal style and touches.

We spoke with a few design experts who explained the most common entryway features that instantly date a space, and they shared tips on what to do to help update the area.

Poor Lighting Choices

Lighting helps set the tone of any room, and it’s especially important in an entryway. One of the easiest and affordable lighting choices is the dome light, also known as a boob light, but it lacks elegance and visual appeal.

Libby Baker, founder and designer at Baker Design Co., says, “just sticking one flush mount boob light in a foyer doesn’t give you a very welcoming look.”

She also cautions against overdoing it with recessed lighting, which can make the space feel harsh. She suggests adding soft ambient lighting options with a chandelier or picture light.

Lighting should complement a room rather than detract from it.

Tina Guevara, principal designer at Juliette Sebastian Interiors, thinks this is especially important in an entryway. She says to avoid lights like ornate lighting with opaque shades and dome lighting, and suggests adding lighting that adds warmth and character, like pendant lights, sconces, or even a small chandelier for a touch of drama.

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A Worn Front Door

The front door is not only part of your home’s curb appeal but also sets the tone for anyone stepping inside. A scratched, faded, or poorly maintained door can make even a beautifully designed entryway feel dated and unkempt.

“Front doors take a beating from weather and the environment,” Pamela O’Brien of Pamela Hope Designs says. “When they have a bad paint job or scratched and weathered surfaces, they look worn and dated.”

She suggests wiping it down occasionally and staining and sealing when needed to help keep it in good condition.

Updating your front door doesn’t have to be a costly upgrade. A fresh coat of paint, new hardware, or even a seasonal wreath can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal.

Bulky Entryway Furniture

Furniture in an entryway should be functional, but it also needs to fit the space, as well as add style. Heavy, dark pieces like oversized hall trees or benches with baskets may have once been practical, but they now tend to overwhelm and date an entryway.

Tina says large furniture pieces like these “often dominate the space and make it feel cramped.”

Today, you have many furniture options that provide both function and sleek style. A slim console table, a floating shelf, or built-in storage can offer that functionality that’s needed in an entryway without sacrificing style and scale.

Look for pieces in lighter finishes or with clean lines to help make a narrow entryway feel more open.

Dated Decor

Decor is where your personality should shine, but it’s also an area where outdated trends can linger. Scripted wall signs, dried flowers, and dated posters can make an entryway feel stale and impersonal.

“Nothing dates an entryway more than items that scream, ‘we’ve been around a while’, so long that the flowers have dried,” Tina says.

These elements can make the space feel like it’s stuck in a time warp rather than reflecting your current design style.

Pamela recommends getting rid of “a tattered mat or out-of-date area rug (because it) instantly dates your entryway.”

She recommends choosing a small rug made of natural materials and incorporating art or mirrors that feel intentional and elevated.

“The entryway is not the place for a cheaply-framed mirror or a poster from your college days.”

Chair Railing

Chair railing on the walls can be stylish if done correctly, especially if paired with patterned wallpaper. However, if chair railing is installed with no thought of styling it, it can make the entryway feel dated.

“To me, this screams builder spec ‘upgrade’ but they didn’t continue the entire idea all the way through with wallpaper or wood above and below to complete the look,” Libby says.